Granblue Fantasy Versus might have launched a wholly new fanbase to Gran’s grand journey in 2020, however as a fan of the cellular RPGs earlier than it, I got here into Granblue Fantasy: Relink with very totally different expectations. Lastly making the leap from telephones to PC and PlayStation, the sequence has embraced exhilarating actual-time motion that feels proper at residence alongside different formidable story-pushed video games like Closing Fantasy XVI or Star Ocean: The Divine Power. However its clear cellular roots are a double-edged sword – the storytelling could also be tighter and fewer bloated than its contemporaries, however different elements simply don’t really feel fairly as much as snuff for a recreation of this scale. Nonetheless, Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s enjoyable fight and charming characters have stored me entertained for greater than 35 hours already, even effectively after the credit have rolled.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s story follows a skyfaring crew on their seek for a mysterious island referred to as Estalucia that may make needs come true. You play as a largely silent protagonist (your alternative between Gran and Djeeta) together with a younger woman named Lyria, whose unbelievable summoning powers play a key half later within the story. The central forged has a pleasant mixture of personalities – Io’s anxious demeanor balances out Rackam’s extra steadfast confidence, and that effectively-rounded get together creates loads of fascinating interactions between them.
After lately taking part in a pair of extremely lengthy RPGs in Persona 3 Reload and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, I used to be anticipating Relink’s important journey to take not less than 30 hours – nevertheless, its story is structured rather more like a cellular recreation, which largely works in its favor. Every of its 10 chapters are concise and do not drag their ft with extra pointless dialogue than they must. You may have your goal for the chapter, go to a brand new location to finish it, defeat a boss, after which transfer on to the following one. It’s a refreshing change of tempo to play an RPG that doesn’t wish to waste your time and simply will get straight into the motion. Because of this, I at all times felt like I used to be making some type of significant story progress, and the primary marketing campaign might be accomplished in a satisfying 15-20 hours.
Relink isn’t brief on cinematic moments, both. Proper from the start, your crew is ambushed by monsters and also you’re pressured to battle them off as they attempt to board you. Among the extra wonderful moments are even on par with Closing Fantasy XVI’s largest confrontations. For instance, one chapter has you controlling Bahamut just like these thrilling Eikon battles, whereas one other has you climbing on a stone large such as you’re taking part in Shadow of the Colossus. Though Relink’s story doesn’t have the grandiose scope of one thing like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 or The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie, it’s no much less charming or emotional.
Whereas the Granblue Fantasy sequence has many nice characters, solely a choose few allies have precise roles on this story. That doesn’t cease others from displaying up, nevertheless, as many extra might be summoned utilizing tickets you earn as rewards for ending facet actions. This enables the primary forged’s personalities to shine even amongst a bigger roster, and each character seems nice each out and in of fight because of Relink’s eye-catching artwork fashion. The watercolor drawings and clear traces of their 2D portraits ooze attraction in the primary menu, and the 3D fashions are superbly rendered, too, with faces that teem with emotion and life.
Each character has one thing referred to as Destiny Episodes, that are particular scenes that present lore and background on them, and even enhance that particular person’s stats if you end watching. That is the place Relink’s cellular roots are at its weakest. Of the ten or so Destiny Episodes every character has, solely perhaps two or three have a playable element. The overwhelming majority are simply cutscenes that merely describe what’s happening in a relatively boring method that made me want extra of them had been totally fleshed out.
Even so, considered one of Relink’s best strengths is the mechanical variety of its roster. Every character has a singular playstyle and particular abilities in a method that’s harking back to Genshin Affect. Those that want a simple swordfighter might be greater than happy taking part in as Gran and Djeeta, hacking and slashing in a method that may absolutely be acquainted for any fan of motion RPGs like this. However when you’re feeling experimental, Eugen’s ranged assaults make the most of a mixture of bombs and even some mild third-particular person lock-on and taking pictures mechanics. There are such a lot of characters to check out that you just’re sure to search out a number of favorites.
