As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for Mystery Dungeon-style games, I must admit that my heart skipped a beat when I saw the demo for Madou Monogatari: Fia to Fushigi na Gakkou at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. The prospect of real-time dungeon crawling piqued my curiosity, and the proximity of this new “Sorcery Saga” to the Nintendo Switch ports of the Utawarerumono Trilogy, another gem developed by Sting, only added to the excitement.
Earlier this month, we mentioned that the game titled “Madou Monogatari: Fia to Fushigi na Gakkou” would be playable at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. During my breaks between appointments, I made a point to try it out as I am a big fan of Mystery Dungeon-style games. To be clear, I was particularly interested in seeing how the real-time dungeon crawling feature would function in actual gameplay. Interestingly, the Nintendo Switch versions of the Sting-developed Utawarerumono Trilogy and this new “Sorcery Saga” were showcased side by side at the same booth during the event.
The demo was displayed on both PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, and it’s clear that the game aims for a smooth 60 frames per second (FPS) performance on PlayStation 5, while it only manages 30 FPS on Switch. Typically, this wouldn’t be a significant issue for me in a Mystery Dungeon game, but since this one is more focused on real-time action, I would prefer to play it on PlayStation, despite my preference for portability in Mystery Dungeon games. Unfortunately, there’s no PC version available at the moment, so if you want to play the game on the go, you’ll have to accept the trade-off.
In terms of gameplay, Fia navigates the dungeon in real-time. Along the way, you may discover items that temporarily boost her speed significantly. However, keep an eye on your party members’ health between fights as well, because moving about, receiving damage, and so forth will deplete your Vitality. To advance, look for a teleporter on a level. So far, it seems like typical Mystery Dungeon gameplay; the action gets intriguing once battles begin.
As a gamer, I find myself squaring off against foes right on the game field, but this doesn’t mean we’re having a free-for-all brawl. Instead, once combat is initiated, we’re whisked away to a distinct battleground to duke it out. The exploration through the dungeon happens in real-time, but the fights themselves are more turn-based (ATB). I can maneuver around at will, select which foes to target, and even give them a good wallop with my staff whenever I want – no holds barred! However, I must wait for Fia to reach the end of the battle timer before I can unleash spells. Using similar spell types in succession gradually fills up an extra meter, building my Fever gauge. Once it’s full, I can cash it in to deploy Great Magics – potent spells that not only deal additional damage but also come with potential bonus effects.
Understanding the entirety of combat can be quite challenging. It’s sometimes unclear where a demo fits into the game’s narrative, or if it relates to the main content at all. The combat seems designed to strike a balance between simplicity and mastery from the outset. When casting a spell, you’ll notice a circle indicating its range in front of you. If several enemies fall within this circle when your spell is activated, you can hit them simultaneously. However, this requires deliberate enemy selection – if the targeted enemy isn’t within the spell’s reach, you’ll miss completely. As an alternative, you can try to dodge enemy attacks by running away; this could be beneficial in situations where multiple party members might otherwise get hit.
In these dungeons, you’ll encounter numerous hazards like spikes, pendulum axes, and enemies lurking around every turn. You might stumble upon a section that needs a key to open, which you’ll have to find first. There are also items that can be useful later, even after leaving Fia’s school. Since we’ve only had a small sample of the gameplay, it’s hard to predict how the overall Mystery Dungeon experience will feel in the long run, but so far, it’s an intriguing introduction at least.
Recently, Compile Heart projects don’t excite me as they used to; not ever since the incident. But when it comes to something like Madou Monogatari, I’m ready to make an exception. This is a series with a rich history, and so far, it seems that Sting and Compile Heart understand that demands a certain level of care and detail. For now, I’m hopeful. It’s been over a decade since the last Madou Monogatari, and it’s refreshing to see some unique game mechanics in play here.
Here’s another take – I’m eagerly anticipating a delightful surprise with the upcoming collaboration between Compile Heart and Sting. Previously, their partnership led to a more impressive outcome than I had initially anticipated. So, my fingers are crossed for another great experience when Madou Monogatari: Fia to Fushigi na Gakkou releases in Japan on November 28, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
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2024-09-30 16:55