There's just something about it. Walking around a warm village in Japan, talking to wise-elderly people, helping little kids look after kittens and hanging out at the arcade... and looking for sailors, because something to do with avenging your father or whatever.
The plot is a standard revenge story, the opening is admittedly incredibly cinematic and emotional. So much so that the game that follows is a comedown in tension. Whilst the game does have action setpieces, I think of the majority of tranquil gameplay soothes in the way a Studio Ghibli or Yasujirō Ozu film does, especially when firing it up on the gorgeous Sega Dreamcast.
It's not a perfect game, its ambition is both its strength and weakness. The open world is truly awe-inspiring and irresistible, whilst the expansive narrative designed for 5 or so games probably didn't help the game sell as well as it should have done.
It seems to divide gamers, but I'm sure lovers of immersive open worlds, gentle, slow storytelling and all things Japan will have something to take from this unique experience.
The plot is a standard revenge story, the opening is admittedly incredibly cinematic and emotional. So much so that the game that follows is a comedown in tension. Whilst the game does have action setpieces, I think of the majority of tranquil gameplay soothes in the way a Studio Ghibli or Yasujirō Ozu film does, especially when firing it up on the gorgeous Sega Dreamcast.
It's not a perfect game, its ambition is both its strength and weakness. The open world is truly awe-inspiring and irresistible, whilst the expansive narrative designed for 5 or so games probably didn't help the game sell as well as it should have done.
It seems to divide gamers, but I'm sure lovers of immersive open worlds, gentle, slow storytelling and all things Japan will have something to take from this unique experience.