This game is a pleasant surprise. Was not on my radar at all, until I just happened to find the demo on the Playstation Network. At first, game play is slow since the tutorial walks you through every little detail of about the first few battles (roughly 30 minutes depending on your skill level).
Let me go over what/how this game is played. This is a turn-based RPG, but instead of simply choosing an attack or spell/ability, you move your character on the field (up/down and left/right) and then attack. The field is composed of three 'lanes,' and allies will move out of your way so that you can walk past them (unless they are guarding, charging, or readying an action). The melee (and most of the spells) have you press the attack button several times to attack your enemy. But this isn't as easy as mashing the circle or square button. Attacks have to be timed (some launch enemies up into the air and require you to wait a tiny bit before continuing your combo) or some attacks cause an enemy to recoil and if you just hit attack again too soon, your next attack will miss (so wait until the enemy recovers from the hit and comes back within range).
You have HP. There is no mana. Instead, as you move around the battlefield, you use up a movement bar (you can only move until you use it all up, or attack, or guard, or use skill/ability). You attack and use skills based upon an action bar. Melee skills let you keep attacking until you miss or use up all of your action gauge. Other skills use a set amount. Every turn, you regenerate a certain amount each of move/action bar. The field also has hazards/benefits. Sometimes there is cannon fire that hurts everyone in a certain area (friend of foe). There could be a healing effect for everyone in a certain range (friend or foe). There could be hidden traps (spikes that pop out of the ground), or visible traps (needs, poison), or traps that are activated when you move into range of an enemy that has the action ready to go.
There are four nations you can ally with (you can change alliances between every one and five days). The quests and campaign seem easy. The online multiplayer (called War) is quite challenging.
Once the game takes off the training wheels, things open up. You have access to hire more character classes. Your party is called a troop, and each troop can have up to four characters in it at a time (I'm aware of one character class that takes up two slots). You can have up to 6 total troops formed at a time, with troops you aren't using being either idle or sent out in "War" as a "detachment" which earns you gold and experience.
The only two negatives about this game would be this: First, after a lot of explanation in the beginning, there isn't all that much for the rest of the game. You largely have to figure out on your own (except for a few lines of text here and there) how to upgrade weapons/armors, get new abilities/skills, and how to "class up" your characters (once you hit level 20, you can re-set your level back to 1 in exchange for upgrading one of your base attributes). I'm managing just fine when it comes to figuring this stuff out since I have the RPG experience and have handled the Demon/Dark Souls series.
The second negative is friendly fire. Yes, it makes sense that your units can attack each other (or your healing abilities will affect enemy units as well), but hit detection isn't very accurate. There are many times where my projectile attacks or spells are not even close to hitting an ally... and it somehow does. This can be frustrating since instead of finishing off an enemy unit or cancelling an action, you give the enemy another turn to take away your HP. Especially if you are trying to finish off the last enemy before a barrage of arrows or cannon fire wallops you for 1/4 to 1/3 of your entire party's HP.
Overall, a great game. Worth picking up if you enjoy RPG's. Graphics and sprites are fun. Music is catchy. And earning gold in War is quite satisfying.
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2016
Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2016
Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2016
Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
J. Marriott
Borrowing elements from classic strategy games like Ogre Battle and Final Fantasy Tactics
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2017Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Luis
Excelente juego.
Reviewed in Mexico on December 18, 2016Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Just Great .A++++++ `
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2017Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
EDREZ
Excelente juego JRPG
Reviewed in Mexico on September 9, 2016Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
Riddo
Entretenido
Reviewed in Mexico on November 24, 2016Edition: PlayStation 4 - Launch Day EditionVerified Purchase