Relink’s actual-time motion fight additionally has a number of options that assist it stand out from related video games. The character you’re controlling has an Arts Stage, which determines how efficient your particular abilities are. The extra regular assaults you dish out and longer you wait till you unleash a talent, the extra highly effective the talent might be. That creates an fascinating threat and reward dynamic that’s always at play. For instance, in case your character has a therapeutic talent, ready till you attain Arts Stage 4 will heal extra HP than when you activate it at Arts Stage one. However what in case your HP is critically low and also you want quick assist? Making these selections is as essential as it’s enjoyable.
My favourite fight characteristic, nevertheless, are Skybound Arts, that are highly effective final assaults distinctive to every character. Very similar to particular assaults, Relink’s fight system additionally encourages you to attend earlier than firing off Skybound Arts. You’re welcome to unleash yours proper when your meter hits 100%, but when your complete get together does so one after one other, they’ll activate what’s referred to as Full Burst, which is a bunch assault that offers huge injury to your opponents, just like one thing like Persona’s All-Out Assaults. Thankfully, it’s also possible to command your get together to carry on to their very own Skybound Arts earlier than you activate your personal, so that you by no means have to fret about them going off prematurely.
Developer Cygames was initially working with PlatinumGames on Relink, and whereas that associate left the challenge in 2019, the studio’s fingerprints can nonetheless be felt all through. Working across the totally different maps felt like I used to be taking part in as 2B and 9S in Nier: Automata once more, with easy and responsive controls as I went. Granblue Fantasy: Relink often switches up its actual-time motion in an analogous method, too, which prevents the fight from feeling stale. For instance, when your ship will get raided, you should use the weapons on the facet of it to select off enemies like a primary-particular person-shooter earlier than they’ve the prospect to land. In one other half, you’ll management a mech to battle towards different robots, type of such as you’re taking part in an Armored Core recreation. Whereas these moments could also be brief lived, they’re nonetheless thrilling and extremely enjoyable.
Through the story and into the submit-recreation, you’ll undertake duties merely referred to as Quests. These are type of Monster Hunter-like missions the place you collect your group to finish targets, comparable to defeating a boss, eliminating waves of enemies, or defending objects. Fortunately, you’ll be able to deal with all of those in single-participant mode along with your NPC companions. Nevertheless, that is additionally the place Relink’s multiplayer shines probably the most. There are a plethora of matchmaking choices that allow you to tailor your on-line classes, whether or not you wish to be part of up with a random group of strangers or seek for particular individuals. You may as well invite your personal pals to hitch your foyer when you go browsing, so the method for getting a crew collectively is comparatively easy.
Sadly, the most important problem with Relink’s multiplayer is that whereas PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 gamers can play with one another, there’s no crossplay between PlayStation and PC. This actually limits the matchmaking potential and divides the consumer base of a recreation that already runs the chance of being pretty area of interest. The excellent news is that I didn’t see any connection or framerate points once I performed with a number of of my buddies on PlayStation, so the web expertise appears stable.
Finishing Quests rewards you with supplies wanted to forge and improve weapons, in addition to enhance Sigils. Sigils are equippable orbs connected to your weapon that add quite a lot of totally different results, comparable to reducing talent cooldowns when hitting foes or rising your base assault stat. There’s loads of cool results to mess around with and tailor your particular playstyle towards. Among the hardest submit-recreation bosses and Quests aren’t for the faint of coronary heart, so that you’ll want correct Sigil planning with a purpose to beat them. They provide ample challenges for you and your folks to tackle after ending the story, and the preparation makes the victory that a lot sweeter as you lastly overcome these monsters.
Given Granblue Fantasy’s cellular roots, Relink does even have some mild gacha mechanics, however fortunately no microtransactions. You’ll be able to commerce in undesirable Sigils or treasure for vouchers, which may then be redeemed to transmute new Sigils, that are seemingly random by which impact they offer you. That’s a little bit obnoxious, however this technique is comparatively inoffensive so far as gacha mechanics go. Cygames additionally confirmed that it has no plans to implement any microtransaction trades sooner or later, so there’s no method to make use of actual cash to get a leg up in-recreation. This retains the taking part in area equal amongst gamers and encourages you to spend extra time taking part in as an alternative of paying.