The second and weakest game in the Fate/EXTRA trilogy.
It kinda starts off feeling like a diet Fate/EXTRA (similar themes and even story beats) but by the end it pulls through as its own beast with a very bitterweet story about identity.
In contrast to the anime interpretation of BRS, we follow Miss Black Rock Shooter herself as the MC, known as Stella in this continuity.
A very interesting thing to do with BRS as a franchise is to analyze how each new interpretation of the character uses the original song for its narrative. Through this world's lenses, it's probably sang by the last remaining humans, pledging for Stella to save them from the aliens.
On the topic of Stella, she's a great MC. Maaya Sakamoto does a fantastic job characterizing her cold yet soulful nature. Her character arc sees her going through a global odyssey in search for the meaning of her existence in true Kazuya Niino MC fashion. One of my favorite aspects was her relationship with Nana, a classic tale of familial acknowledgement (or supposed lack thereof in Nana's case) that culminates in a beautiful conclusion.
Nana is a fantastic deuteragonist, acting as an insanely charming foil to Stella's personality (especially during the extra missions, a must see) while delivering the heart of the story during its true ending.
The soldiers are great, extremely charismatic and insanely charming, they work really well considering the limited screen time they receive (Rothcal my beloved).
The aliens are extremely stylish and unique antagonists. What they lack in pure writing they more than make up for with charisma and distinct personalities. WRS receives minimal screen time and still manages to solidify her presence as iconic.
The combat functions as third person shooter that plays like a turn based jrpg.
I need more directors like Niino in my life, pushing for a mentally deranged new take on the old rpg formula for no fucking reason other than his distaste for the generic and formulaic. Thank you Niino.
It's very similar to EXTRA's in the sense that it gets WAY better as the game progresses, it's an extremely odd but kinda fun combat which again much like its older brother, also is at its best during boss fights. I wish the bike sections were in it more cus they're very fun.
The OST is fucking amazing. The level themes set such a thick atmosphere, it's hard to not get sucked into the scenario by them. The battle themes are varied and insanely funky. Niino's unparalleled mastery of the PSP hardware shows itself once again with the visual direction being as good as always, from the dystopic streets of NY to the gorgeous and relaxing Fuji Forest.
Criticisms? Well, this game introduced the True Ending formula that carried to CCC (which I explore more in depth on that game's review) which I don't particularly like, even if in this game it's a lesser evil since you don't have to replay the whole game again due to the mission based structure. However, it still robs the initial playthrough of one of the nicest parts of the story for no reason so that's definitely its biggest con.
Overall, it's a Kazuya Niino game, you know what you're gettin into. A fantastic title that ages like wine in my mind the more time passes.
It kinda starts off feeling like a diet Fate/EXTRA (similar themes and even story beats) but by the end it pulls through as its own beast with a very bitterweet story about identity.
In contrast to the anime interpretation of BRS, we follow Miss Black Rock Shooter herself as the MC, known as Stella in this continuity.
A very interesting thing to do with BRS as a franchise is to analyze how each new interpretation of the character uses the original song for its narrative. Through this world's lenses, it's probably sang by the last remaining humans, pledging for Stella to save them from the aliens.
On the topic of Stella, she's a great MC. Maaya Sakamoto does a fantastic job characterizing her cold yet soulful nature. Her character arc sees her going through a global odyssey in search for the meaning of her existence in true Kazuya Niino MC fashion. One of my favorite aspects was her relationship with Nana, a classic tale of familial acknowledgement (or supposed lack thereof in Nana's case) that culminates in a beautiful conclusion.
Nana is a fantastic deuteragonist, acting as an insanely charming foil to Stella's personality (especially during the extra missions, a must see) while delivering the heart of the story during its true ending.
The soldiers are great, extremely charismatic and insanely charming, they work really well considering the limited screen time they receive (Rothcal my beloved).
The aliens are extremely stylish and unique antagonists. What they lack in pure writing they more than make up for with charisma and distinct personalities. WRS receives minimal screen time and still manages to solidify her presence as iconic.
The combat functions as third person shooter that plays like a turn based jrpg.
I need more directors like Niino in my life, pushing for a mentally deranged new take on the old rpg formula for no fucking reason other than his distaste for the generic and formulaic. Thank you Niino.
It's very similar to EXTRA's in the sense that it gets WAY better as the game progresses, it's an extremely odd but kinda fun combat which again much like its older brother, also is at its best during boss fights. I wish the bike sections were in it more cus they're very fun.
The OST is fucking amazing. The level themes set such a thick atmosphere, it's hard to not get sucked into the scenario by them. The battle themes are varied and insanely funky. Niino's unparalleled mastery of the PSP hardware shows itself once again with the visual direction being as good as always, from the dystopic streets of NY to the gorgeous and relaxing Fuji Forest.
Criticisms? Well, this game introduced the True Ending formula that carried to CCC (which I explore more in depth on that game's review) which I don't particularly like, even if in this game it's a lesser evil since you don't have to replay the whole game again due to the mission based structure. However, it still robs the initial playthrough of one of the nicest parts of the story for no reason so that's definitely its biggest con.
Overall, it's a Kazuya Niino game, you know what you're gettin into. A fantastic title that ages like wine in my mind the more time passes.