PONKO
2024
Unicorn Overlord presents all of Vanillaware's iconic, beautiful style. And tbh that might just have to be enough here.
The gameplay is addicting, and the world is stunning. However, if you're coming into this game looking for an experience like 13 Sentinels you won't find it.
This is truly a vanilla experience, a classic fantasy adventure about a fallen prince rising up looking to dethrone tyranny and avenge his people. Meeting people along the way, forming alliances, using magic and following a path left by mystical ancients.
It's classic in its narrative, and you'll either love, hate or feel nostalgic for it.
There is no doubt that the gameplay gets somewhat tiring, and the cast is so large and their development so miniscule that it makes them feel empty.
This game relies heavily on just how much you like a basic story, how much you love micromanaging, and just how much you can worship the art style.
Of course we do also have the return of Mitsuhiro Kaneda, so the OST bangs.
The Japanese voice cast also has some insanely high profile people, I'd really consider playing this in Japanese. Though unfortunately we do have to suffer dubtitles here, but if you can deal with all the silly slang and style of the English script then play it in Japanese. But it is undoubtedly annoying that so many games are avoiding doing proper translations of the JP script.
I really enjoyed Unicorn Overlord, it's simple, but I appreciate a classic game like this occasionally.
The gameplay is addicting, and the world is stunning. However, if you're coming into this game looking for an experience like 13 Sentinels you won't find it.
This is truly a vanilla experience, a classic fantasy adventure about a fallen prince rising up looking to dethrone tyranny and avenge his people. Meeting people along the way, forming alliances, using magic and following a path left by mystical ancients.
It's classic in its narrative, and you'll either love, hate or feel nostalgic for it.
There is no doubt that the gameplay gets somewhat tiring, and the cast is so large and their development so miniscule that it makes them feel empty.
This game relies heavily on just how much you like a basic story, how much you love micromanaging, and just how much you can worship the art style.
Of course we do also have the return of Mitsuhiro Kaneda, so the OST bangs.
The Japanese voice cast also has some insanely high profile people, I'd really consider playing this in Japanese. Though unfortunately we do have to suffer dubtitles here, but if you can deal with all the silly slang and style of the English script then play it in Japanese. But it is undoubtedly annoying that so many games are avoiding doing proper translations of the JP script.
I really enjoyed Unicorn Overlord, it's simple, but I appreciate a classic game like this occasionally.
2024
I did not enjoy Persona 3 FES
I loved the Persona 3 movies
And Persona 3 Reload I can honestly say is the definitive way to experience Persona 3.
Answering every issue I had with the original game. Fixing the pacing by filling it with content and all new character scenarios. There is almost always stuff to do in this game.
Knock out the systematic routine of stat grinding, because I fell for this as I had only played FES within the last 12 months. This game offers not only more, but more interesting and consistent ways to increase your stats. There's no need to get hooked on the idea of doing things efficiently.
Tartarus is far more bearable. Now with more things to do and explore, monad is also implemented far better in this game. This is of course assisted by the combat being so much fun and being so stylish that it never got old.
Of course, Tartarus is still an issue to an extent, 200+ floors of dungeon crawling will tire out anyone aside from the insane.
In my review for FES I noted that I didn't feel the connection for SEES that the game wanted me to believe was there, and this was my biggest issue with the original game aside from its pacing.
I can happily say this has been completely resolved, SEES with all the additional scenes, and the daily changes to script, truly feel like family. Moments that felt empty in FES are filled with emotion and meaning here, it all hits way harder.
I did every achievement in this game and loved my time with it, and can honestly see myself replaying in the future. Persona 3 goes from a game I hated to one that I now love. Its narratives and themes were always strong (as the movies showed off incredibly), it was simply held back by the game itself before.
While there are some minor issues with difficulty, I'm sure there will be mods for balancing the game soon enough and offering a better challenge. Things like the ambush skill make a lot of this game extremely easy, and the Theurgy skills are awesome additions that I would never want to see gone, but they are veeeery strong. But I don't think most of the issues the game has are worthwhile enough to complain about.
This is easily some of Atlus's best work and I'm looking forward to the future of Persona.
I loved the Persona 3 movies
And Persona 3 Reload I can honestly say is the definitive way to experience Persona 3.
Answering every issue I had with the original game. Fixing the pacing by filling it with content and all new character scenarios. There is almost always stuff to do in this game.
Knock out the systematic routine of stat grinding, because I fell for this as I had only played FES within the last 12 months. This game offers not only more, but more interesting and consistent ways to increase your stats. There's no need to get hooked on the idea of doing things efficiently.
Tartarus is far more bearable. Now with more things to do and explore, monad is also implemented far better in this game. This is of course assisted by the combat being so much fun and being so stylish that it never got old.
Of course, Tartarus is still an issue to an extent, 200+ floors of dungeon crawling will tire out anyone aside from the insane.
