The latest major entry in the Digimon franchise, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, has finally launched, and reviews are painting a picture of a game with incredible highs and some frustrating lows. Developed by Media.Vision, this new monster-taming JRPG sends players on a time-traveling adventure to save the world. While it’s being hailed as a must-play for hardcore fans, newcomers might find some of its design choices to be a grind. Let’s dig into what the critics think.
A Story That Hits Hard
Across the board, the game’s story is being celebrated as its strongest feature. You play as a secret agent for ADAMAS, an organization investigating digital anomalies. Things quickly go wrong, and a cataclysm known as the Shinjuku Inferno throws you eight years into the past. Your mission: prevent the apocalypse. Reviewers have called the plot compelling, mature, and full of emotional, sometimes tragic, moments that feel like a playable season of the anime at its best. The characters, both human and Digimon, are considered a major highlight, with their relationships forming the core of the narrative.
The Addictive Loop vs. The Repetitive Grind
When it comes to gameplay, Time Stranger is a tale of two very different experiences. The core loop of discovering, raising, and evolving your team of Digimon is as addictive as ever. Critics love the deep customization and the satisfaction of watching your favorite digital monsters grow into powerful Mega forms. This progression system is what will keep many players hooked for the 40+ hour runtime.
However, this fantastic core is often bogged down by what surrounds it. A common and significant complaint is the game’s level design. Many dungeons are criticized for being repetitive, bland hallways that players are sometimes forced to run through multiple times due to the time-travel gimmick. This, combined with a very slow start (some say up to 10 hours of uninspired detective work) and poorly paced side quests, can kill the momentum of an otherwise great story.
Visuals, Performance, and Presentation
The game’s presentation is another area of division. The anime-inspired character models and Digimon look great, and the cutscenes are often praised for their beautiful animation and cinematography. On the other hand, the environments are frequently described as generic and uninteresting. On consoles, the game is locked to 30 FPS with no performance modes, and technical issues like pop-in and jittery shadows have been noted. The dialogue has also been called out for being awkward and over-expository at times, undercutting the emotional weight of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 1. Is Digimon Story: Time Stranger good for someone new to the series?
- Mostly, yes. The story is a standalone experience, so you don’t need prior knowledge. However, reviewers agree that a love for the franchise helps in overlooking some of the game’s flaws.
- 2. What is the biggest complaint from reviewers?
- The most consistent criticism is the repetitive dungeon design and the slow pacing, especially in the first several hours of the game.
- 3. How does the combat hold up?
- The turn-based combat is considered solid and straightforward but not particularly innovative. The real fun comes from building your team, not the battles themselves.
- 4. How long does it take to beat?
- Most reviews clock the main story at around 40 hours, but it will take much longer if you aim to collect and evolve every Digimon.
- 5. Is it better than Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth?
- It builds on the foundations of Cyber Sleuth with a more ambitious story. However, many feel it’s less polished and suffers from more significant pacing issues than its predecessor.
Conclusion: The Final Verdict
So, is Digimon Story: Time Stranger worth your time? The consensus is a qualified ‘yes.’ It’s a game that’s more than the sum of its parts. For every complaint about a boring corridor, there’s praise for a shocking story twist. For every groan about awkward dialogue, there’s a cheer for a deeply satisfying Digivolution. It’s a game with deep flaws but also a very big heart.
If you’re a die-hard Digimon fan, this seems to be the rich, narrative-driven experience you’ve been waiting for. If you’re a general JRPG fan, you’ll likely find a lot to love here too-as long as you have the patience to power through its more tedious moments to get to the excellent story and addictive monster-raising at its core.
