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 variations that might (hopefully) show the property’s value exterior of the cell house.
Relink specifically has been a lengthy time coming. The mission was first introduced in 2016, and authentic 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 value, there’s positively some Platinum DNA nonetheless left in Relink. The hack and slash fight is accessible however calls for well timed blocks and dodges, not in contrast to the methods that you’re going to discover within the studio’s most well-known releases. Nonetheless, what units Relink aside is its reliance on RPG parts; stats, tools, and large injury 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 acquired a fairly large roster of playable heroes. The title is successfully made up of two elements: 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’ll be able to sort out the overwhelming majority of the sport’s further quests.
In a manner, the single-player story acts as an introduction to Relink’s mechanics — however to name it a tutorial can 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 so much of effort has been poured into the title’s headline act; the core journey is an actual thrill experience 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 as regards to 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. By way of size, the single-player story clocks in at round 15 to twenty hours (obtainable aspect quests included), and when the credit roll, it does really feel a bit short-lived. Do not get us unsuitable, every thing ramps up and wraps up in a satisfying method, however in case you’ve spent the previous few years hoping that Relink can be some sprawling RPG journey, you will doubtless 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 Last Fantasy 16 destroy their very own momentum in order that they’ll funnel gamers in direction of boring filler storylines and snore-inducing aspect quests. Relink’s marketing campaign could take simply 20 hours to beat, but it surely’s 20 hours of quick and livid enjoyable.
Shifting on, the narrative itself is not something particular, but it surely’s charmingly informed by way of 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 set 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 a complete lot of time to precise themselves, but it surely does a very good job of tying all of the motion collectively. Even in case you’re unfamiliar with the franchise, you continue to get a good sense for the personalities which are on provide, 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 rapid crew, utilizing objects that may be acquired by way of questing. Nonetheless, it is necessary to notice that these further heroes don’t have anything to do with the primary story, which focuses completely on the captain and his or her 5 closest allies. As such, we would in all probability suggest finishing the marketing campaign earlier than exploring your expanded roster, if solely so that you could 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 combating fashion and talent loadout — which will be upgraded through an extremely lengthy talent tree. Indisputably, considered one of 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, outfitted with a shortsword and sporting a variety of each aggressive and supportive talents, is just about the default choose — 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 actually Relink’s huge draw when you’re completed with the primary story.
Thankfully, you will have an enormous variety of quests to undertake post-campaign. These missions are available in many styles and sizes; some process you with wiping out waves of monsters, some have you ever defend a location, and a few pit you in opposition to particularly harmful bosses. Typically, 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 strategies in order that your well being bar is not melted — however most quests might be over in a matter of minutes.
The thought right here is that you’re going to grind targets as a way 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 friends or discover allies on-line, cleave by way of the mission, after which head again to the hub so that you could beef up your character, able to do it another time.
The factor is, your quest-grinding mileage will differ relying on how a lot you get pleasure from Relink’s battles. On a elementary 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 preserve issues fascinating — and the title’s hardest bosses can pose a critical 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 unhealthy, thoughts — removed from it. At its finest, it is a gripping ballet of combo assaults, tightly-timed blocks, and final ditch dodges. It feels somewhat 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 injury hyperlink assaults, and a variety of help magic — therapeutic spells, limitations, and buffs — implies that it is often finest to face side-by-side so the entire celebration advantages.
Exterior of the eventual repetition, our solely complaints in regards to the fight do not truly stem from the system or mechanics. Firstly, battles will 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 aspect 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 acquired a frankly incredible orchestral soundtrack that is usually elevated by roaring electrical guitars.
Earlier than we bounce to the conclusion, we should always observe that whereas Relink has attractive artwork route, it is quite tough, graphically. You possibly can actually inform that this was supposed to be a PS4 launch, however the disappointment comes whenever you realise that the PS5 model’s efficiency mode is capped at simply 1080p. The low decision implies that belongings can look noticeably jagged on a 4K show — however at the least you are getting a buttery easy 60 frames-per-second.