[h1]This is Ni-oh 2.5 with a final fantasy skin and that's GREAT.[/h1]
This game surprised me in the best way possible. The combat is amazing, fast, and really satisfying once you get the hang of it. There’s a ton of customization with over twenty different jobs, each with unique abilities and combo options. On top of that, there are more than ten weapon types, all with their own moves and skills. Building your character and party feels super rewarding, and the co-op system works great. The soundtrack is another highlight, mixing remixes of classic Final Fantasy themes with new tracks that sound awesome. Enemy designs are fantastic too, keeping that nostalgic look but with a modern twist. Gameplay-wise, this game really shines.
Now for the “meh” stuff.
The graphics aren’t that good, and the textures look pretty simple at times. The story is entertaining but nothing amazing, and the dialogue can get really cheesy. The characters don’t have much depth, but Jack makes up for it with how unintentionally hilarious he is. The licensed music choices are so out of place they end up being funny, and that weird mix actually gives the game a bit of charm.
The bad part for me is the DLCs. They add some nice extra jobs and bosses, which is cool, but two out of the three are basically endgame grind fests. If you like that, fine, but I didn’t. The third DLC is story-focused, but you have to engage with the grinding to even have a shot with it, that's a no from me. So I’d say think twice before getting the Season Pass.
Overall, Stranger of Paradise is rough around the edges, but the gameplay is so good it makes it worth playing. If you’re into deep combat systems, super fun coop for 3 players, tons of builds, and some unintentional comedy, you’ll have a great time.
