[GAME REVIEW] Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth #6
By: @anwarunsam
Hi steemian wherever you may be healthy always and remain in the protection of God Almighty, so it can move as usual. In this afternoon I want to re-review a game that was first fame with the animated series in a few years ago. in the previous article I have discussed about Dragon Ball, today I want to discuss about Pokemon or Digimon.
Digimon or Pokemon?
By relying solely on this one simple question, you will easily begin to trigger a heated debate in the past especially for anime lovers of the '90s. Gamers who grew up with the Nintendo platform and consistently tasted the latest generation will surely choose Pokemon as their mainstay "monster" franchise. While gamers are more transfixed by the Indonesian television screen at that time, will not hesitate to answer Digimon as a cool franchise. But unfortunately, over time, Pokemon is the one who can survive against the age with the popularity of anime and manga that never goes out. While the Digimon, inevitably must be recognized, began to shift. But that does not mean, it stops throbbing just like that.
The games that make Digimon as the main theme with Bandai Namco as a giant flag standing behind it are still often you meet, with different gameplay approaches. One of the promising in 2015 ago is Cyber Sleuth which presents a surprising approach, is a classic JRPG format based turn-based urban Japanese cities as the main setting. Now in early 2018, we are greeted with an extra story that runs side by side with Cyber Sleuth which gets the extra name of "Hacker's Memory" behind it.
PLOT
Hacker's Memory has acted as a storyline for Cyber Sleuth which was released in 2015 ago. You who have tasted the series will find familiar things. But if you never tasted it, like us, you can still enjoy it as a separate series.
You who had followed the games Bandai Namco release seems to be no stranger to the name "Cyber Sleuth" which was released in 2015 ago. True, as you predicted, the Hacker's Memory we're talking about will take a separate timeline from the original Cyber Sleuth story itself. Offers new story perspectives, more digimon to play, and of course - other extra gameplay features. The good news? As a gamer who has never tasted Cyber Sleuth before, Hacker's Memory can be viewed as a new stand-alone game that has a solid and clear storyline.
In the world of the future, which we already feel today, digital technology can no longer be separated from human life. To the extent that humans can mix their own Avatar and socialize via a site called EDEN. Once the importance of EDEN itself, until the role of Avatar is no longer just a play. In the social environment, your Avatar role on EDEN is considered to represent how "healthy" your function is as part of the community itself. People who use fake or other people's Avatar, who also attempt to hack EDEN for any reason, are viewed as criminal seeds to be watched.
Although no one knows where they came from, Digimon is now a "weapon" of Hackers to hack the process, even in the largest virtual world network - EDEN.
Then, what if your EDEN account is stolen by irresponsible parties? This is what should be borne by the main character, a school teenager named KEISUKE. He gets scorn and suspicion from the surrounding environment solely because he uses a second Avatar after his account is stolen. Do not accept this, Keisuke also trying to find who the actual party is responsible. But the process of investigation in the virtual world itself is not an easy thing. Why? Because hackers now have new weapons to not only hack, but also protect themselves. The weapon, is a Digimon.
No one knows how Digimon can appear in EDEN, who they are, and where they are from. One for sure, they are made "weapons" effective by hackers for various hacking actions within EDEN. Keisuke who was at a loss at the time was fortunately, rescued by a benevolent hacker group built to protect EDEN - Hudie. As can be predicted, Keisuke was joined into the organization with a blue jacket this one. Along with three other friends: Erika Mishima, Ryuji Mishima, and Imai Chitose. Their desire to protect EDEN and investigate the various acts of account theft turned them into another mystery.
A mysterious entity named "Eaters" suddenly appeared.
Slowly but surely, the digital world begins to enter the real world for reasons that are incomprehensible. The phenomenon takes place around Hudie and involves an entity that is neither human nor Digimon. Something they call "Eaters". With the possibility of multiple crimes related to EDEN with these Eaters, Hudie begins their action. But of course, Hudie is not the only hacker group in the digital world on this one.
Not just about Eaters, Keisuke is also called to search for information related to the figure of "K" - a hacker who keeps giving him supply of information related to crime and the like.
Then reappear a question, what is Eaters? Can Hudie save EDEN from the mysterious threats that occur? So, who is also the figure of a hacker named "K" who consistently provide information on Keisuke about the crime that occurred?
Perhaps it is almost impossible for us anime lovers to talk about Digimon without discussing the setting which of course always takes the futuristic theme, especially in the last series. If you just talk about the visual side, then there is nothing special in the game that was released for Playstation 4 and PS Vita this. The slightly cartooned visualization with the anime characterization is so thick, even for some trope, it seems to be something that defines the presentation of this one game. Even believe it or not, some Digimon is designed in such a way as to resemble a woman's character with the appearance of a sensual outfit or body as well. One of the most obvious examples is the character named "Sistermon" which, fortunately in the Southeast Asian version we tasted, did not end up censored like the western version because of its proximity to certain religious values.
