You haven’t played the best PlayStation exclusive of 2020 - Polygon (it's 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim)

Epitomage · Dec 19, 2020

Church

Don't spoil anything about this game's plot before you play, folks. Coming from someone who usually dislikes vn's, overtly anime inspired designs in sci fi settings and rts type gameplay. It's just that good as a package.

Don't let all the talk about one adult with massive boobs deter you either. It's really a benign design choice in the greater scheme.

Irnbru · Dec 19, 2020

So, the intro is 100% tropes and I thought this was being oversold and I was pretty meh on the whole thing. But once you're past the prologues, oh baby. I'm loving it. ( they really should've done EVA body suits tho, also that one character someone put the curve sliders to ridiculous.. why? Why?! Otherwise everything else is fantastic. )

Xater · Dec 19, 2020

GhostTrick said:
That's called ignorance.
There are a lot of visual novels which are more than "walls of text". You have set pieces, you have scenes going on, animations and such. There's a sound design for each scenes. Voice acting.
It's far more than "just a wall of text". Even for the more simple ones, there's still music going on for the mood.
In the case of 13 sentinels, you have characters doing stuff on screen. It's not a "wall of text". Or do you call any game with text a "wall of text" because there are dialogues ? What about cutscenes with subtitles ? Are those a "wall of text" ?

None of these bonus things I find compelling. I'd rather read a real book with better writing, whereI also don't need to look at a screen.It's not ignorance, because boy trust me did I try many recommended games of the genre, but to me it just doesn't work for the medium. I can enjoy a good book, but get bored out of my mind in no time playing Danganronpa.

GhostTrick · Dec 19, 2020

Xater said:
None of these bonus things I find compelling. I'd rather read a real book with better writing, whereI also don't need to look at a screen.It's not ignorance, because boy trust me did I try many recommended games of the genre, but to me it just doesn't work for the medium. I can enjoy a good book, but get bored out of my mind in no time playing Danganronpa.

Yeah, why watch a movie too. You could just read a book. After all, acting, music, setpieces, scene shooting, camera work. Those are just bonuses.

It is complete ignorance and it shows. Not because you hide behind the "I read REAL books with BETTER writing" that it means you know what you're talking about. Quite the opposite in fact.

You can dislike it, no one blames you for that. But your points aren't about tastes but claims. Such as "it doesn't work for the medium" or "it''s just fake books and text of walls". Those are two different mediums. There a shit load of things done in visual novels that you cant do in a book and that's by design.

Yautja_Warrior · Dec 19, 2020

Really must pick this up.

finalflame · Dec 19, 2020

I just get the feeling this game has been so hyped it will ultimately disappoint me.

Zolbrod · Dec 19, 2020

Fuck I hate clickbait article headlines like this. Stop assuming your audience didn't play whatever you're talking about and just put the fucking name of the game in your headline.

Anyway, I'm playing it right now, about 30 hours in and reaching the end, and it's definitely very good, but I feel like it's getting slightly long in the tooth.
There's so many characters and their stories all feel like they go on for slightly too long.
I enjoy the way the branching narrative works though and the combat is surprisingly enjoyable.

I find myself comparing it to Virtue's Last Reward and last year's Somnium Files, but it's not quite on that level imho.

Nakenorm · Dec 19, 2020

Yeah, I'll probably pick this up whek I get my Cyberpunk refund.

Dracil · Dec 19, 2020

This was honestly my GOTY just from all the "WTF?" and then "No, WTF" and then "NO WTF" moments I had in this game. Especially if you know all the like 80s sci-fi tropes. The game does have some eye-raising choices regarding the sexuality, but if you are fine with stuff like Persona, then this is way way tamer than that. Like literally all the stuff you see in trailers is as bad as it gets. But if you love sci-fi tropes, this is the game for you.

And yeah, definitely a better cyberpunk plot than Cyberpunk (and if you're okay with that game but not this game, then LOL)

The whole Relic plot has like nothing compared to what's in this game

Dreamboum · Dec 19, 2020

every thread about 13 sentinels we have people acting like the game is pornography when it's a T for Teen rated game.

Persona 5 is M for Mature and has more explicit content and I have never seen this level of sheer misunderstanding of what the game is about.

Dphex · Dec 19, 2020

Is the "RTS" part competent? because the game looks like 90% Visual Novel with a mobile game attached.

i am sure the game is cool but visual novels are normally not my thing so i am hesitant to check this out when the actual "game part" is not that great.

Dreamboum · Dec 19, 2020

Dphex said:
Is the "RTS" part competent? because the game looks like 90% Visual Novel with a mobile game attached.

yeah many people got surprised at how much it opens up and how satisfying it gets

henhowc · Dec 19, 2020

I've seen the praise but watched the trailer and just immediately noped out. 😟

Princess Bubblegum · Dec 19, 2020

Dphex said:
Is the "RTS" part competent? because the game looks like 90% Visual Novel with a mobile game attached.

i am sure the game is cool but visual novels are normally not my thing so i am hesitant to check this out when the actual "game part" is not that great.

The battles aren't super deep or challenging, with exception even on the hardest difficulty, but they are extremely satisfying. If you can get past the abstract presentation, it's quite enjoyable especially after you've upgraded the various models of sentinels and figured out how to best use each.

