Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin - PlayStation 5

Stranger of Paradise is quite the mixed bag of a video game. It combines elements of several different games, the most notable being Dark Souls and Devil May Cry. The game manages to find a good balance on its difficulty without being too punishingly hard and frustrating. The combat is a lot of fun, the job system provides a wide variety of options for any play style. The game has a loot system that almost overwhelms you with loot with even the most pitiful monsters turning into Loot Pinata's. The bosses feel challenging without feeling impossible and taking them down and getting the big reward really feels great. Especially since the main character is such a brute and practically crushes them. The combat and gameplay are fantastic and it actually becomes rather addictive to play. Unfortunately, for as good as the gameplay is is where the praise ends. This games story is....rather bad and thrown together. It fails to explain even the most basic elements of the plot and the motivations of the characters especially Jack, the main character are not exactly clear. All you're told is that Jack really hates Chaos and wants to destroy whatever it is. It really does feel like they just slapped it together without much fun which is sad considering Final Fantasy's always been known for their deep compelling storys and layered characters. The graphics on the cut scenes are rough to say the least with many of them looking like they are Playstation 3 quality. The inventory system is honestly abysmal, with the sheer wealth of loot you end up attaining its almost overwhelming to even start sorting through it all. For all its faults Stranger of Paradise is honestly worth a playthrough just for how great the gameplay and combat are but maybe wait for this one to go on sale.

Not the kind of game I normally play, but a great love letter to the final fantasy franchise. Gameplay can be punishing but rewarding when you succeed. Story is surprisingly deep and made me emotional at the end. Huge fun seeing the references to other FF games in the environments and lore. Recommend this for FF enthusiasts and who aren't afraid of a challenge. Only complaint..... I wish the dungeons had maps. I got lost so many times!

The gameplay is fantastic, some of the best arpg gameplay out there. It was done by the same people who made the Nioh games and has some slight souls elements to it. The story is also genuinely amazing. It might seem like it's leaving out details but the game expects you to think about it and read the lore you find in levels, mission descriptions, and loading screens. There really isn't anything "unexplained" so long as you pay attention. The soundtrack is great, with a great battle theme and remixes of songs from past final fantasy games. The graphics aren't the best but it didn't bother me, plus they've just recently updated the game and improved lighting in some areas. Performance wise it runs at mostly 60fps on ps5 in performance mode with occasional fps drops and one level having a weirdly bad frame rate. I don't understand how they couldn't get this game to a locked 60fps especially with the graphics it has and compared to other games on the ps5, but the fps drops didn't really impact my enjoyment. I really enjoyed this game and so far it's the best game I've played this year. The game is definitely not for everyone, but go in with an open mind.

The story and characters are hilarious for all of the wrong reasons but it works in a The Room kind of way. The game play is actually quite fun. The core play loop is Soulslike but there are multiple layers to the combat that tie into your play style and strategic skill tree choices. Fans of the first Final Fantasy will dig the setting, art and character cameos. This game was developed by Team Ninja; makers of the Ninja Gaiden and Nioh series.

As an avid FF fan, i have to say that this title feels mediocre to me. The combat is fun, but not turn based like older FF games. The graphics leave a lot to be desired, though graphics are one of the things i care about the least, so not a deal breaker for me. The dialog is very, very cheesey. Usually i get really drawn into a FF game and it is hard for me to put down, but i find myself not playing for a few days at a time (granted i have other games i am playing that just came out). I am not TOO far into it yet, so i am really hoping that it picks up the pace a bit.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is Square Enix's answer to games like Demon Souls and Bloodborne. It has a very similar combat system and dark aesthetic along with the ability to play 3-player co-op online in order to get through missions. However, it employs the FF job system and acts as a sort of prequel to Final Fantasy 1 (hence the Origin in the title). It is developed by the same team who made the Nioh games, so if you like those you should feel right at home. Don't be dissuaded by the perceived difficulty; there are selectable difficulty levels so between that and co-op play, anybody should be able to get through the game. Highly recommended.

As the title says, it has similar gameplay as a Souls game. So if you want to enjoy the story, play it on easy. If you want to repeatedly get one-shot by standard enemies, or have to grind for gear all the while praying to the RNG gods? Then be like me and beat the game on hard. Then attempt Chaos mode. Excuse me while I go check for stress gray hairs.

As a Final Fantasy fan this game is a great change of pace, especially if you are a fan of "souls" type games as well. The gameplay is fantastic and a nice balance of both worlds. Yeah, the graphics are a lot to be desired although that doesn't necessarily make or break a good or great game.