Just enough about characters and presentations, and let's talk about settings. Certainly not the first and will not seem to be the last, Cyber Sleuth makes Tokyo as your "playground". He is indeed a JRPG game with a thick urban theme, but unfortunately, does not make it a solid game base. You can visit various places in Tokyo, from Nakano, Ikebukuro, to Shinjuku with a layout that also built quite a detail. The problem? Instead of like the Persona for example, which allows you to perform various activities in this rich and congested city, from making extra money to just looking for your friends and interacting, this Hacker's Memory "Hacker's" Tokyo ends up empty and empty. In addition to the shop for items you can visit, the only reason to enter the various sections of this Tokyo store is to complete the terms on the main or existing sideline. It is unfortunate.
One thing is for sure, you can not talk about Digimon without focusing on the monster itself. Like the previous Cyber Sleuth series, Hacker's Memory also provides hundreds of Digimon for you to use in combat, from across generations. You will meet Digimon-Digimon from various levels up to variants with the Digivolve process described quite clearly. Take it easy, you who just follow the Digimon series at the beginning with less updated information for the latest series will still get the Digimon you know here. The good news? With a variety of skills that can be used, the animation itself is quite solid when each unique ability is used. Unfortunately, for regular attacks, this animation does not end up unique.
Digimon Game Details
One aspect that deserves thumbs up is also rooted in the musical accompaniment offered. To be honest, with the futuristic theme that he usung, we ourselves anticipate the music genre that will be more directed to tekno / dub-step. But fortunately, it is not so. Being one of the prominent aspects, the music offered from just exploring the corner of Tokyo, into the digital world, to fight with the monsters that there will be enough to make your ears termanjakan. Will not get to the point of making you goosebumps and the like because of the absence of the lyrics, but enough to make your playing experience comfortable.
From the presentation side, what Hacker's Memory offers is not exactly special. In the end, he played the role of a JRPG game, in a relatively simple format.
Rock Paper Scissors
If you've ever tasted Digimon series in the era of gaming platforms of the past and hope to find a Digimon game that really asks to maintain and strengthen every Digimon you get like a pet, then this one game is not for you. Simply put, we can classify Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is a classic JRPG game that makes Digimon-a successful Digimon you get, as a fighter on the front lines. Everything that is attached to the classic JRPG, from turn-based systems to skills that rely on MP for example, is offered here.
Of course, just like the Digimon game in general, it will be divided into different variants and classes, with the higher class means access to more, more powerful, more robust, thicker HP variants, potentially bringing even greater damage. The battle system itself, calculated simply. Applying a scissor-stone-paper scissor system, Digimon will be divided into three major variants: Data, Vaccine, and Virus. One type will be more effective against another type. Vaccine beat Virus, Virus Beats Data, and Data beat Vaccine. If you attack an enemy monster whose variant is opposite to you, where your variant position is stronger, then the damage will enter about 2 to 3 times. If the opposite, then the damage will only be counted half only. Not only physical attacks, this concept also occurs for all skill variants that come out of the same 1 Digimon.
Scissors-Stone-Paper that became the foundation.
There are 11 slots you can fill with your Digimon, with three as the main party. But the amount is limited by the amount of memory owned by your character.
Therefore, it becomes a rational strategy to bring at least three different Digimon variants in the party to ensure you always have "answers" to this emerging problem. Using the right Digimon to attack the enemy Digimon which is the weakness is the best strategy that can not be contested in this game. The good news? Although only fight with three Digimon as the main party, you can always carry a backup Digimon in the Reserve slot up to 8 pieces, with each of them also gain experience points even if they do not fight. The bad news? You can not just fill these slots. There is a limited resource named "Memory" which will be used to hold the Digimon you carry. Each Digimon will have the required amount of Memory, where the more powerful the variant the more memory it needs. If the number of Digimon exceeds capacity, you will not be able to bring more Digimon anymore.
With a turn-based system that you can see on-screen just like a similar system in Final Fantasy X, the determination of attack or defense strategies is not too difficult. In addition to standard movements such as attacking, using skill, or surviving like a typical JRPG game, you can also ask your Digimon to swap places with backup slots if that is essential for your strategy, of course - sacrificing one turn of attacks. On some occasions, classic turn-based JRPG gameplay is presented in different formats. Something called Domination Battle. The battle base is still the same, but you will now be taken the game strategy game into a space that is divided into small dots that normally will contain at least three people in a team. Mastering these points and defeating other teams with limited turn becomes a key challenge. Some of these Domination missions require you to defeat the total enemy team, while not a few are "just" based on the final score alone. At least, this kind of system makes it not monotonous.
Level of difficulty itself, low count.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, this paper-rock-like scissor system makes Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory ends up not challenging on the level of difficulty. Moreover, it is assisted by indicators in red (for strong) and blue (for weak) that are always visible every time you attempt to attack the enemy you meet, most of the running of the fight ends by simply choosing the options available and nothing more. There is no necessity to study the enemies you have just encountered, strategy to defeat stronger enemies, or simply take different strategies for different enemies. It's as simple as playing a scissor-rock-paper in a cool attack animation format. That is all. Even in a dozen hours of play afterwards, you'll remain "safe" as long as it's powered by Digimon with stronger variants inside the party. Then cents
But for the size of a JRPG game, Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is not exactly perfect. Although carrying almost similar gameplay, it's hard not to compare things done so right by other JRPG games in the same format, but failed to be offered by this Bandai Namco concoction game. One that we think is most disappointing, is the side mission design that exists.
