Servicing the fans
There is a lot of anime out there to keep track of, and it seems every single series has a game in some form or fashion. For fans of Fairy Tail it has been a long time coming. The series has gained popularity over time and now it finally gets the game treatment in the form of a Gust RPG. While it does manage to keep things simple and deliver plenty of fan service, it can also feel a little half-baked at times. Omitting major characters and perhaps focusing a little too much on being accessible to anyone who picks it up.
The game takes place during the Grand Magic Games portion of the anime. While I have never seen the show, fans seem to consider this one of the best parts of the story so it isn’t shocking the developers decided to focus here. While it works for fans, for gamers like me it can be confusing. This arc takes place in the middle of the series, which means it assumes the player knows a lot about the characters and what is going on. Newcomers will have to dig deeper into the lore to really grasp what is truly going on.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), Switch
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
Even with the confusion I was able to enjoy the story and characters. They are all anime tropes for sure, but the development and voice acting were well done. Rarely was there a dull moment, and the guild features keep things moving along even when the story slows down.
At its core Fairy Tail is a rather straightforward RPG compared to most anime incarnations. The combat system is turn-based with enemies appearing on a grid. While there are standard attacks, they do such little damage it seems like a last resort as opposed to a default option. The magic is where things shine, and each character has their own unique set of moves. Thankfully, I was able to use it almost exclusively as my magic points rarely ran thin.
Like most RPGs of this kind the process is finding out which attacks from which characters are effective against the enemies. The trial and error here is pretty transparent. I was able to discover weaknesses fairly easily, making combat feel good and fun throughout. It also helps that these attacks are flashy in nature, but never overly drawn out. The anime-inspired style fits well, and things are interesting from beginning to end.
There are also chain attacks that combine multiple characters. These attacks are just as flashy and fun to perform. Each character also has an awakening bar that fills up over the course of the battle. Early on it usually provides buffs, but as it progresses it can eventually transform characters into new forms for even more spectacular attacks. The combat system never fails to entertain, and I really enjoyed playing the game from start to finish.
Combat is what I spent most of my time with, but even in between that the game fills out the gaps nicely with the guild system. Fairy Tail constantly rewards players with a carrot on a stick approach of rewards. There is always something to earn or progress, making even tedious tasks feel worthwhile.
I really enjoyed the look of Fairy Tail. As someone who was not familiar with the anime before jumping in, Gust has done an excellent job at bringing these characters to life. The world is interesting, the voice acting is good, and just about everything looks and feels like the show. While there is of course the abundance of fan service, it never dives too deep into ridiculous territory. Overall, it is just a colorful and enjoyable game to see as much as it is to play.
Fairy Tail is a straightforward game that does enough to keep it interesting throughout. Those of us not familiar with the show will have to put in a little extra work to understand everything that is going on, but fans of the series will really enjoy the pieces here. There is even an added epilogue treat that should really excite people who know the story. While there are a lot of anime games pumped out regularly, this one feels like it plays it safe where it needs to, while still delivering an enjoyable experience all around.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
