Fairy Fencer F Review (PS3)
Story
You will be controlling Fang, a young man who is not only a glutton as well as always taking things at ease while living his life. One day, he was hungry and wants to get food. Someone told him that pulling out a Fury from the ground may grant him a wish. He managed to pull it out, and a fairy called Eryn appeared. She lost her memories, and she wants Fang to help her get back her memories.
The story is pretty interesting, with some nice plot twists here and there as well as great concept between the Furies, Vile God, and Goddess. This game also has three endings, which can be unlocked by fulfilling certain conditions. Surprisingly, this game is bit more serious than Hyperdimension Neptunia games, but it still has both humour and fanservice to entertain players throughout the game.
I like many characters in the game, particularly all playable party members in the game, the Fairies, and the enemies. The main characters, have particularly likable personalities, and the game also boasts rather good humourous dialogue between characters.
Gameplay
1) Progression and Exploration Section
This game's progression and exploration style is the same as recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games. The game's world map consists of one city and multiple dungeons. Subevents with other characters can be played when progressing in the game and when talking to NPCs or your playable party members.
As you progress in the game, you will collect Furies. Furies have three useful functions. Firstly, they can boost your character's stats. Secondly, they can be used to provide additional effects on a dungeon, such as increased Magic Attack stat by using the World Shaping feature. Thirdly, they can provide additional effects on the character who is currently equipping the Fury. Furies are obtained as you progress in the game and completing side-quests, as well as can be leveled up as you fight enemies.
Dungeons can only be unlocked by using World Shaping, where you can plunge a Fury to a dungeon's vicinity. Before you can do that, you need to unlock certain seals from either two different entities via Godly Revival. Once you have used a Fury to unlock a seal, it will have an additional effect as well as can be used in World Shaping. You can stack as many Furies as you can to add additional effects in a dungeon, such as double damage, increased drop rate, and others. However, some of the Furies effects may have negative effects such as reduced experience points gain, so be cautious about it.
You progress in the game by viewing main Events in the both city and dungeons, where you may have to fight in mandatory boss battles in the game. You may also view Subevents in the game.
In dungeons, you may run and jump towards to destination like Hyperdimension Neptunia games. You will encounter enemies on screen, and you can attack them to gain a head start in the battle. You may also find treasures in the dungeon as well.
You may also complete Quests in the game, such as killing a certain number of enemies or collect certain items. Different Quests have different ranks and rewards, where you can only attempt on higher ranked Quests by advancing your Quest Ranks. In order for you to do so, you need to complete urgent Quests in the game that will disappear after you progress in the game's story.
2) Customisation and Upgrading Section
All characters technically have one weapon, but they can change their weapon modes by executing certain combo moves. You can customise the characters' appearance if you wish, as well as equipping new armour or accessory to boost your stats. You may also equip any Furies that you have collected for bonus effects and stats, such as increased fire resistance.
As you complete battles, you can earn experience points, Gold, and WP. Experience points allows your characters to level up and gain stat bonuses, Gold can be used to purchase items or new equipment, and WP can be used to learn new Skills, Magic, or combo moves. Not to mention, the Furies that you have equipped with your characters can also level up, with increase of stats as well as learning new passive effects.
The game's abilities and stats customisation is done by Weapon Boost feature. You need to spend a certain amount of WP to learn a new Skill, Magic, a Combo Move, or even your stats. It is important to do so to avoid yourself getting killed easily in the game, especially during early parts of the game.
3) Combat Section
Battle system is similar to Hyperdimension Neptunia games, which is turn-based battle system. During your character's turn, you can move him or her around to the enemy and attack it. You may also pass the turn by defending, use items, or use Skills and Magic as well. You may also attack enemies with your Combo Moves like Sword attacks and Gun attacks. Each character has also access to their own unique special command, such as Fang can use Serious Mode command for attack boost at the expense of SP.
Unlike Hyperdimension Neptunia games, enemies in this game have elemental weaknesses as well as weapon weaknesses. For example, an enemy in this game is weak against Sword attacks and Fire spells. It is best to use a variety of combo moves to exploit enemies' weaknesses.
Likewise, this game also features a transformation ability which is called Fairize. Fairize enhances your character's stats, and it is useful to beat difficult enemies in the game. To access it, the character must have raised their Tension gauge to a certain amount, which can be raised by attacking enemies or being attacked by enemies. You may also use special Skills during that form. If you are KO'ed or attacked repeatedly by enemies during that form, you will revert back to normal form.
4) Gameplay Conclusion
I like the overall battle system in this game, as it feels like Hyperdimension Neptunia game's battle system as well as being slightly unique, especially due to extensive customisation on combos and enemy weaknesses. Unfortunately, this game feels too easy for regular RPG players, and the game has some backtracking issues, such as mandatory revisiting previous dungeons. Story wise however, the backtracking makes sense to any players who are playing the game, but it is something that should be noted as well. Dungeon designs are less repetitive compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games, but there are very few dungeons in the game that it makes me feel that this game feels short. Regardless, the gameplay is entertaining and fun for me, but with some flaws.
