Post by bramblett05 on Apr 12, 2016 0:45:59 GMT
Experience DRPGs can go one of two ways. One you love it or two you hate it though maybe going through mix feelings with ever so changing difficulty spikes or trying to find a good item for a boss. Operation Abyss was pretty good but flawed and this is pretty much the same but it took most the pain of making items or leaving notes behind making it more of a classic DRPG of the likes of Wizardry with the main goal on classes and exploration. The story is your ship or plane crashed in you get stranded in a town called Escario with a girl named Riu greeting you and you learn about the world around you, the factions and how you are the stranger who will help get bloodstones and get back home. Sounds easy on paper but how to get BC is another story that will make you learn what grinding is all about.
In order to get BC first you have to kill Lineage Creatures which can be found in alot of ways. One way is getting a certain item and just walk around in hope of getting the creature needed. Another fun way is using what is known as Hiding, ambushing creatures in order to get whatever items it has and it is random. I found the cost going up a little too high in the begining but once you start finding them and going with the story, it gets quicker to unlock more. This is where the game's difficulty can spike with seeing an early 2 star creature or even a rare and very deadly 5 star creature. Tip one always put stats in health and agility because you will need both more than luck and Hiding will become second nature because that is where weapons will be at because the shop has a decent starter set but once you get going, you will find better items even pretty early on.
A new thing introduced is the way characters are introduced which is by age and it affects how many life points you can have which is 3 or even 1. One is if they get killed they are done and back to the register page because you want to create a full party because everyone earns exp even without having to be in your party. Three or two life points can be ok because if missing, can be treated at the taveren for a high cost or a good many battles and how quick they get healed is also handled by how hard enemies are. Money comes slow but your spare party members keeping killing monsters and every few good minutes you can collect the pay which is different than in Demon Gaze with YOU paying. Now collecting a certain amount of hearts from the lineage monsters can earn you skills of buffs that cost morale by giving them to a certain faction and each one has different abilities to learn.
My error was thinking there was sidequest or not having the hearts as the main focus which I was wrong and spent alot of extra hours dazed and confused guess from coming from Operation Abyss so it can be confusing at times but it has its moments. The artwork is really good and ranges from the games current artstyle to anime like in Demon Gaze and there are a good bit of choices and a few classes with all being better at something and being able to learn different skills. Overall it is a challenging game and fun but flawed in some aspects and if it's your first DRPG I think their upcoming title maybe be a better fit but DRPG fans will be sure to find something good in Stranger.
Score 7.5 Out Of 10
+Another DRPG
Artstyle is amazing
Places look alot better
- Difficulty changes so often
Story is a bit dry
Finding items can last forever (take that as you will)