Hello based department? I'd like to order a claim.....
Anyways the Crossbell arc makes a damn good first impression with Zero. I was worried since I adored the Sky cast and was sad to leave them, but while it took a bit the SSS did eventually win me over. I will say the prologue and first chapter are kind of nothing burgers, in both character and narrative. The game starts to pick up in chapter 2 and goes full steam chapter 3 onward.
I love the SSS's group dynamic, I think the bracer squad takes them in terms of individual characters, but as a group unit I for sure like the SSS more. I love the found family thing they have going on and their personalities bounce off one another really well. Their status as underdogs in society makes them easy to root for, and there general wanting to do good attitude makes you want to see them succeed. The city of Crossbell is one of the more well fleshed out locations I've seen in any video game. Everything in and around this city exists for a reason, every person has a reason to be there and be prideful, it's constantly evolving as the story goes on and the SSS find out more about it.
On the gameplay end Zero adds a few new things, the first being able to attack enemies from the overworld. It's neat it's nice getting a full turn before the enemy can act, and I like that I don't have to worry as much about positioning anymore. Team bursting is alright it can be helpful or agitating sometimes though it's not nearly as annoying 3rd's statuses. I know Combo crafts started here but they're such a non factor in this game compared to Azure since only Lloyd can use them, I'd rather just talk about them in the Azure review. Assists are pretty sick but I found myself only really using a select few since others were nearly useless. This was also the start of bonding events, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, actually they're fine here. There's only 3 routes so they're all pretty doable and it's not like crucial character development is locked behind them haha... (foreshadowing).
Overall like Sky FC before it, Zero has a bit of a slow start but I'd say getting through that is totally worth it.
Anyways the Crossbell arc makes a damn good first impression with Zero. I was worried since I adored the Sky cast and was sad to leave them, but while it took a bit the SSS did eventually win me over. I will say the prologue and first chapter are kind of nothing burgers, in both character and narrative. The game starts to pick up in chapter 2 and goes full steam chapter 3 onward.
I love the SSS's group dynamic, I think the bracer squad takes them in terms of individual characters, but as a group unit I for sure like the SSS more. I love the found family thing they have going on and their personalities bounce off one another really well. Their status as underdogs in society makes them easy to root for, and there general wanting to do good attitude makes you want to see them succeed. The city of Crossbell is one of the more well fleshed out locations I've seen in any video game. Everything in and around this city exists for a reason, every person has a reason to be there and be prideful, it's constantly evolving as the story goes on and the SSS find out more about it.
On the gameplay end Zero adds a few new things, the first being able to attack enemies from the overworld. It's neat it's nice getting a full turn before the enemy can act, and I like that I don't have to worry as much about positioning anymore. Team bursting is alright it can be helpful or agitating sometimes though it's not nearly as annoying 3rd's statuses. I know Combo crafts started here but they're such a non factor in this game compared to Azure since only Lloyd can use them, I'd rather just talk about them in the Azure review. Assists are pretty sick but I found myself only really using a select few since others were nearly useless. This was also the start of bonding events, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, actually they're fine here. There's only 3 routes so they're all pretty doable and it's not like crucial character development is locked behind them haha... (foreshadowing).
Overall like Sky FC before it, Zero has a bit of a slow start but I'd say getting through that is totally worth it.