An motion RPG with an emphasis on motion, Granblue Fantasy: Relink relies on hit cell title Granblue Fantasy. For the final decade or so, developer Cygames’ intention has been to unfold the nice Granblue phrase to a wider viewers, and so it greenlit the likes of Granblue Fantasy Versus and Relink — console diversifications that will (hopefully) show the property’s price outdoors of the cell house.
Relink specifically has been a lengthy time coming. The mission was first introduced in 2016, and unique developer Platinum Video games — of Bayonetta and NieR: Automata fame — departed the method in 2019, as Cygames took the title in-house. The query, then, is whether or not this prolonged wait — compounded by a number of delays — has lastly paid off.
For what it is price, there’s undoubtedly some Platinum DNA nonetheless left in Relink. The hack and slash fight is accessible however calls for well timed blocks and dodges, not not like the techniques that you’re going to discover within the studio’s most well-known releases. Nevertheless, what units Relink aside is its reliance on RPG components; stats, gear, and large harm numbers are on the coronary heart of the sport’s workings, whereas battles are punctuated by character-specific assaults and expertise that function on cooldowns.
Talking of characters, Relink’s bought a fairly large roster of playable heroes. The title is successfully made up of two components: the single-player story marketing campaign, and mission-based, Monster Hunter-esque quests that may be tackled with both CPU allies or different gamers on-line. The latter is the place you will make use of that aforementioned character roster — however you will want to finish the core marketing campaign earlier than you possibly can deal with the overwhelming majority of the sport’s extra quests.
In a approach, the single-player story acts as an introduction to Relink’s mechanics — however to name it a tutorial could be doing it a colossal disservice. It is a full-blown marketing campaign made up of cutscenes, action-packed ranges, and a few shockingly spectacular cinematic set items. It is abundantly clear that quite a bit of effort has been poured into the title’s headline act; the core journey is an actual thrill journey for many of its period, as you battle good bosses and partake in some loopy platforming sections. Once more, there are occasions when all of it feels very Platinum — particularly on the subject of pacing, and fight encounters that simply appear to develop an increasing number of formidable because the plot progresses.
There’s a draw back to having a marketing campaign that is this intense, nonetheless. When it comes to size, the single-player story clocks in at round 15 to twenty hours (out there facet quests included), and when the credit roll, it does really feel a bit short-lived. Do not get us incorrect, the whole lot ramps up and wraps up in a satisfying method, however in the event you’ve spent the previous few years hoping that Relink could be some sprawling RPG journey, you will probably be disenchanted.
On the flipside, the truth that Relink options little to no padding is one thing that ought to be praised. All too usually, we see larger finances motion RPGs like Ultimate Fantasy 16 destroy their very own momentum in order that they will funnel gamers in direction of boring filler storylines and snore-inducing facet quests. Relink’s marketing campaign could take simply 20 hours to beat, but it surely’s 20 hours of quick and livid enjoyable.
Transferring on, the narrative itself is not something particular, but it surely’s charmingly informed via a solid of likeable characters. You play because the captain of a sky-faring ship — the identical male or feminine protagonist who’s central to the cell recreation. Relink’s story is definitely a spin-off from that title, because the captain and their trusted crew make for the Zegagrande Skydom — a group of floating islands that they’ve but to discover.
Naturally, issues do not go as deliberate, and the crew shortly make an enemy of a cult-like organisation, which leads to an journey that takes the captain and co throughout the Skydom’s elementally numerous islands. The plot’s predictable and the characters do not get an entire lot of time to specific themselves, but it surely does a superb job of tying all of the motion collectively. Even in the event you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, you continue to get a good sense for the personalities which might be on supply, and the sky-based world that they inhabit.
Early on within the marketing campaign, you are given the chance to unlock playable characters who aren’t a part of your instant crew, utilizing objects that may be acquired via questing. Nevertheless, it is vital to notice that these extra heroes don’t have anything to do with the principle story, which focuses solely on the captain and his or her 5 closest allies. As such, we would most likely suggest finishing the marketing campaign earlier than exploring your expanded roster, if solely with the intention to get to know the core crew higher.
In battle, you play as a single character whereas the AI handles as much as three of your celebration members, and every character comes with their very own distinctive preventing model and talent loadout — which may be upgraded by way of an extremely lengthy ability tree. Indubitably, one in all Relink’s key promoting factors is that aforementioned playable roster; it is numerous by way of gameplay, and we struggled to discover a hero who wasn’t a blast to make use of in fight.
The captain, geared up with a shortsword and sporting a variety of each aggressive and supportive skills, is just about the default decide — however there are gun-toting ranged fighters, spell-slinging magic customers, and loads of fairly warriors who lug outsized anime weapons about. Taking all of them for a spin, discovering favourites, and remodeling them into high-level powerhouses is de facto Relink’s huge draw when you’re completed with the principle story.
Fortuitously, you will have a large variety of quests to undertake post-campaign. These missions are available in many styles and sizes; some activity you with wiping out waves of monsters, some have you ever defend a location, and a few pit you towards particularly harmful bosses. Usually, although, quests do not match as much as the spectacle that is on show all through the story. Endgame missions come shut, demanding close to mastery of defensive methods in order that your well being bar is not melted — however most quests can be over in a matter of minutes.
The concept right here is that you’re going to grind aims in an effort to degree characters and hoard supplies, which can be utilized to forge and improve weapons. That is actually the place that Monster Hunter comparability comes into play, as a result of it is that very same form of construction: choose a quest from the hub city, collect your CPU buddies or discover allies on-line, cleave via the mission, after which head again to the hub with the intention to beef up your character, able to do it once more.
The factor is, your quest-grinding mileage will range relying on how a lot you take pleasure in Relink’s battles. On a basic degree, the fight system does not have wherever close to the addictive depth of Capcom’s well-known franchise, and if you wish to full each mission, you are going to be hammering Relink for who is aware of what number of hours. To some extent, character selection does maintain issues fascinating — and the title’s hardest bosses can pose a severe problem — however whether or not you are with the CPU or different gamers, repetition begins to take maintain lengthy earlier than you’ve got bested the lot.
That is to not say Relink’s fight system is dangerous, thoughts — removed from it. At its finest, it is a gripping ballet of combo assaults, tightly-timed blocks, and final ditch dodges. It feels just a little floaty at first, however when you’re used to the rhythm, there’s an terrible lot to love in regards to the motion. What’s extra, teamwork is actively inspired, since even grunt enemies require a barrage of blows to carry down. Combating near your allies opens foes as much as excessive harm hyperlink assaults, and a variety of assist magic — therapeutic spells, obstacles, and buffs — implies that it is often finest to face side-by-side so the entire celebration advantages.
Outdoors of the eventual repetition, our solely complaints in regards to the fight do not truly stem from the system or mechanics. Firstly, battles may be an utter cacophony of visible noise at instances, making it troublesome to react to incoming assaults. And secondly, characters by no means shut up. This is not an enormous deal throughout facet missions, however within the story, there are factors the place characters will ship absurd quantities of exposition when you’re knee-deep in a determined act of survival. It is a disgrace the solid is incapable of quiet, as a result of Relink’s bought a frankly improbable orchestral soundtrack that is usually elevated by roaring electrical guitars.
Earlier than we leap to the conclusion, we should always observe that whereas Relink has beautiful artwork path, it is fairly tough, graphically. You’ll be able to actually inform that this was meant to be a PS4 launch, however the disappointment comes while you realise that the PS5 model’s efficiency mode is capped at simply 1080p. The low decision implies that property can look noticeably jagged on a 4K show — however not less than you are getting a buttery clean 60 frames-per-second.
