lazerpuma

It's strange that this game is receiving better reviews than when it was first released in the US on Playstation in the late 90s. This was a middling at best JRPG then -- probably one of the most disappointing JRPGs on the PS back in the 90s. I'm not sure how a graphical overhaul improves on a game with forgettable stories for each character and shallow RPG mechanics given that each story is relatively short.

This game is so much better than the reviews are making it out to be. The atmosphere the developers created in their version of New Orleans, LA is magical, and maintains a creepy other-worldliness undertone akin to the Louisiana atomosphere of True Detective Season 1 and parts of NOLA itself if you've ever had the privilege of visiting. The locales and architecture are diverse, the story is very interesting (more so than GTA V in my opinion), and the driving (especially in simulation mode) is much, much better than the driving in GTA V -- cars feel heavy and you can drift and fishtale around corners -- think DRIVER for PSone. I was not alive in the 60s, but I appreciate that the developers were able to create an experience that is evocative of an equally magical and dangerous era. As most open world games take place in the present day, they lose the fantasy element that this game has going in its favor. Also, even locked at 30 frames, it looks incredible and plays just fine on a capable PC. If you have the capability to play at 60 fps with the setting bumped up, it looks better than GTA V in my opinion.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]