I love this RPG, not for the story, which is 'meh' at best, but for the seriously awesome combat. Melee combat plays like a Monster Hunter game, if Dante from Devil May Cry was available. No comparison to Dark Souls, really, which this game gets a lot of. That game has very limited combat by design whereas this game has a very open system that allows for you to chain together some very flashy combos and what not. Magic Combat can be pretty difficult at the beginning due to your casting easily being interrupted and the pawns not yet being good at aggroing enemies. As you progress and unlock higher skills and augments (perks) magic becomes even more fun as you literally bombard enemies with meteors, earthquakes, and tornadoes (which is both awesome and a hindrance in closed environs). Casting can take a long time even in the end game, so plan carefully when going against some of the more dangerous foes. As for the Dark Arisen dlc, that comes in a massive optional dungeon when you find the game's most difficult enemies and strongest weapons. As far as I know you can challenge said locale nearly immediately, but I would warn you against doing that as even the weakest foes in that place well decimate even mid-late game parties in mere seconds. There is a romance partner in this game, and although only a handful of possible options have unique implications on the story, you can pretty much woe any NPC you come across, even store owners. You can finish this game in a few hours if you really want to (there's even a speedrun mode), but you can also drop long hours if you choose to. Finally. when you beat the game, you can new game + with all them items, equip, exp, etc you gained. This game really has a little bit of everything. Get it.
Bought this game on Steam cause I didn't even know it was on GOG. That being said, I wanted to like this game, I really did. 4.5 hours (Chapter 3) into it I stopped playing, because the writing was so bland. I decided to give it another chance and the writing did pick up significantly in Chapter 4, but then took a nose dive the following chapter. I'm not finishing the game and am currently hoping to get a refund from steam (unlikely). Most of the game itself is fine, the game seems to borrow a lot from Shadow of Hearts (combat especially), which is fine, I really liked that series, but that's where the fun stops. Inventory system as a whole is heavily flawed. You can only change WEAPONS in towns at the blacksmith, and once you do, even if you want to go back to an older weapon, you have to have the money and materials to re-forge them. The other flaw of the inventory system is that you aren't allowed to craft equipment and items with materials you leave in storage. You HAVE to use materials in you inventory. That wouldn't be an issue normally, but the developers also decided to pair a weight system to the inventory which forces you to decide on literally crawling through dungeons unable to avoid enemy encounters cause you're over encumbered, or get rid of healing consumables because you need the materials for crafting. It isn't fun or strategic. I guess all of that could be forgiven if the writing was at least interesting. It isn't. JRPGs are linear, but the good ones create the illusion of choice and exploration, allowing you to push the plot as you interact with and explore the towns and world. This game does not. As soon as you enter a town, the entire populace's woes are thrust into your face, no interaction needed. Both problem AND solution are provided to you with little to no effort on your part as the player. The MCs also all read the same. It's like one person speaking in the same voice and tone, but holds up different portraits. Avoid, even if on sale.
