This review contains spoilers
This is actually a sci fi RPG masquerading as a farm sim - so some players may be surprised at the turns the storyline takes.
I personally enjoyed the plot twists, and wasn't expecting the lurch into science and philosophy. The role the Omens play in the story was definitely my favourite part of the game, and this look at AI technology was refreshing from how it is normally portrayed. The themes of AI and environmentalism make this game feel very relevant to the present day.
To begin with, the game is a bit of a slog. Chapter 3 seemed to drag on forever, and amidst the tropes galore and fetch quest hell I found myself in, I nearly gave up. The characters are fairly predictable and one dimensional. This and the monotonous side quests let the game down. However, the "one day more" kept me plodding through and overall I'm glad I did as I eventually enjoyed the story as I wasn't expecting the sci fi elements, and I am a fan of such stories.
Combat is simplistic and requires little more than button mashing for the first two thirds of the game. Only in the later dungeons and the post game dungeon does strategy become more relevant. I find the omission of a dodge button slightly baffling.
There is lots for completionists to track down, including crafting materials, recipes, crops and character relationship levels. These levels increase over time, rather than requiring gift giving or correct dialogue choices.
The game is pretty - I imagine it would look fantastic on the Switch's OLED screen. I really loved how the trees and skies changed throughout the seasons and between the different areas (e.g. seeing the Northern lights or the cherry blossoms). The music is well orchestrated and good enough, without being mindblowing or overly memorable.
Overall, an eventually enjoyable, if not overly memorable experience. A decent mid budget JRPG game - just don't go in expecting Stardew Valley!
I personally enjoyed the plot twists, and wasn't expecting the lurch into science and philosophy. The role the Omens play in the story was definitely my favourite part of the game, and this look at AI technology was refreshing from how it is normally portrayed. The themes of AI and environmentalism make this game feel very relevant to the present day.
To begin with, the game is a bit of a slog. Chapter 3 seemed to drag on forever, and amidst the tropes galore and fetch quest hell I found myself in, I nearly gave up. The characters are fairly predictable and one dimensional. This and the monotonous side quests let the game down. However, the "one day more" kept me plodding through and overall I'm glad I did as I eventually enjoyed the story as I wasn't expecting the sci fi elements, and I am a fan of such stories.
Combat is simplistic and requires little more than button mashing for the first two thirds of the game. Only in the later dungeons and the post game dungeon does strategy become more relevant. I find the omission of a dodge button slightly baffling.
There is lots for completionists to track down, including crafting materials, recipes, crops and character relationship levels. These levels increase over time, rather than requiring gift giving or correct dialogue choices.
The game is pretty - I imagine it would look fantastic on the Switch's OLED screen. I really loved how the trees and skies changed throughout the seasons and between the different areas (e.g. seeing the Northern lights or the cherry blossoms). The music is well orchestrated and good enough, without being mindblowing or overly memorable.
Overall, an eventually enjoyable, if not overly memorable experience. A decent mid budget JRPG game - just don't go in expecting Stardew Valley!