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A well-known saying advises us not to judge a book by its cover. In this context, the "book" refers to the game, and in my perception, its "cover" was telling me: 'Oh, it's another one of those "Anime games" featuring cringe-worthy story and anime characters, luring you into purchasing the game with promises that the actual product fails to deliver.' And, oh boy, how wrong I was.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink stands as a stark contrast to your preconceived notions. I can confidently state that I have never encountered a game that is simultaneously as intricate and enjoyable. It boasts a wealth of details and sophisticated mechanics, to the extent that you can either find yourself lost or completely immersed in the complexity of Granblue Fantasy: Relink's gameplay elements.
Let me be clear: I'm not saying that this is the best game I've ever played or, God forbid, my favourite game. However, it undeniably deserves commendation across every facet it explores because there is no aspect executed with half-heartedness. Each segment of the game is developed to the utmost extent with incredible seriousness and meticulous attention to detail.
Story: The Adventures of the Skyfarers
What pleasantly surprised me the most about Granblue Fantasy: Relink is, in fact, the intrigue of its story. I must admit that my expectations were on the low side, but the narrative is so well-crafted that it genuinely caught me off guard. While it may not be a story that leaves you breathless with its twists and turns or delves into profound topics, its quality lies in genuine emotion and strong connections between the characters.
In simpler terms, it's a story with a happy ending, resembling more the quality of a top-notch Pixar animated feature than a high-budget film directed by industry elites, if you catch my drift.
The narrative centres around a band of adventurers known as Skyfarers, a skilled group proficient in unique magical arts dedicated to tracking down and eliminating Primordial Beasts—creatures wreaking havoc in the Skydom—for a reward.
Upon entering the new Skydom, Zegagrande, the group is ambushed by an unknown foe. In the ensuing battle, a crucial member is abducted. The initial rescue mission transforms into a quest to save the world as the enemy threatens to unleash havoc upon the entire Sky Realm by exploiting the powers of the captive member.
Given the emotional bond between the player-controlled main character and the kidnapped crew member, coupled with their unique life force connection, the rescue mission takes on paramount significance.
The game's concept, where you constantly have three active comrades and two passive crew members accompanying you—providing support rather than engaging in combat—creates a unique dynamic. The conversations between characters are consistently interesting, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Regarding the characters, it's noteworthy to highlight the remarkably well-done voice acting, which elevates the story even further. I opted for the English version, although the game still offers the original Japanese voiceover, and I must say the English voice actors delivered an outstanding performance.
In addition to the main story, spanning ten main chapters plus one optional chapter, there are Fate Episodes that delve into the backgrounds of all 16 playable characters. These episodes consist of 12 chapters each, narrating the story in a comic book style, with two chapters featuring boss fights.
Initially, I presumed these episodes were mere fillers, but to my surprise, the intricacy and depth of these small stories are incredible. Moreover, each character, not just the main ones but also those joining later, has exceptional voice acting that vividly brings out their unique personalities.
One notable drawback of the story is its considerable length, particularly towards the end of the game. Just when you anticipate the end, it extends further. Even after completing the main story, there's additional content to unravel. This extended storytelling has piqued my interest but may test one's patience as it leaves you wondering when it will finally be over.
Additionally, I must highlight the main antagonist, whose arrogant boasting fueled a strong sense of animosity in me. The prolonged conclusion heightened my frustration, especially in relation to her character.
Gameplay: Chaotic Beauty
As impressive as the story is, the gameplay is where Granblue Fantasy: Relink truly kicks into higher gear. I must admit that I don't recall ever encountering such a complex gameplay system in a game, especially when it comes to battles.
The combat is fast-paced, and when facing lower difficulty levels or under-levelled opponents, it may seem like button-mashing, but it goes beyond that. The protagonist's primary weapon is a sword, and each character wields a unique weapon, with most favouring melee weapons, while some incorporate ranged weaponry like firearms.
In addition to the main weapon, which includes standard light and heavy attacks, there are also magical or special attacks available, each with its own cooldown period. Defensive options encompass dodging and blocking, adhering to the standard conventions of similar games.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink introduces a unique feature in the form of Link attacks, which rely on a special metre that gradually fills up during combat. Once fully charged, you can execute a potent attack capable of significantly reducing the health of your enemies. However, adversaries, particularly bosses, also have their own overrage metre that increases as you damage them. When their metre is full, they become highly aggressive, unleashing powerful attacks that can be as hard as nails to avoid.
Describing everything that combat in Granblue Fantasy: Relink has to offer would be a lengthy endeavour. I'll sum it up by saying that the combat system in this game truly delivers an engaging gameplay loop that never once made me feel bored. Despite the chaos and intensity, you'll find it hard to get enough of the exhilarating battles—it's that impressive.
Considering its genre, Granblue Fantasy: Relink could be categorised as an action RPG. While it may lack certain traditional RPG elements like character customisation, its solid character progression system elevates it even beyond typical RPG standards.
For instance, certain missions may require controlling the main character, as determined by the game. However, for the majority of missions, you have the freedom to choose from the 16 characters and assemble a team that suits your preferences. Each playable character can wield four or five distinct weapons, crafted at the blacksmith and upgradeable with materials obtained during missions or through exchange at a designated vendor.
Furthermore, each weapon can be uniquely enhanced through the skill tree, and additional improvements can be applied using Wrightstones or by incorporating Mirage Munition, and this is only regarding weapons.
