This review contains spoilers
So, the biggest problem with this game is really its story and its problems come from a few angles.
There are too many party members. Some of them are barely developed and some of them are surprisingly unlikeable. Chitose is the stand-out. Yes, Ichiban is meant to be the ultimate nice-guy but the amount of times she screws over the party and gets people killed is wild for her to be ultimately forgiven, she is a complete liability throughout the story.
Secondly, whilst this is one of the more enjoyable JRPG series out there, the genre holds back the game's enjoyability. You have to do some serious grinding at some points to have the gear/level to continue the story which really harms some stand-out moments.
HOWEVER. Ignoring the issues with the stories and some characters, the game is actually wonderful. Hawaii has the vibe of some sort of Yakuza Summer Camp filler-arc and compliments the traditionally grungy tone of Kiryu's Japan arc very well. The amount of content in the game is absurd and it's all polished to a pretty decent level. The series continues to balance its unique sense of humour with best-in-class dramatic moments.
Lastly, the way this game gives Kiryu his flowers is lovely. I can't think of another video-game character who has received this treatment in their potentially (probably not) last game.
I'm going to attempt to Platinum and explore Sujimon and Dondoko Island but this game has taken 50 hours of my life already just to complete the story.
There are too many party members. Some of them are barely developed and some of them are surprisingly unlikeable. Chitose is the stand-out. Yes, Ichiban is meant to be the ultimate nice-guy but the amount of times she screws over the party and gets people killed is wild for her to be ultimately forgiven, she is a complete liability throughout the story.
Secondly, whilst this is one of the more enjoyable JRPG series out there, the genre holds back the game's enjoyability. You have to do some serious grinding at some points to have the gear/level to continue the story which really harms some stand-out moments.
HOWEVER. Ignoring the issues with the stories and some characters, the game is actually wonderful. Hawaii has the vibe of some sort of Yakuza Summer Camp filler-arc and compliments the traditionally grungy tone of Kiryu's Japan arc very well. The amount of content in the game is absurd and it's all polished to a pretty decent level. The series continues to balance its unique sense of humour with best-in-class dramatic moments.
Lastly, the way this game gives Kiryu his flowers is lovely. I can't think of another video-game character who has received this treatment in their potentially (probably not) last game.
I'm going to attempt to Platinum and explore Sujimon and Dondoko Island but this game has taken 50 hours of my life already just to complete the story.