This is a reminder for why I never cared for action RPGs. I don't like this turn-based/real-time action hybrid style of combat. I love turn-based RPG combat. I love action games. This combination of the two loses the appeal of both. I can't take time to consider choices and plan several turns ahead which is something I appreciate about turn-based combat. The action is constantly interrupted because I have to select my attacks from a menu which removes the visceral, reflex-based satisfaction of action combat. This hybrid style also brings elements from turn-based combat that makes action combat frustrating such as unavoidable attacks that pretty much kill the targeted party member, and elements from action combat that makes turn-based combat frustrating such as lack of situational awareness with attacks hitting you from offscreen. Some of these problems are the fault of the game not including solutions that modern action games have such as visual feedback that tells you you're being targeted or a move is unblock-able. Sometimes I'm not even aware I'm being hit. I would just look down at my health bar and have no clue how it got so low. This all just made playing this game an often frustrating experience.
What I did like for a while was the story. I was impressed how much nuance was given to the story of the radical environmental activist group Avalanche trying to take down the big corporation Shinra that's destroying the planet. And the characters are all fun with big personalities. Too bad the game moves away from that. When the group gets to Shinra, this section of the game goes on for too long, and introduces new story around an ancient civilization and fighting fate. I started tuning out at this point. It all leads up to an ending that falls flat. I never played the original game, so some of this stuff didn't really make much sense to me. I didn't care anyways.
This game has high production value, but that wasn't able to save it in the end. I'm just left thinking about how much more I enjoyed playing Strangers of Paradise.
What I did like for a while was the story. I was impressed how much nuance was given to the story of the radical environmental activist group Avalanche trying to take down the big corporation Shinra that's destroying the planet. And the characters are all fun with big personalities. Too bad the game moves away from that. When the group gets to Shinra, this section of the game goes on for too long, and introduces new story around an ancient civilization and fighting fate. I started tuning out at this point. It all leads up to an ending that falls flat. I never played the original game, so some of this stuff didn't really make much sense to me. I didn't care anyways.
This game has high production value, but that wasn't able to save it in the end. I'm just left thinking about how much more I enjoyed playing Strangers of Paradise.