The detailed sprites, clever use of 3D & controlled lighting comes together to make one of the best looking games I've seen. I found the battle system a lot of fun with the timed hits, effects & being able to swap party members without penalty. The environments are extremely varied with plenty of memorable areas all providing a unique type of atmosphere. The music from both composers ranges from decent to very good although I can't help but feel a little disappointed as I felt The Messenger had more noteworthy songs.

Unfortunately I didn't care too much for the story & I found the 2 main characters lacking in personality compared to nearly everyone else. Thankfully the current, individual moments / storylines were enjoyable enough for me to still play the game & not have this bring the experience down too much. My other main gripe is how easy the game is. A lot of the overworld traversal & "puzzles" are basically just time killers & the bosses aren't much of a threat.

Side note: B'st is one of my favourite game characters I've seen in a while. His overall design is fantastic & the fun ways he moves about the world was a definite highlight for me.