Graphics
The 2D graphics are pretty and suitable for the game's style and atmosphere, but it is not particularly groundbreaking. The graphics resemble Hyperdimension Neptunia games a lot, so people who don't like that particular series may not find themselves appealed by this game's graphics. 3D models such as character models look slightly better than Hyperdimension Neptunia games's character models, but still feel outdated.
However, there is an improvement compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games in terms of less reuse of game assets like dungeons layout or reuse of enemy models. There are still noticeable reused and pallete swaps of enemy models, but I personally the developers made a bit more effort into making more varied enemies compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
Sound
The English voice acting is surprisingly good, with all voice actors did a great job in voicing their characters. There is also Japanese voice acting available for this game, so players may switch to the other voice option if they are particularly not fond of English voice acting in RPGs.
The soundtrack is pretty awesome, with great vocal songs and amazingly well-done rock BGMs. My favourite vocal songs would be the opening song, ending song, the first power-up theme, and the second power-up theme. BGMs are varied enough to make the players felt compelled to listen to the soundtrack more and more, and I also like many of the game's battle themes.
Replay Value
This game has moderate replay value, where you can attempt to unlock two secret characters, attempt to complete the Shukesoo Tower, unlock other ending or complete all Quests. However, if you played this game and do not enjoy it, it is best to trade in the game for other games, as this game has not much replay value compared to Final Fantasy games. Surprisingly, recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games such as Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 and Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory has higher replay value in this game, such as more difficult enemies to be fought in these games and more unlockable characters.
Conclusion
I like this game, and I would recommend this game to any Hyperdimension Neptunia games fans. Despite this game's fun nature, it still has issues like some backtracking issues, lack of variety of story progressions, and the moderate replay value. I would highly suggest any interested buyers to wait for this game to get cheaper, or buy alternative RPGs to play.
Score
Final Score: 7.5/10 or 32/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good story with some nice plot twists.
- Likable characters, such as Fang and Tiara.
- Many humorous scenes.
- Easy-to-learn, fun yet unique combat that resembles Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
- Nice Skill and Magic animations.
- Awesome music.
- Well-designed character portraits.
- Dual audio.
- Great English voice acting.
Cons
- Story feels a bit short for an RPG.
- Lack of variety of game progression methods, such as puzzles.
- Battle difficulty feels too easy halfway to the end of the game.
- 3D character models feel a bit outdated.
- Replay value not as high as recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
**Images are from Gematsu.
Collect all Furies to unseal the Goddess.
You will be controlling Fang, a young man who is not only a glutton as well as always taking things at ease while living his life. One day, he was hungry and wants to get food. Someone told him that pulling out a Fury from the ground may grant him a wish. He managed to pull it out, and a fairy called Eryn appeared. She lost her memories, and she wants Fang to help her get back her memories.
The story is pretty interesting, with some nice plot twists here and there as well as great concept between the Furies, Vile God, and Goddess. This game also has three endings, which can be unlocked by fulfilling certain conditions. Surprisingly, this game is bit more serious than Hyperdimension Neptunia games, but it still has both humour and fanservice to entertain players throughout the game.
I like many characters in the game, particularly all playable party members in the game, the Fairies, and the enemies. The main characters, have particularly likable personalities, and the game also boasts rather good humourous dialogue between characters.
Gameplay
1) Progression and Exploration Section
Same progression and exploration style with recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
This game's progression and exploration style is the same as recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games. The game's world map consists of one city and multiple dungeons. Subevents with other characters can be played when progressing in the game and when talking to NPCs or your playable party members.
As you progress in the game, you will collect Furies. Furies have three useful functions. Firstly, they can boost your character's stats. Secondly, they can be used to provide additional effects on a dungeon, such as increased Magic Attack stat by using the World Shaping feature. Thirdly, they can provide additional effects on the character who is currently equipping the Fury. Furies are obtained as you progress in the game and completing side-quests, as well as can be leveled up as you fight enemies.
Dungeons can only be unlocked by using World Shaping, where you can plunge a Fury to a dungeon's vicinity. Before you can do that, you need to unlock certain seals from either two different entities via Godly Revival. Once you have used a Fury to unlock a seal, it will have an additional effect as well as can be used in World Shaping. You can stack as many Furies as you can to add additional effects in a dungeon, such as double damage, increased drop rate, and others. However, some of the Furies effects may have negative effects such as reduced experience points gain, so be cautious about it.
You progress in the game by viewing main Events in the both city and dungeons, where you may have to fight in mandatory boss battles in the game. You may also view Subevents in the game.
In dungeons, you may run and jump towards to destination like Hyperdimension Neptunia games. You will encounter enemies on screen, and you can attack them to gain a head start in the battle. You may also find treasures in the dungeon as well.
You may also complete Quests in the game, such as killing a certain number of enemies or collect certain items. Different Quests have different ranks and rewards, where you can only attempt on higher ranked Quests by advancing your Quest Ranks. In order for you to do so, you need to complete urgent Quests in the game that will disappear after you progress in the game's story.
2) Customisation and Upgrading Section
Use each character's special Skills and Magic to devastate your enemies.
