I'm a JRPG enthusiast, but the latest release sold itself short
In kingdoms floating among the clouds, gigantic floating islands are home to vast deserts, tangled jungles and beautiful cities.
This is where Granblue Fantasy Relink is set, and the first thing you notice is how much dedication has gone into its beauty.
The original Granblue Fantasy was released 10 years ago, and the gacha system was so popular that it caused Japan to change its laws around randomness in games.
Relink hopes to bring everything players loved about the original mobile game and pack it into a premium package.
It certainly feels more premium: market stalls and cafe fronts are rich in detail, and the cel-shaded art style makes it stand out from the crowd.
Since it was originally a gacha game, it makes sense that it comes with tons of playable characters, each with their own abilities to spice up the gameplay.
While most of it feels like a premium experience, the length left me wanting more.
At 15 hours it's not a short game, but it has all the side content, and when people think of JRPGs they usually expect an odyssey.
Due to the short length, there is not much variation between the chapters and there is a lot of linearity in the levels.
Fun excursions, like the part where you ride a mech, are great, but rare.
Additionally, you'll see that some areas and bosses are repeated a number of times, meaning even the short length has some padding.
It feels like the game sends you to the post-game content of the Quest Counter, where you can play with others online, rather than focusing on the main experience.
Here you collect materials and upgrade your equipment to take on tougher challenges in Quest Counter missions.
It's a gameplay loop for loop's sake, and ultimately it feels a bit pointless.
Part of us appreciates the shorter storyline over an epic, but there wasn't enough here to make us care about the characters.
If you want to read more about PlayStation, check out the games coming to PS Plus Essential.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
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