Resonance of Fate - 3/10 - We've already had a bit of discussion on this game here, but now that I've finished it...twice (yes, for trophies. Shut up.)...I can now render final verdict on it: this is one of the most tedious games I've played this generation. But let's start at the beginning: the back of the box promises that this game is "RPG Redefined." Well, "Rocket Propelled Grenades" might certainly be redefined by this game, but in terms of being a JRPG it's the same ol' JRPG crap: objectification of women (from multiple breast jokes and sequences to Leanne's painties clearly visible when she attacks in the air); convoluted battle system that's only complicated because no one explains it very well; an extremely nonsensical story that the game doesn't even bother having go anywhere; and a short critical path (seriously, I completed my second playthrough in 5 whole hours in New Game +. Even accounting for my characters' extreme over-leveling, you're looking at maybe 15 Hours before diving into sidequests) padded by extreme amounts of filler sidequests (the vast majority being fetch quests), constant random encounters, constant backtracking, and battles that take way too long to complete. Considering the eccentric nature of JRPGs, I was also surprised to see that every single character in this game (save perhaps for Nolan North's character, and that's only because Nolan North voices him) is completely forgettable and lacking in any depth whatsoever. In fact, one of your party members grows increasingly unlikeable over the course of the game as you learn the 1-2 details of his past the game deems worth noting. Also strange for a JRPG, while the concept of the world is very interesting, the art direction is not. This is a game Pro could make a brown shading joke about, and I'd have to completely agree with him: color seems to have been completely banned from this game, outside fiery explosions; your characters' outfits; and the color gray. The vast majority of the game just looks identical, and monotony sinks in quickly. Easily the worst offender is the story, though: I've played through the entire game twice now, and I still couldn't tell you what the story was, or what the goals of the various characters were.
And heaven help you if you're OCD like me, because this game has one of the worst Platinums I've ever faced at 133 Hours of pure grinding and tedium, mostly in the Arena and sidequests. And I thought Final Fantasy XIII's was bad at 105 Hours (most of which spent grinding)...Man, I'm increasingly starting to think the Japanese just don't understand that Achievement systems are supposed to make you better appreciate a game's systems and try out aspects of the game you wouldn't otherwise. If you must play the game, just ignore the achievements because the ones here will just drain the life out of you.
Now, it's not like this game is without any redeeming features. When the game is at its best, which honestly is probably the Bonus Dungeon Neverland, the battle system can be extremely strategic and rewarding. I also like the extreme amount of customization you have with your characters' outfits, which are reflected in all the cutscenes. The world Tri-Ace created here is interesting...they just didn't do anything with it. And as bad as this game's Achievements/Trophies are, Tri-Ace at least was kind enough to put in something that apparently no one else feels necessary: an in-game chart where you can keep track of your trophy progress. The voice acting, at least for the main cast, is also pretty decent. The problem is, this game is not fun, and why should I recommend even stalwart JRPG fans play this game when we have much better games on the market (Final Fantasy XIII, Star Ocean 4, Valkyria Chronicles) they could play instead and actually enjoy?