Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review – A Charming Journey With Room to Grow
Granblue Fantasy Versus might have introduced a whole new audience to the world of Granblue Fantasy in 2020, but as a fan of the mobile RPGs, I approached Granblue Fantasy: Relink with different expectations. This transition from mobile to PC and PlayStation has resulted in a game that embraces thrilling real-time action, placing it alongside ambitious titles like Final Fantasy XVI and Star Ocean: The Divine Force. However, its mobile origins are a double-edged sword – the storytelling might be more concise than its contemporaries, but other aspects don’t quite reach the same level of polish.
Story – A Refreshingly Concise Adventure
Granblue Fantasy: Relink‘s story follows a skyfaring crew on their quest to find Estalucia, a mysterious island rumored to grant wishes. Players take on the role of a mostly silent protagonist (choosing between Gran or Djeeta), alongside Lyria, a young girl with powerful summoning abilities. The main cast boasts a diverse range of personalities – Io’s anxiety balances out Rackam’s confidence, leading to captivating interactions.
Storytelling – A Fast-Paced, Mobile-Inspired Structure
After experiencing the lengthy RPGs like Persona 3 Reload and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, I expected Relink‘s main adventure to span at least 30 hours. However, its narrative structure, inspired by mobile games, is a refreshing change. Each of the 10 chapters is concise, avoiding unnecessary dialogue and focusing on clear objectives. You’ll encounter a new location, complete a mission, defeat a boss, and move on to the next chapter. This streamlined approach ensures constant progress, making the main campaign enjoyable to complete within 15-20 hours.
Character Design – A Visually Stunning Cast
While the Granblue Fantasy series has an extensive roster of characters, only a few allies have significant roles in this specific story. However, many others can be summoned using tickets earned through side activities, allowing the personalities of the main cast to shine. Every character is visually impressive, both in and out of combat. Their 2D portraits, with their watercolor drawings and clean lines, exude charm in the main menu, while their beautifully rendered 3D models bring them to life with expressive faces.
Fate Episodes – A Missed Opportunity
Each character has Fate Episodes, which provide backstory and lore. While these scenes are a nice addition, most of them are simply cutscenes that describe events in a comparatively dull manner. The lack of playable components in most of these episodes is a missed opportunity to explore the characters further.
Combat – Dynamic and Diversified Action
Relink‘s combat system is one of its greatest strengths. Each character boasts a unique playstyle and special skills, reminiscent of Genshin Impact. For fans of action RPGs, Gran and Djeeta’s straightforward swordfighting will feel familiar. Eugen, on the other hand, offers a more experimental ranged approach, combining bombs and even light third-person lock-on shooting mechanics. With a diverse roster to experiment with, you’re bound to find characters that suit your preferences.
Arts Level – A Risk and Reward Dynamic
The Arts Level system adds another layer of depth to the combat. The more normal attacks you perform and the longer you wait to unleash a skill, the more powerful it becomes. This creates an interesting risk and reward dynamic. For example, a healing skill will be more effective at Arts Level 4 than at Arts Level 1. However, what if you’re critically low on HP and need immediate healing? These strategic decisions are both engaging and rewarding.
Skybound Arts and Full Burst – Ultimate Attacks and Team Synergy
My personal favorite combat feature is Skybound Arts, powerful ultimate attacks unique to each character. Similar to special attacks, the game encourages strategic use of Skybound Arts. While you can unleash them immediately, activating them consecutively as a party triggers Full Burst, a devastating group attack. This mechanic, similar to Persona’s All-Out Attacks, adds a dynamic element of team synergy. Fortunately, you can also command your party to hold onto their Skybound Arts, ensuring they don’t activate prematurely.
Multiplayer – A Solid Online Experience With Limitations
Relink‘s multiplayer shines in Quests, which are Monster Hunter-like missions that allow you to gather your team to complete objectives. While these can be tackled solo, the online experience adds a new dimension. With a plethora of matchmaking options, you can find suitable groups, whether it be random strangers or specific players. You can also invite friends to your lobby for a more social experience.
Crossplay – A Missed Opportunity
Unfortunately, the biggest limitation of Relink‘s multiplayer is the lack of crossplay between PlayStation and PC. This restricts matchmaking potential and divides the player base, a concern for a potentially niche game. However, the online experience is smooth, with no connection or framerate issues observed while playing with friends on PlayStation.
Gacha Mechanics – A Relatively Inoffensive Implementation
Given its mobile roots, Relink features light gacha mechanics. You can trade unwanted Sigils or treasure for vouchers, which can then be redeemed for new Sigils, with random effects. While this system might feel somewhat repetitive, it’s relatively inoffensive. Thankfully, Cygames has confirmed no plans to implement microtransactions, ensuring a level playing field and encouraging players to focus on gameplay rather than spending money.
Conclusion – A Fun and Charming RPG With Room for Improvement
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fun and charming RPG with exciting combat and a compelling story. However, its mobile origins are evident in some aspects, particularly the Fate Episodes. While the game’s multiplayer experience is solid, the lack of crossplay is a significant limitation. Overall, Relink offers a satisfying and engaging adventure, but it could benefit from further development and expansion in future updates or sequels.
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