In my review for FES I noted that I didn't feel the connection for SEES that the game wanted me to believe was there, and this was my biggest issue with the original game aside from its pacing.
I can happily say this has been completely resolved, SEES with all the additional scenes, and the daily changes to script, truly feel like family. Moments that felt empty in FES are filled with emotion and meaning here, it all hits way harder.
I did every achievement in this game and loved my time with it, and can honestly see myself replaying in the future. Persona 3 goes from a game I hated to one that I now love. Its narratives and themes were always strong (as the movies showed off incredibly), it was simply held back by the game itself before.
While there are some minor issues with difficulty, I'm sure there will be mods for balancing the game soon enough and offering a better challenge. Things like the ambush skill make a lot of this game extremely easy, and the Theurgy skills are awesome additions that I would never want to see gone, but they are veeeery strong. But I don't think most of the issues the game has are worthwhile enough to complain about.
This is easily some of Atlus's best work and I'm looking forward to the future of Persona.
Seriously peak Kiseki. It doesn't flow as well as the first Kuro game, and there are some moments where it drags. But overall it's trying to tell a very important message and give some very clear warnings for the future of the series.
I love the resolution to some of the characters arcs in this game. Somehow yet again, Renne is 10/10 best girl, best arc, best design. All of the characters here see some sort of progression, and it's very good to see Falcom taking a more direct approach to relationship narratives within the franchise. Don't want to live through that cold steel harem stuff again.
Now the endless wait for Kuro 3 begins.
See you in 2328 when NISA translate it. Or a couple months after release when some fans do.
I love the resolution to some of the characters arcs in this game. Somehow yet again, Renne is 10/10 best girl, best arc, best design. All of the characters here see some sort of progression, and it's very good to see Falcom taking a more direct approach to relationship narratives within the franchise. Don't want to live through that cold steel harem stuff again.
Now the endless wait for Kuro 3 begins.
See you in 2328 when NISA translate it. Or a couple months after release when some fans do.
2023
Brilliant game, it's a lot of fun. For sure the DnD dice roll system is a love or hate kinda situation, I personally enjoy it but it can be annoying at times, mostly during combat. This game is hard, even on balanced difficulty, and it's a very fun challenge. This game will kick your ass constantly and make you think in different ways to approach combat, use consumables and crafting to their full effect.
Honestly, most of what I have for this game is praise. It's huge and ambitious, well polished for its size, and a lot of fun. There's so much detail to just about everything you can think of.
But I can't play it, why? The characters. The party members are seriously unbearable. Their dialogue I can only compare to that of a parody. There is far too much inspiration from modern DnD stories, it really felt like the writing team watched some DnD streams and went with that for the characters.
They're horrific, offering marvel-tier one-liners, constantly having pointless banter. Then there's also the extremely awkward 'romance'. Every party member will just throw themselves at you and find any moment they can to flirt, even if it wasn't relevant to your response. It's very cringe.
There's also the issue of every character being someone special. There's no down-to-earth adventurer here, you're all people with a destiny, a history, set powers and unique circumstances. It's like if several 'chosen ones' all accidentally met.
Overall though, the game is fantastic and Larian have really out done themselves. I simply can't play it because the party members are all so unbearable. If you're looking for a classic DnD experience or even Baldur's Gate experience, you won't find it here.
Honestly, most of what I have for this game is praise. It's huge and ambitious, well polished for its size, and a lot of fun. There's so much detail to just about everything you can think of.
But I can't play it, why? The characters. The party members are seriously unbearable. Their dialogue I can only compare to that of a parody. There is far too much inspiration from modern DnD stories, it really felt like the writing team watched some DnD streams and went with that for the characters.
They're horrific, offering marvel-tier one-liners, constantly having pointless banter. Then there's also the extremely awkward 'romance'. Every party member will just throw themselves at you and find any moment they can to flirt, even if it wasn't relevant to your response. It's very cringe.
There's also the issue of every character being someone special. There's no down-to-earth adventurer here, you're all people with a destiny, a history, set powers and unique circumstances. It's like if several 'chosen ones' all accidentally met.
Overall though, the game is fantastic and Larian have really out done themselves. I simply can't play it because the party members are all so unbearable. If you're looking for a classic DnD experience or even Baldur's Gate experience, you won't find it here.
2007
This review contains spoilers
The good:
Themes: The overall theme of this game is strong. The acceptance of what you cannot control, the meaning of life and death, how forming bonds with others gives meaning to life and so much more. The message here is very good, it's a shame it's mostly rushed.
Music: While I would recommend installing a music mod for more variety in battle. The ost here is an absolute banger like every Persona game.
Persona System: The whole fusion system is surprisingly fun. Though it can be a bit annoying when doing some of Elizabeth's ability specific fusion missions.
