Review: An Enthralling Adventure in Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Delays in video game releases can be a source of anxiety for fans. It often leaves us questioning the viability and quality of the promised product. For instance, my anticipation for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time was dampened not only by its multiple delays but also by the less-than-stellar reception of Fantasy Life Online and the uncertainty surrounding the developer, Level-5. Given my fondness for the original Fantasy Life on the 3DS, I approached its sequel with trepidation. Fortunately, my worries dissipated upon delving into the game, which turned out to be remarkable.
Gameplay and Structure
At first glance, Fantasy Life i is a trove of engaging gameplay. Although it may seem like Level-5 is stretching itself thin by incorporating various elements, the game allows players to select focus areas, making it easy to tune into preferences. In fact, there are multiple gameplay experiences within the same title, and each one is commendably designed.
A Rich Narrative
The narrative introduces us to an archeologist who, alongside a character named Edward, sets off on an adventure to study a mysterious dragon skeleton on a remote island. The story escalates when the fossil awakens into a creature named Skelegon. Each location in the game is carefully crafted, offering its own mysteries and contributing to an interconnected gameplay experience.
Diverse Classes and Professions
The Mysteria area provides a nostalgic action-RPG experience alongside traditional Fantasy Life mechanics. In this realm, players can collect up to 14 different lives, including classic RPG roles like Hunter, Magician, Mercenary, and Paladin, which drive the action-RPG combat. Each role, including the gathering professions like Angler, Farmer, Miner, and Woodcutter, feeds into crafting roles such as Alchemist, Artist, Blacksmith, Carpenter, and Tailor—a well-thought-out system that emphasizes interdependence and collaboration.
Exploration and Challenges
Instead of conventional dungeons, players navigate through forests, caves, and open fields, all teeming with gathering points and enemies. Unique challenges arise when fighting “bosses”associated with various jobs, requiring players to discover weak spots for successful engagements. Beyond the solitary enemies, significant “boss”characters add to the combat depth.
Engaging World-Building
The modern-day base in Fantasy Life i introduces Animal Crossing-inspired features. Players can engage in terraforming, customize their homes, and cultivate relationships with NPCs, who can join in on adventures and assist in gathering, crafting, and battling. This aspect enhances the sense of community and interactivity, making the experience more rewarding.
Open-World Freedom
Similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the game encourages exploration and discovery. Players can unlock towers to unveil map segments and complete shrines to gather new Strangelings that enhance the gameplay experience. Fast travel is cleverly integrated, allowing players to reset resources efficiently, although some technical bugs may occur, such as temporary invincibility of enemies due to environmental glitches.
The Joy of Progression
Notably, Fantasy Life i brilliantly combines the grind with enjoyment, allowing for quick resource gathering and skill upgrades. Players can automatically skip certain crafting minigames, pursue side quests for rewards, and craft on the fly, maximizing convenience. The game epitomizes accessibility, catering to diverse preferences and playstyles—whether it’s engaging in quests or simply enjoying character customization.
Minor Technical Issues
However, players should note that Fantasy Life i does present challenges when played on handheld gaming PCs, experiencing performance dips during cutscenes. These issues can typically be resolved by adjusting graphics settings, although they can be a mild inconvenience.
Conclusion: A Stellar Addition
In summary, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time exceeds expectations, offering an abundance of content and flexibility in gameplay choices. With its engaging narrative, vibrant world, and a plethora of options to explore, it promises to be one of the standout titles on the Nintendo Switch and PC. With Level-5’s plans for future DLC, fans have even more to look forward to.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is now available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, with a version also set to release on the upcoming Switch 2.
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