The 7th Saga

The Good
While not being the type of game to blow you away, The 7th Saga did have excellent gameplay, and graphics that were a little bit above average. The battle system took some time to get used to but from then on it was pretty smooth sailing.

The Bad
It was a good thing that the gameplay was so appealing to me or else i would never have kept playing. Where is the compelling story? What about the side quests that we have all come to know and love RPGs for? This game was sorely lacking in the storyline department and it showed.

The Bottom Line
If you have played RPGs for a while then you might not want to pick this one up. Although quite challenging, The 7th Saga just didn't do anything spectacular or new.

The Good
• Visually unique, realistic JRPG character designs and frightening monsters reminiscent of Shin Megami Tensei's sprite work

• Challenging gameplay that requires you to use the game's mechanics to their utmost from start to finish

• Well-crafted and atmospheric soundtrack with unique battle themes that blend rock, classical, and electronic sounds

• On-screen map which shows the position of enemies on the overworld, occasionally allowing you to pull some quick maneuvers to get out of fights in a pinch

The Bad
• Some scenes are rushed and entire tracks from the OST barely get used

• The western release nerfed character stats to make the game more difficult in an attempt to prevent people from finishing it in a single Blockbuster rental -- in some ways this is a positive, but characters miss attacks more frequently than they should, and grinding becomes necessary in a couple areas

The Bottom Line
The 7th Saga, or Elnard as it's known in Japan, is a finely-crafted and dark JRPG experience in a genre that's often cluttered with cutesy characters and childish enemy designs. It offers a unique setting where 7 protagonists (the player chooses which to control) are searching the planet for 7 powerful runes, and each character has their own ambitions, whether it's fortune, fame, sense of duty, or belonging. You come across the other heroes on your journey, and some offer to help while others aim to stop you and thin out the competition.

Wholly unique, and yet there are plenty of familiar RPG tropes here to keep the experience grounded. Still fun today and highly recommended! Just be prepared to yell at your screen every now and again.