Every character gains experience by engaging in missions and fulfilling side objectives. Certain side missions contribute to the passive levelling of specific characters. The maximum level attainable for a character is 100. Additionally, each character possesses a unique skill tree featuring numerous upgradeable skills. Enhancing these skills enhances the character's stats, enabling them to tackle missions that may have previously been too challenging.
Unlocking skills in the skill tree also reveals special skills that can be employed as powerful attacks during battles. These special skills can be customised and changed as desired throughout the game.
This leads us to the significance of loot in the game, which holds a crucial role. Loot can be discovered in chests spread across levels and is also provided as a reward for completing tasks. After finishing the main story, Chapter ∅ is unlocked, continuing the narrative. In this chapter, you are tasked with activating quests at a designated location, involving activities such as repeated boss fights, defeating a specific number of enemies, guarding the base, and more. These missions are classified by special difficulty levels, ranging from easy to insane, employing the system: the higher the difficulty, the better the loot.
One aspect of looting that I found challenging is the vast quantity of various items that can be overwhelming to manage. While you'll come across a variety of loot necessary for upgrades and side quests, it's common to feel that the specific item you're seeking is elusive. Fortunately, there's a solution to this issue: by mapping the items you need, the game assists in identifying them during missions you undertake.
Discussing gameplay wouldn't be complete without acknowledging the extensive array of enemies present in the game. Each level unveils a new type of enemy, with the bosses standing out as particularly impressive. The boss fights are well-crafted and captivating. Choosing lower difficulty levels might make these encounters straightforward, but at higher difficulty settings, they can pose a significant challenge.
Encountering a mechanical giant around the midpoint of the game showcases the brilliance of Granblue Fantasy: Relink. To defeat this formidable foe, you must strategically bring it down on all fours and target the generator on its back for the kill. The diverse mechanics of this boss fight left such a profound impression that I felt compelled to raise the game's rating by at least five points just because of this fight.
The gameplay's downside, however, is the occasional sense of repetitiveness, particularly in the post-main mission phase. After the credits, the additional chapter previously mentioned becomes accessible. What wasn't mentioned earlier is that difficulty levels unlock gradually, and each level essentially presents the same content as the previous one but with increased difficulty.
This repetition becomes noticeable, especially with recurrent boss fights and missions. For completionists aiming for a 100 per cent finish, the game demands over 100 hours of playtime, whereas the main story can be completed in approximately 15 to 20 hours.
The positive aspect is that all of this occurs after the main story and isn't obligatory to play. However, if, like me, you strive to complete every game and potentially unlock the Platinum trophy, it becomes a tedious and repetitive process.
I must mention here that the game also features a co-op mode, allowing up to four players to form a team. However, despite my efforts, matchmaking never found anyone to play with me, possibly due to server problems or other issues. I expect that when the game is officially released, these problems will likely be resolved, and participating in co-op games should be an interesting experience.
Graphics and Sounds
As mentioned in the introduction, there is no discernible aspect of this game that hasn't been brought to perfection, including the visual aspect, as Granblue Fantasy: Relink stands as a true visual masterpiece.
Set in the fantastical Sky Realm, the game unfolds with a significant portion spent navigating the expansive skies in your ship, treating players to awe-inspiring vistas. Whether soaring through arguably the most exquisitely rendered skies in any video game, traversing dense forests, exploring deserts, venturing into volcanic craters, or encountering stunning sky cities, each location in the game is a visual marvel.
The vibrant colours and characters encountered during the game lend the cities and locations visited an enchanting, fairy-tale-like quality. Everything exudes a sense of vibrant vitality, warmth, and an indescribable, unreal charm.
Concerning the graphic presentation, the game adopts an illustrative visual style similar to games like Legend of Zelda or Prince of Persia 2008, with all characters designed in an anime style. The attention to detail is exceptional, and the design of each character, including their costumes, anime-inspired hairstyles, and detailed clothing, is executed with precision, contributing to breathtaking visuals.
The lighting in the game is also remarkable, particularly in levels set at night in locations you visit during the day, showcasing an incredible contrast in the design between day and night. It was not uncommon for me to wander aimlessly through large cities, doing nothing but marvelling at the beauty of the graphics and the art style in general.
The sounds are also executed superbly. I highlighted the fantastic voice acting, but the overall sounds in the game are exceptional as well. Whether it's environmental sounds, the chatter of people on the streets of a bustling city, or the sounds of weapons in battle, everything is well-crafted and truly impressive.
The soundtrack is also phenomenal. The compositions that play in the background while you peacefully stroll around the city are incredibly relaxing, while in dark and dangerous places, a very different style of music enhances the atmosphere. The ability to listen to all soundtracks separately in a special section of the main menu is also highly commendable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I will reiterate what I mentioned in the introduction: never judge a book by its cover. Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fantastic game with a compelling story, excellent graphics and sound presentation, and one of the most complex yet entertaining gameplay experiences in the world of video games.
Despite a few minor flaws and some repetitive post-story content, any reviewer should be compelled to give this game a high score, even if they have personal preferences.
The Good
Compelling story- Complex yet very satisfying gameplay
- Stunning graphics and art style
- Excellent sound design
- Character variety and their progression
The Bad
Occasional repetitiveness in the post-story content
