Since I've played through it two times in a row and have collected all the info and skills as well as passed all the tests, I finally consider this game as finished. It actually was a lot like Bastion, even the whole calamity topic but with another more technocratic and actually romantic angle.
First the negative things about it:
- Completely linear, all the variety is in the fighting/skill system.
- Although you can unlock many tracks from the soundtrack in-game and listen to it in the "sand box", you still have to buy it in order to hear it outside of the game
That's about it, now to the positive aspects of the game:
- The brilliant fighting/skill system: It's actually so good that it would deserve a multiplayer mode. It's a very good mix of real-time and turn based and once you get the hang of it, you'll just have to try all the different skill combinations and create different tactics
- Graphics: 2D in high resolution with smooth animations and nice visual effects are exactly my cup of tea, I'd always prefer this to 3D objects when it comes to the isometric perspective.
- Narrative: Having a voice talking to you in a calm way all the time was already used in Bastion but it's still working well for maintaining the immersion.
- Soundtrack: Brillian. Bastion's soundtrack was awesome already but this one seems to have been made with equal effort and a great result.
- Theme: The distant future of city life complete with the whole technocracy and trends resulting in ever changing environment with too few constants
Conclusion: Highly recommended for everyone that likes tactical combat, isometric 2D graphics, a nice narrative, sci-fi, melancholy and some romance. I won't say much about the end in order to not spoil it, but it's something most devs and your average hero wouldn't do.
