TruebladeSirius
2006
It retains almost the same gameplay of the previous game which is always a plus, the main difference is in the more varied map design thanks to its neat gimmicks and aggressive enemy AI that encourages strategizing more so than its predecessors.
The real problem however is in the messy story that throws in unnecessary drama and tedious padding around the second half, which ultimately leaves a bad taste, the cast is fine but not as likeable as the other SNs. The OST is a bop tho.
The real problem however is in the messy story that throws in unnecessary drama and tedious padding around the second half, which ultimately leaves a bad taste, the cast is fine but not as likeable as the other SNs. The OST is a bop tho.
2003
Arguably the best Summon Night as stated by many fans of the series, and it does almost everything right.
The upgrades to the visuals is chef's kiss, an amazing cast both design-wise and personality-wise, and a decent story to boot.
The battle system has been properly balanced and notably improved over its predecessors, adding lots of QoL features and new mechanics for some extra spice.
Could've given it a 5/5 if it weren't for its insufferably naive protagonist.
The upgrades to the visuals is chef's kiss, an amazing cast both design-wise and personality-wise, and a decent story to boot.
The battle system has been properly balanced and notably improved over its predecessors, adding lots of QoL features and new mechanics for some extra spice.
Could've given it a 5/5 if it weren't for its insufferably naive protagonist.
2001
The writing is surprisingly pretty good by SN standards with how it feels like a geniunely fun adventure where you explore lots of places and learn interesting details about the world, and its strong ties to the lore of the series add more to the intrigue. And a lot of the supporting characters get a good amount of screentime and most of them have quite the likeable personalities.
Gameplay got more refined from the first game although it still retains some of its jank, it even kicks the challenge up a notch but the battles in general were still enjoyable.
Gameplay got more refined from the first game although it still retains some of its jank, it even kicks the challenge up a notch but the battles in general were still enjoyable.
2000
Other than it being the start of a somewhat popular SRPG series, SN1 barely has anything going for it.
The Battle System is far from original although still passable. Everything hits super hard if you try to and level up your party evenly, until you throw all EXP into 1 or 2 characters then it turns into braindead easy mode.
Story is a shallow and typical "Save the world" scenario with one-note characters, but what makes it worse is how 80% of it is just beating the snot out of the same dudes over and over again which gets very tedious very quickly.
The Battle System is far from original although still passable. Everything hits super hard if you try to and level up your party evenly, until you throw all EXP into 1 or 2 characters then it turns into braindead easy mode.
Story is a shallow and typical "Save the world" scenario with one-note characters, but what makes it worse is how 80% of it is just beating the snot out of the same dudes over and over again which gets very tedious very quickly.
2005
+ Fantastic and Dark Plot
+ An Engaging, Fast-paced battle system
+ Likeable cast of Characters, even the Villains
+ A well-designed world map
- Some Dungeons are a total pain
- The Pacing gets slower towards the end with lots of backtracking
- A lot of "Guide dang it" moments
+ An Engaging, Fast-paced battle system
+ Likeable cast of Characters, even the Villains
+ A well-designed world map
- Some Dungeons are a total pain
- The Pacing gets slower towards the end with lots of backtracking
- A lot of "Guide dang it" moments
While its pacing can be rather slow, it's so worth it, as it's the prequel to the KINOGOATRAWSWAG
2013
+The antagonists get solid character development progressively
+Blood-pumping Soundtrack courtesy of REVO
+Job System (and I "Bravely" admit that it's a plus by "Default" huehuehue)
-THEFUCKINGSECONDHALFOFTHEGAMEGTFDGDBDHGTDH
+Blood-pumping Soundtrack courtesy of REVO
+Job System (and I "Bravely" admit that it's a plus by "Default" huehuehue)
-THEFUCKINGSECONDHALFOFTHEGAMEGTFDGDBDHGTDH
The story juggles a lot of stuff in one go so it can be a bit all over the place but it's still good i'd say.
Loved the gameplay, my favorite of the series so far, it is pretty difficult at first, until you get leona and 3 shot most bosses in the game lol
Graphics are god awful even for a psp game, part of me wished that they didn't port the game to the psp for that reason. Even the music here is inferior to its PS2 counterpart
Loved the gameplay, my favorite of the series so far, it is pretty difficult at first, until you get leona and 3 shot most bosses in the game lol
Graphics are god awful even for a psp game, part of me wished that they didn't port the game to the psp for that reason. Even the music here is inferior to its PS2 counterpart
+An emotional Rashomon-styled narrative starring five distinctive and well-written protagonists
+Fast-paced battle system inspired by fighting games, with
a variety of playstyles based on the playable character
+Stunning visuals native to Vanillaware games
-A noticeable lack of variety in terms of stages and bosses progressively throughout the game
+Fast-paced battle system inspired by fighting games, with
a variety of playstyles based on the playable character
+Stunning visuals native to Vanillaware games
-A noticeable lack of variety in terms of stages and bosses progressively throughout the game
KINOGOATRAWSWAG
2004
Best Tales game
Veigue best character
Give Praise🙏
Veigue best character
Give Praise🙏
+Epic political plot full of twists and turns
+Job System (yeah...)
+Beautifully detailed sprite work
-Poorly balanced gameplay, from broken classes and units, to inconsistent enemy level scaling, and an infamously brutal boss fight
-Doesn't do a great job at presenting its story due to its awkward translation and unnecessary exposition dump
+Job System (yeah...)
+Beautifully detailed sprite work
-Poorly balanced gameplay, from broken classes and units, to inconsistent enemy level scaling, and an infamously brutal boss fight
-Doesn't do a great job at presenting its story due to its awkward translation and unnecessary exposition dump
2010
+Intersting story premise where might means right
+An Engaging real-time 1v1 Battle System that values timing as the key to victory
+Masterful Soundtrack by renowned composer Yoko Shimomura
-Story suffers from some inconsistencies near the end
-Insane difficulty spike halfway through the game
+An Engaging real-time 1v1 Battle System that values timing as the key to victory
+Masterful Soundtrack by renowned composer Yoko Shimomura
-Story suffers from some inconsistencies near the end
-Insane difficulty spike halfway through the game
1999
+3 different routes for replay value
+Somewhat addictive combat with lots of tools to use
+Music is actually quite good
-A generic and basic storyline
-The gameplay had unrealized potential
-Ungratifying Visuals
+Somewhat addictive combat with lots of tools to use
+Music is actually quite good
-A generic and basic storyline
-The gameplay had unrealized potential
-Ungratifying Visuals