Imagine, you're dealing with a JRPG game that contains the setting and arena of various corners of Tokyo in details that deserve to be thumbs up. Instead of utilizing these areas as a "center" side mission that asks you to get out, do explorations to trigger it, or add maybe - random sideline missions for example, Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory actually designs the appearance of a side mission through only one just place. A place called BBS - or Bulletin Board is told, is where Hudie gets a problem solving request. All the major missions and side missions you can complete will appear automatically in this super-flat, unattractive board menu. The rest? You just have to choose a side mission, solve it, and sometimes out to town just as a condition. How is this developer unthinking to adapt a better and livelier mission-taking system like the one we talked about at the beginning of the paragraph? We are also confused.
The fact that everything can be extracted and executed from the BBS is compounded also by the side mission design that must be acknowledged, also slow and feels repetitive. Slow in the sense that most of these cases end up asking you to chat or enjoy a longer cut-scene, compared to a bout action that can usually be completed within minutes. Worse yet? These missions also end up asking you to do things that are cliché, do an investigation for a particular case, search for missing items, or defeat another malicious hacker team. If that's not boring enough for you, the "digital" arena for which your exploration area is also very limited. It is not uncommon that the same areas, such as "Under Kowloon" as an example in Eden, serve as a place for side-by-side missions and mission, leaving you to pass the same place over and over, repeating, repeating, repeating, and repeating . Until at least, the story offers a new fighting place, and then this cycle happens again.
Unfortunately, the same thing we feel in the main mission that exists. That the story of a young hacker who wants to regain his own online identity ends up being a cliche of stories involving so many parties, but lacking explanations or strong reasons why you should care. Like an anime, you're like getting so much unnecessary filler that also does not contribute anything to the progress of the story. The result? Pace story was very slow. Something that should be interesting and more potential to catch attention if it's done quickly, ending up being a story full of conversation and a cut-scene unappealing to something that rewards it feels is not worth the time spent. For you who are easy to feel bored, this will be its own torture.
Conclusion
Digimon Story - Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is an exciting 2018 JRPG game. You will be able to greatly enjoy it if you meet these two conditions: You are in love with Digimon as a franchise and you do not anticipate anything so special or revolutionary with it.
For an opening year JRPG game, Digimon Story - Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is a standard RPG game. Solid, not bad, but nothing special at the same time. This seems more geared towards Digimon fan gamers who want a game that allows them to choose and fight with hundreds of variants provided, while maintaining the variety of special attack animation that is identical with it. There are many things that may make fans fall in love, from the Urban setting to the Digivolve process which is so simple and easy to master. The concept of strengthening the Digimon character that does not verbose through the Reserve system and also Farm Island makes it not feel tiring. On paper, despite the various shortcomings, he is a JRPG game with a Digimon theme that is still worth tasting.
But inevitably, admittedly, Hacker's Memory is not a perfect game. One of the biggest problems that we think hurt the gameplay is the reluctance to take advantage of the more potent, urban setting of Tokyo that he stretches, to contribute more to the gameplay. Instead of adding and enriching it with a side mission or a variety of side activities like competing JRPG games, it is nothing more than a kind of decoration and a place to put clue for main missions and side missions, with so little interactivity. A repetitive side mission design is another important problem, crucial.
But despite all the shortcomings, Digimon Story - Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is an exciting 2018 JRPG game. You will be able to greatly enjoy it if you meet these two conditions: You are in love with Digimon as a franchise and you do not anticipate anything so special or revolutionary with it. Are you unfamiliar with Digimon able to taste it? Of course, but losing the appeal and curiosity to the Digivolve process should, to be one of the roots of the experience.
Advantages
- Sistermon.
- Simple Digimon developmental system
- Classic JRPG concept
- Sistermon
- OST is quite fun
- Details for Digimon are fantastic
- No need for grinding
Deficiency
- The design of the digital world you meet is not too spoil the eye.
- The mission is easy to feel repetitive
- City not interesting to explore
- The difficulty level was easy
- The story feels rambling
- There is no emotionally tied up feeling with the Digimon you choose
- Level design in the digital world that does not feel creative
Developer: Media.Vision
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Director: Tetsuya Okubo
Syuhei Oka
Producer: Kazumasa Habu
Designer: Hideaki Kikuchi
Programmer: Masanori Kodo
Artist: Suzuhito Yasuda
Kenji Watanabe
Composer: Masafumi Takada
Series Digimon
Platform: PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Release PlayStation Vita
JP: March 12, 2015
NA: February 2, 2016
EU: February 5, 2016
PlayStation 4
NA: February 2, 2016
EU: February 5, 2016
JP: December 21, 2017
Genre: Role-playing
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
Written by: @anwarunsam
Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia, 26 January 2018
