Run the digivices digiprescelti, because we are about to take a dip in the past with the beloved Digimon. Indeed no, it is not really like that. Digimon Survive, Bandai Namco’s latest video game dedicated to digital monsters, has nothing from the past at all. We are facing a completely new experiment for the series and rarely appeared in the world of video games. Digimon Survive is an explosive mix where video games and anime meet to tell us a completely new story. But, however courageous, was it an effective choice? Let’s find out in this one Digimon Survive review!
Our Digimon Survive review
Digimon Survive tells the story of Takuma, a young student on a school trip with his class and some professors. The trip, in a rural area of Japan, will take them near an old temple dedicated to spirits belonging to the past and characterized by recent natural disasters. Following various ups and downs Takuma, Minoru, Aoi and other kids from his school will be catapulted into a strange and insidious world. Here they will meet strange talking creatures that have been waiting for them, starting an incredible journey. Between these, Agumon will be Takuma’s Digimon.
From this moment on, the boys will have to face not only the problems and difficulties of a new world but also a series of attacks from other creatures much less friendly than their new companions. Add to this the disagreements, doubts and fear that snake through the group and it will be our task to find harmony as well as the road to return home.
But the road is all uphill and the thousand difficulties are around the corner. Choices and events can lead to less than happy roads and even result in the death of our comrades. Ready to face all of this?
Battles, exploration, choices
Digimon Survive gameplay is divided into three main types: Exploration / Free Action, Battles e Dialogues.
Exploration it involves our choice of areas to visit or characters to talk to and discuss. This is not a physical shift of the character but a change of scene between the various settings. We will thus be able to carry on the story according to our priorities and preferences. Free action does not involve limitations and we could chat and look around for objects with peace of mind. Exploration, on the other hand, consists of a predefined number of possible actions. An action point will be spent on each character or main event that we decide to view. This means that we may lose the chance to argue with one character over another by addressing the possible consequences of this.
The sequences of the dialogues they will be present for the duration of the game e account for most of the gameplay. In fact, 80% of the game is based on stories and the relationship with other characters and Digimon. Each of our companions has a level of Affinity with Takuma that will increase when and if we decide to talk to each other and make the “right choices”. In reality there is no correct path nor a good ending or a bad ending but the choices we make can lead to very serious consequences. Affinity is also added toatmosphere that Takuma will spread in the group between Morale, Fury e Harmony. His decisions will change the atmosphere which in turn will affect Agumon’s digivolutions.
Turn-Based Digi-Combat!
A separate discussion must be made for the battles and it will be the time when you have to get busy. It is a turn-based battle on a board where Digimon friends and enemies will face each other. The battles play like the most classic turn-based RPGs (You see Final Fantasy Tactics o Triangle Strategy). In fact, each Digimon has its own characteristics between attack, defense, speed, spiritual attack and so on, as well as unique moves, the same as in the anime. Obviously, depending on where we are in the story or the affinity with the other characters, we could also Digivolve our Digimon during battles.
Digimon have gods Hit points (PF) and of the Special Points (PS). The first represent the life (the HP to be clear) of the Digimon while the Special Points will be consumed with special attacks and digivolutions (a sort of Mana). Once Digivolved, the Digimon will periodically lose HP (the higher the evolution, the higher the HP consumed) until, once it reaches 0, it returns to its intermediate form.
Between the battles focused on the main story, we will have the opportunity to face some Free Battles. Here, in addition to earning experience points to improve the characteristics of the Digimon, we could also convince the opposing Digimon to join us. In addition to the Digimon of the protagonists (Agumon, Falcomon, Labramon, Floramon, Dracmon, Syakomon, Lopmon and Kunemon), there are over 100 other Digimon and most of these can be persuaded, through some multiple choice dialogues, to join our team.
Between video game and animation
As anticipated, the bulk of Digimon Survive is represented by the storyfrom the whirlwind of events that involves all the protagonists. In fact, each character has its own story and its own character and it’s going to be really hard to get everyone to get along. A complex interweaving of doubts, uncertainties and distrust of others begins, amplified by the difficulties of an unknown world and the dangers it entails. This means that Digimon Survive can be easily defined as an interactive Graphic Novel, halfway between the video game and the comic (or the Anime). The challenging and somber tones make it too one of the most mature Digimon stories ever createdwhich we loved.
Forget the Digipreselti humming happily or the jokes thrown here and there. In Digimon Survive, survival (no chance) is by no means guaranteed. This however shouldn’t frighten you because the Spirit of the Digimon series lingers everywhere. Also in terms of the presence of the Digimon, in great numerical inferiority compared to other titles, we find many references to Digimon Adventure. Even though only Agumon is part of the leading group, they appear several times Byomon, Meeting e palm tree and all the other digimon of the first series are obtainable in game.
However, the characters we know are accompanied by a completely new story full of twists that will keep you glued to the screen for hours. About that, it took us 30 intense hours to complete the story.
Digimon Survive review in digi-pills
Digimon Survive is an innovative experiment in the Digimon video game series and as such it will get a not exactly unanimous judgment and that’s fine. The story that Digimon Survive wants to tell you is not for everyone and even if you are great Digimon lovers you may be very disappointed.
If you are looking for a game full of thrilling battles and incredible cinematic on the digivolutions of our heroes, you will not find them here. Digimon Survive’s journey is more introspective and for some, more boring but offers an incredible story on par with a demanding TV series.
PRO
- Graphically flawless
- Well layered characters
- A fantastic story …
VERSUS
- … Which could bore those in search of adrenaline
- Little balance between the amount of battles and dialogue
- Some “important” choices do not bring such profound changes
- All in all, few Digimon