OnceWhoseSeaman

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Very Good art style, for starters. All character designs and the setting does fit the bright and whimsical fashion associated with the Fantasy RPG genre which it is. The story is basic, though with complicated concepts. It isn't very replayable, and more of a one-time usage before you know everything that occurs and needs to be done. Choices don't really matter instead of just for different text boxes, though in some one instance, during the Neva Tulira main boss fight, the strategy to keep the objective alive is creatively implemented and can be done in various ways. The implementation of time powers are very creative, starting with visuals concerning the state of settings and characters, which can be grim in the future and the past. In combat, the usage of cause and effect for both going in the past and then the present and for the present to go to the future is implemented well and is the main point of most bosses. Kari Hudo for example can teleport to both sides of the stage and can be young or old, which vary power on her summoned monsters also, so you need to constantly turn on and off the time crystals. Brute force is usually not incentivized, such as with that one Guardian who is a glass container of particles, that can't be hit properly unless you rewind time to get the container back or something else. The characters are somewhat tropey but used effectively, and the problem of their introduction comes to the amount of story left in the game, such is the case for Kari Hudo, who captures Monster spirits something to use later and permanently in battle, enhanced by ageing them up or down with time magic. But this unfortunately incentivizes investing in a late-game character basically catching all the possible monsters you could, which is effective if grinding in other places besides the ruins in the main story, which you are incentivized to explore. Are not very replayable, in this case. Most are for story purposes and not required to go back to unless for grinding or severely missing a side quest. It also does the problem of killing off another party member, which is a recent trope in previous RPGs, but prevents party variety if you really like that one character. My petty grievance was that I did not complete his character, as I think he unlocked everything he needed at level 40 or more. In writing, there's nothing revolutionary, but they work. Crisbell, though basic, is a convincing, selfless, soft-spoken heroine. Christopher is a bit bland, Wilhelm is sassy and wise, JKR-721 is a static robot person, Kari Hudo was interesting when she was an adult, but somewhat less when literally infantilized. Zas is generically vibrant and expressive, but I find her to be my favourite character either way. The antagonists are mostly note, but the conflict they bring is what's interesting. Cinder's antagonist and conflict involves the recurring right-hand antagonists and brings nuance and understanding to the plight of their people, as well as try to make them 2-sided. Neva Tulira's conspiracy was interesting and introduced minor elements of refugee discrimination and how influence can corrupt some people, which is present in the side-quests. Enzo's corruption was basic, but had elements of seriousness on what he does to gain power and maintain it, which is made even more clear when introducing basically a poorly-cared-for lower neighbourhood on the path of being flooded and neglected even more, with the somewhat aesthetically bourgeoisie city remaining high. Characters have their niches to fill as party members. 2 are set-up/support characters, (Wilhelm and Adri), physical damage dealer (JKR-721), Magic Man (Christopher), Random (Zas, my favourite to use), Kari Hudo is a sort of summoner, and Crisbell is basically the healer/mega support. They all work out, and with the limited equipment you can use, you use them in a limited amount of ways. Crisbell unfortunately being an OP healer means that you have to suffer various patterns when fighting hard bosses, where they hit you with a big move, and Crisbell usually heals. Sure, you can reverse time a few turns ago, but the pattern remains, and since the bosses hit hard, you need to stack your team with heals, such as Zas, who is very beneficial and is "balanced" in the idea that random can benefit little or benefit a lot. Bosses are reused, despite some model changes, as with trying to get to the ruins, but they challenge by hitting hard and leaving less room to figure out how to deal with them. The music is very good, despite it shortness. My favorites include both Ruins of Cinder and Neva Tulira, The Magician's Prestige, Time Empress Waltz, and more. Concerning the main Antagonist, the twist was way too late, but impactful as it expands on the tiny lore there is concerning the previous civilization that inhabited the current setting. (SPOILER: THE FROG WAS AN EDGY GENOCIDE GUY WHAT) It felt like an attempt to be complicated, but it's still simple in the end.