All characters technically have one weapon, but they can change their weapon modes by executing certain combo moves. You can customise the characters' appearance if you wish, as well as equipping new armour or accessory to boost your stats. You may also equip any Furies that you have collected for bonus effects and stats, such as increased fire resistance.
As you complete battles, you can earn experience points, Gold, and WP. Experience points allows your characters to level up and gain stat bonuses, Gold can be used to purchase items or new equipment, and WP can be used to learn new Skills, Magic, or combo moves. Not to mention, the Furies that you have equipped with your characters can also level up, with increase of stats as well as learning new passive effects.
The game's abilities and stats customisation is done by Weapon Boost feature. You need to spend a certain amount of WP to learn a new Skill, Magic, a Combo Move, or even your stats. It is important to do so to avoid yourself getting killed easily in the game, especially during early parts of the game.
3) Combat Section
Similar turn-based battle system like Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
Unlike Hyperdimension Neptunia games, enemies in this game have elemental weaknesses as well as weapon weaknesses. For example, an enemy in this game is weak against Sword attacks and Fire spells. It is best to use a variety of combo moves to exploit enemies' weaknesses.
Likewise, this game also features a transformation ability which is called Fairize. Fairize enhances your character's stats, and it is useful to beat difficult enemies in the game. To access it, the character must have raised their Tension gauge to a certain amount, which can be raised by attacking enemies or being attacked by enemies. You may also use special Skills during that form. If you are KO'ed or attacked repeatedly by enemies during that form, you will revert back to normal form.
4) Gameplay Conclusion
Fun gameplay that is marred by some issues.
I like the overall battle system in this game, as it feels like Hyperdimension Neptunia game's battle system as well as being slightly unique, especially due to extensive customisation on combos and enemy weaknesses. Unfortunately, this game feels too easy for regular RPG players, and the game has some backtracking issues, such as mandatory revisiting previous dungeons. Story wise however, the backtracking makes sense to any players who are playing the game, but it is something that should be noted as well. Dungeon designs are less repetitive compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games, but there are very few dungeons in the game that it makes me feel that this game feels short. Regardless, the gameplay is entertaining and fun for me, but with some flaws.
Graphics
Nice anime-styled graphics and pretty character portraits by Tsunako.
The 2D graphics are pretty and suitable for the game's style and atmosphere, but it is not particularly groundbreaking. The graphics resemble Hyperdimension Neptunia games a lot, so people who don't like that particular series may not find themselves appealed by this game's graphics. 3D models such as character models look slightly better than Hyperdimension Neptunia games's character models, but still feel outdated.
However, there is an improvement compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games in terms of less reuse of game assets like dungeons layout or reuse of enemy models. There are still noticeable reused and pallete swaps of enemy models, but I personally the developers made a bit more effort into making more varied enemies compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
Sound
Good English voice acting and great soundtrack.
The English voice acting is surprisingly good, with all voice actors did a great job in voicing their characters. There is also Japanese voice acting available for this game, so players may switch to the other voice option if they are particularly not fond of English voice acting in RPGs.
The soundtrack is pretty awesome, with great vocal songs and amazingly well-done rock BGMs. My favourite vocal songs would be the opening song, ending song, the first power-up theme, and the second power-up theme. BGMs are varied enough to make the players felt compelled to listen to the soundtrack more and more, and I also like many of the game's battle themes.
Replay Value
Moderate replay value.
This game has moderate replay value, where you can attempt to unlock two secret characters, attempt to complete the Shukesoo Tower, unlock other ending or complete all Quests. However, if you played this game and do not enjoy it, it is best to trade in the game for other games, as this game has not much replay value compared to Final Fantasy games. Surprisingly, recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games such as Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 and Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory has higher replay value in this game, such as more difficult enemies to be fought in these games and more unlockable characters.
Conclusion
A genuinely fun and entertaining game with good story and good gameplay, with some major flaws.
I like this game, and I would recommend this game to any Hyperdimension Neptunia games fans. Despite this game's fun nature, it still has issues like some backtracking issues, lack of variety of story progressions, and the moderate replay value. I would highly suggest any interested buyers to wait for this game to get cheaper, or buy alternative RPGs to play.
Score
Story: 8/10
Gameplay: 7/10
Graphics: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Final Score: 7.5/10 or 32/40
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good story with some nice plot twists.
- Likable characters, such as Fang and Tiara.
- Good character development.
- Well-written dialogue.- Many humorous scenes.
- Easy-to-learn, fun yet unique combat that resembles Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
- Nice Skill and Magic animations.
- Awesome music.
- Well-designed character portraits.
- Dual audio.
- Great English voice acting.
Cons
- Story feels a bit short for an RPG.
- Anime-styled game may not appeal to many players.
- Endings do not feel varied enough compared to Hyperdimension Neptunia games' multiple endings.
- Backtracking issues. (makes sense once you progress in the game's story however)- Slightly repetitive dungeon designs.
- Lack of variety of game progression methods, such as puzzles.
- Battle difficulty feels too easy halfway to the end of the game.
- 3D character models feel a bit outdated.
- Replay value not as high as recent Hyperdimension Neptunia games.
**Images are from Gematsu.
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