- Compelling story and deep, well-developed characters.
- Immersive, living world with an atmospheric soundtrack.
- Classic, high-quality JRPG that has aged well.
- Slow start with a long, drawn-out prologue.
- Repetitive, unbalanced combat system.
- Excessive missable content and uninteresting dialogue.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 93% Ā· Negative 7%. Score: 7 / 100
Positives:
- The game features a compelling and well-developed story with intricate plots, political intrigue, and character-driven narratives. The characters are well-written, relatable, and undergo significant development, making their interactions engaging and emotionally resonant. The world-building is detailed and immersive, creating a captivating experience for players.
- The game world feels alive and dynamic due to detailed NPCs, their interactions, and evolving dialogues. The world-building is rich and immersive, with distinct locations and atmospheres that enhance the overall experience. The game rewards exploration and interaction with the world, making players feel like they are part of a larger, living world.
- The game boasts an excellent and memorable soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and emotional impact of the game. The music is well-composed and fits perfectly with the different locations and events, creating an immersive auditory experience. The music is a highlight of the game and adds to its overall charm.
- Despite its age, the game holds up well and provides an enjoyable experience. The reviewer expresses nostalgia and appreciation for the game's charm and quality. The game is easy to pick up and play, and its graphics do not detract from the overall experience.
- Estelle and Joshua are endearing main characters who undergo significant growth throughout the story. Estelle is a strong-willed and optimistic protagonist, while Joshua is her quieter counterpart, making them a compelling duo. The game focuses on their journey and relationship, making them highlights of the game.
Negatives:
- Many reviewers found the game's initial pacing to be slow, with the story, combat, and character development taking a considerable amount of time to develop. This slow start, often described as a lengthy prologue, may deter some players.
- The combat system is criticized for being unbalanced, repetitive, and sometimes tedious. Some reviewers found themselves relying on specific strategies or skills, while others felt the need to grind due to inconsistent difficulty spikes.
- The game features numerous missable quests, items, and events, often without clear indication or guidance. This design choice necessitates the use of a guide to achieve 100% completion, which can be frustrating for players who prefer to explore and discover content organically.
- Reviewers frequently mention excessive dialogue that bogs down the narrative and slows the pacing. Some found the story uninteresting or confusing, with too many loose ends and a lack of compelling character development.
- The game's graphics and overall design feel dated, reflecting its age. This can be off-putting to players accustomed to more modern visuals and quality-of-life features.
Gameplay:
- The game features a turn-based combat system with strategic elements like character positioning, turn order manipulation, and unique abilities. Battles require planning and utilizing the environment, with some reviewers drawing comparisons to classic JRPGs and tactical RPGs. The system emphasizes character stats and customization, but level differences can sometimes overshadow strategic depth.
- The game utilizes a 'Quartz' or 'Orbment' system for magic and ability customization, drawing frequent comparisons to Final Fantasy VII's Materia system. This system allows players to combine different elements and crystals to unlock various spells, passive bonuses, and customize character builds. While offering depth, some find the system overwhelming initially or requiring grinding.
- Some reviewers found the combat system to be just okay, simple, or even a snorefest, even when sped up. Others found it deep enough and easy to understand. Difficulty is generally on the easier side, though some early-game content may require a more strategic approach.
- Characters possess unique special abilities called 'Crafts' or 'S-Crafts' that utilize a CP (Craft Points) meter. These skills, especially S-Crafts, can deal significant damage and can be used strategically, even during the enemy's turn. The reviewer spent a considerable amount of time viewing each character's S-Craft.
- The game includes accessibility features like a 'Retry Offset' that lowers enemy stats after failed attempts, making battles easier. There's also a system that reduces experience gained from weaker enemies, discouraging grinding. Additionally, random turn-based bonuses like HP healing or critical hits can occur.
Performance:
- The game generally runs well, even on older hardware and the Steam Deck. Some users reported needing to adjust settings on the Steam Deck to optimize performance. The PC version supports higher resolutions and ultrawide aspect ratios.
- Some players have reported crashes and bugs, with one suggesting a potential fix involving hardware vertex shaders. Frequent saving is recommended to mitigate potential progress loss. Crashing issues present at launch seem to have been patched out for some users.
- The Steam version requires fan-made patches for improved BGM, full voice acting, and better translation/fonts.
- One reviewer experienced significant lag in certain zones despite having a capable computer. They also criticized the keyboard and mouse controls, suggesting a poor port from the original game.
- Some players have reported issues with cutscenes, such as black screens or failures to load. Disabling movies in the launcher settings may resolve the black screen issue.
Recommendations:
- The game is highly recommended as a great entry point to a beloved and expansive JRPG series. Reviewers praise its engaging story, well-developed characters, and immersive world-building, making it a worthwhile experience for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- The game is recommended for players who enjoy story-rich JRPGs with extensive dialogue and turn-based combat. However, it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or concise experiences due to its slow pace and emphasis on world-building.
- Many reviewers express strong positive sentiments, recommending the game without hesitation. However, these points often lack specific details about gameplay or mechanics, reducing their overall constructiveness.
- Playing the games in the intended order is crucial for understanding the story and characters throughout the series. Starting with later entries like 'Cold Steel' may lead to missed context and a desire to experience the series from the beginning.
- Some reviewers express mixed feelings, with some recommending skipping the game in favor of later entries or summaries due to its flaws. However, others still plan to play the sequel, indicating a divided opinion on the game's overall quality and value.
Miscellaneous:
- This game is the first entry in a large, interconnected series and serves as a prologue to a much larger story. Many plot threads are not resolved within this game, requiring players to continue with the sequels to experience the full narrative.
- The game is text-heavy with limited voice acting, resembling a visual novel. However, high-quality fan-made translation and voice patches are available to enhance the experience. The official Steam version lacks Chinese localization and voice acting.
- The game features an anime art style within a steampunk fantasy world, typical of Falcom's JRPGs. The visual style uses sprites pre-rendered from 3D models, evoking nostalgia for PS2-era RPGs.
- NPCs have unique names and their dialogues evolve as the story progresses. Hidden quests require speaking to almost all NPCs after every main quest.
- The Legend of Heroes saga tends to inspire unique and memorable experiences. The reviewer mentions playing the game on Steam Deck and using Proton compatibility settings.
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