As a story style, sci-fi has limitless prospects. It encompasses far-flung ideas like time journey, rampaging monsters, android assassins, and extra. Even with all of that inside attain, most sci-fi tales restrict their scope to exploring just some large concepts. However, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim exhibits no such restraint. It’s an all-inclusive, pulpy feast that pulls inspiration from each nook of the sci-fi kingdom; it’s The War of the Worlds plus The Terminator plus Neon Genesis Evangelion plus a number of different well-known media that might spoil vital plot factors if I discussed them. But right here’s probably the most wonderful half: It all works collectively.
The bonkers story and beautiful artwork are the primary sights in 13 Sentinels. It additionally has some tactical fight, however the game is primarily a visible novel a couple of group of youngsters who pilot large armored fits referred to as sentinels. They do that to save lots of the world from an invasion of seemingly alien beasts, however the characters additionally take care of personal private drama alongside the way in which, navigating their relationships and wishes within the midst of the looming disaster. I like how the story progressively shifts its focus, beginning with a well-recognized school-life setup earlier than layering within the extra outlandish developments. For instance, one lady has a crush on a cool new scholar, whereas one other befriends a mysterious robotic. I received’t smash any revelations or surprises right here, however I used to be finally happy by the journey. It typically depends an excessive amount of on homages moderately than its personal concepts, however whilst a tour of widespread sci-fi ideas, the story is entertaining.
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Though you continue to advance by loads of dialogue containers, 13 Sentinels offers you extra company than typical visible novels present. Your actions received’t change the ultimate consequence, however I used to be nonetheless impressed by how modular the narrative is. Protagonists have their very own arcs divided into chapters, and you may bounce between them freely. You can get to know the lady obsessive about U.F.O.s, then change to the boy who loves kaiju motion pictures. My preliminary intent was to complete one complete arc earlier than continuing to the subsequent, however that isn’t attainable; your progress with some characters is contingent on assembly different circumstances, so it’s good to depart them partly completed and observe different threads. However, these bottlenecks aren’t irritating. Instead, they construct thriller and anticipation, typically leaving off on cliffhangers that had me excited to unlock the subsequent sequence.
Some character arcs can solely proceed after getting cleared sure battles, which is the opposite main part of 13 Sentinels. You have interaction in tactical fight throughout completely different sections of the town, unleashing missiles and lasers towards hordes of advancing enemies. The smartest thing I can say about this complete mode is that it’s mercifully unobtrusive; fights aren’t troublesome sufficient to be a major barrier to your development (except you set them to laborious), so you’ll be able to plow by a bunch of them after which get again to the story. I just like the programs that help the fight, like buying and upgrading strikes for every of your 13 sentinels, however your time on the battlefield doesn’t have the depth to make all that tinkering thrilling.
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The fight encounters aren’t even cool to look at as a result of the tactical mode makes use of simplified and generic representations that don’t do the motion justice. It’s a disgrace the sentinels are disappointing whenever you’re within the cockpit, as a result of their designs look superior whenever you see them up shut within the narrative marketing campaign. In distinction to the visually bland battles, the story scenes all function beautiful 2D illustration. You watch hanging sunsets and go to cozy houses stuffed with delicious-looking meals, all whereas controlling characters dropped at life with fashionable animations that specific their personalities. Stunning artwork is developer Vanillaware’s hallmark, and that custom continues right here – so long as you aren’t in fight.
Vanillaware’s earlier games embrace fantasy-inspired fare like Odin Sphere, Muramasa, and Dragon’s Crown. With 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, the studio doesn’t simply dip its toes into sci-fi; it jumps into the deep finish with a narrative that takes inspiration from the style’s most iconic works. While that doesn’t end in probably the most unique plot, it’s nonetheless a enjoyable and impressive expertise that mixes high-school drama and large robots in a (largely) stunning bundle.
Score: 8
Summary: Vanillaware’s sci-fi story is a enjoyable and impressive expertise that mixes high-school drama and large robots in a (largely) stunning bundle.
Concept: A bunch of youngsters attend highschool, pilot monumental robots, and take a look at to determine time journey in a hybrid expertise that’s half visible novel and half tactical RPG
Graphics: The character and environmental illustrations are gorgeous, however the visuals in battle look painfully generic by comparability
Sound: I performed utilizing the Japanese language monitor with subtitles, although English dialogue is accessible as a free obtain
Playability: Interacting with the world is straightforward, and issuing fight instructions is easy
Entertainment: Even with lackluster battles, the continuously escalating stakes and evolving story pulled me in
Replay: Moderate