Social Links / characters: It's the heart of the game. Some are stronger than others. Akinari and Aigis are the best. Some characters get great arcs, some get absolutely nothing.
The bad:
The pacing: I did not enjoy this game, or rather, I enjoyed the last 10 - 20 hours. 80% of this game is nothing, it does literally nothing but keep you busy with a poorly done school sim. Pacing is a huge issue in this game, so much of it is wasted to the point that the entire story is literally told within the last 3 months of the game. Because of this things feel very rushed, characters aren't given the time to properly connect in the way the game wants you to feel they are.
Tartarus: Lets be real if you enjoy this something is wired wrong in your brain. 200+ floors of the same thing over and over again.
The Answer: Doesn't need to exist.
Advice:
Mod the shit out of this game.
Party control. Music variety. HD rework. Character voice lines. New Moon Balance Patch. And anything else you may want.
There is zero point in playing the vanilla version of this game. It's not fun. I played this game at x4 and x6 speeds I couldn't imagine playing it normally, I most likely would've dropped it and not for its length but rather how it does nothing meaningful with the majority of its length.
If this game is truly getting a remake it needs to be COMPLETELY reworked from the ground up. Because while the game has some good things about it, those things are done better elsewhere and where it gets things wrong it gets them insanely wrong.
This isn't just a 'product of the time' this was a mess of a game on launch, Atlus had already made better in previous games and other franchises had already tackled its themes better.
Themes: The overall theme of this game is strong. The acceptance of what you cannot control, the meaning of life and death, how forming bonds with others gives meaning to life and so much more. The message here is very good, it's a shame it's mostly rushed.
Music: While I would recommend installing a music mod for more variety in battle. The ost here is an absolute banger like every Persona game.
Persona System: The whole fusion system is surprisingly fun. Though it can be a bit annoying when doing some of Elizabeth's ability specific fusion missions.
Social Links / characters: It's the heart of the game. Some are stronger than others. Akinari and Aigis are the best. Some characters get great arcs, some get absolutely nothing.
The bad:
The pacing: I did not enjoy this game, or rather, I enjoyed the last 10 - 20 hours. 80% of this game is nothing, it does literally nothing but keep you busy with a poorly done school sim. Pacing is a huge issue in this game, so much of it is wasted to the point that the entire story is literally told within the last 3 months of the game. Because of this things feel very rushed, characters aren't given the time to properly connect in the way the game wants you to feel they are.
Tartarus: Lets be real if you enjoy this something is wired wrong in your brain. 200+ floors of the same thing over and over again.
The Answer: Doesn't need to exist.
Advice:
Mod the shit out of this game.
Party control. Music variety. HD rework. Character voice lines. New Moon Balance Patch. And anything else you may want.
There is zero point in playing the vanilla version of this game. It's not fun. I played this game at x4 and x6 speeds I couldn't imagine playing it normally, I most likely would've dropped it and not for its length but rather how it does nothing meaningful with the majority of its length.
If this game is truly getting a remake it needs to be COMPLETELY reworked from the ground up. Because while the game has some good things about it, those things are done better elsewhere and where it gets things wrong it gets them insanely wrong.
This isn't just a 'product of the time' this was a mess of a game on launch, Atlus had already made better in previous games and other franchises had already tackled its themes better.
This review contains spoilers
XENOSAGA FANS BE WINNING
Incredible game in its own right and the perfect send-off to Xenoblade. But if you haven't already done it, go play Saga and Gears. 3 especially carries so many Gears themes and with what we saw in this game... Oh boy Xenosaga might just be making a big, well deserved come back.
I cannot express just how important it is to have played Saga before this DLC, it adds an insane layer of understanding for the Xenoblade universe and gives you an indescribable excitement when those certain scenes happen.
Incredible game in its own right and the perfect send-off to Xenoblade. But if you haven't already done it, go play Saga and Gears. 3 especially carries so many Gears themes and with what we saw in this game... Oh boy Xenosaga might just be making a big, well deserved come back.
I cannot express just how important it is to have played Saga before this DLC, it adds an insane layer of understanding for the Xenoblade universe and gives you an indescribable excitement when those certain scenes happen.
The best movie I've ever input buttons into occasionally
Listen to the same song for 10 hours simulator
Somehow had 40 hours worth of fun in this awful game
Absolute masterclass of storytelling packaged with an appealing artstyle.
2016
Once the story with Otto comes to its conclusion it really lost its way. Still some cool stuff happening, but the Elysium Realm was the longest filler arc ever and didn't need to happen.
A game with exceptional characters, and a cool universe that admittedly gets a bit out of hand with trying to be complex.
A game with exceptional characters, and a cool universe that admittedly gets a bit out of hand with trying to be complex.
2004
You can watch a mobile recording of the game on youtube / 10
or read a fan manga / 10
or read a fan manga / 10