Dphex · Dec 19, 2020

Dreamboum said:
yeah many people got surprised at how much it opens up and how satisfying it gets

SapphiCine said:
The battles aren't super deep or challenging, with exception even on the hardest difficulty, but they are extremely satisfying. If you can get past the abstract presentation, it's quite enjoyable.

Cool, thx, will definitely check this game out.

LordHuffnPuff · Dec 19, 2020

Keldroc said:
It's fucking absurd is what it is. It's pretty good but my only conclusion from threads like this is people need to read more books.

This is frankly absurdly condescending. I'm nearing completion of a Ph.D. in literature. I have read plenty of books. Different forms of media present their narratives differently, and the form of delivery provides novel (no pun intended) methodologies for expression even if the ideas being expressed have been done before in other ways.

Admiral Woofington · Dec 19, 2020

Keldroc said:
It's fucking absurd is what it is. It's pretty good but my only conclusion from threads like this is people need to read more books.

What fucking ever. Do you say the same when someone really enjoys a TV show? Any visual medium has the advantage of having other elements to help elevate the plot.

Gala · Dec 19, 2020

Bought it day 1 and platinum'd it in 2 1/2 days. The games was incredible!

Flevance · Dec 19, 2020

That sounds about right, might as well just give it the GOTY. I've finished the game recently and I'm having a hard time finding my next game to play that could fill up the gap

Nimby · Dec 19, 2020

Got it in the GameFly queue, I could send Watch Dogs Legion back right now (never even touched it)

StraySheep · Dec 19, 2020

Come for the 13 sentinels praise, stay for the dunking on VN hot takes.

Like others have said, I promise I will pick this up next year.

ScOULaris · Dec 19, 2020

Xater said:
Sorry but visual novel is an instant turn-off. I can't think of anything more boring than reading walls of text from a TV screen. I really don't get the genre at all.

I have zero interest in visual novels. None whatsoever.

13 Sentinels ended up being one of my favorite games of this generation, easily.

ScOULaris · Dec 19, 2020

Dreamboum said:
every thread about 13 sentinels we have people acting like the game is pornography when it's a T for Teen rated game.

Persona 5 is M for Mature and has more explicit content and I have never seen this level of sheer misunderstanding of what the game is about.

And every single time is mostly people who haven't played even one second of the game.

Grimmjow · Dec 19, 2020

Easily one of the best games of the year. Put that Cyberpunk refund to good use!

Dracil · Dec 19, 2020

Dphex said:
Is the "RTS" part competent? because the game looks like 90% Visual Novel with a mobile game attached.

i am sure the game is cool but visual novels are normally not my thing so i am hesitant to check this out when the actual "game part" is not that great.

Hardest difficulty is alright, makes me feel the easier difficulties would be way too easy. The abstractness is a little hard to grasp at the beginning but you get used to it, and in the very last battle, on the PS4/Pro I've hard it drops frames so it kinda makes sense why they did what they did. But PS5 seemed smooth for me.

TooBusyLookinGud · Dec 19, 2020

I'll bite Era. I usually don't listen to you all because I've been burned in the past with that monstrosity Death Stranding.

AIan · Dec 19, 2020

finalflame said:
I just get the feeling this game has been so hyped it will ultimately disappoint me.

Yeah at this point I'm starting to feel like the hype isn't really related to the quality of the game but rather trying to get the game out there so Vanillaware can continue making games heading to the west.

Deleted member 52442 · Dec 19, 2020

the story is really good if you ignore the sexualization of kids at the start

pass

Lemony1984 · Dec 19, 2020

Dphex said:
Is the "RTS" part competent? because the game looks like 90% Visual Novel with a mobile game attached.

i am sure the game is cool but visual novels are normally not my thing so i am hesitant to check this out when the actual "game part" is not that great.

It's fine but it's a really minor part of the game time wise and it's totally separate from the VN part.

DontHateTheBacon · Dec 19, 2020

I have and it is great! It's confusing early, but I just saved almost all the combat scenarios for last and dove right into the story.

Tyrant Rave · Dec 19, 2020

Didn't read the article but the headline is facts

I think it's less of a visual novel and more of an adventure game for those on the fence. It's a narrative focused game regardless though so if you're looking for a great experience it is absolutely worth it.

tiebreaker · Dec 19, 2020

It's definitely in my top 5 of the year. I feel like the thing that is holding this game back is the japanese tropes.

Megawarrior · Dec 19, 2020

Abelisk said:
Yeah at this point I'm starting to feel like the hype isn't really related to the quality of the game but rather trying to get the game out there so Vanillaware can continue making games heading to the west.

The quality is absolutely there.

Y2Kev · Dec 19, 2020

I didn't see why this game was better as a visual novel than a movie or tv series or even just regular novel. I hated the act of actually playing this. Walking around slowly looking for the next one line of text to read. Meh.

FTF · Dec 19, 2020

Yeah I really messed up not picking this up when it was $30-40 during Thanksgiving sales :/

lemonade · Dec 19, 2020

Dreamboum said:
every thread about 13 sentinels we have people acting like the game is pornography when it's a T for Teen rated game.

Persona 5 is M for Mature and has more explicit content and I have never seen this level of sheer misunderstanding of what the game is about.

I have learned to ignore these posts. Most of the time they have never played the game, post an over-exaggerated drive-by post and wait for people to take the bait. Then strawman anyone who dare to offer context and nuance into monsters.

Meanwhile it's a rated T game like you said lmao.

monstar · Dec 19, 2020

Is it likely to eventually get PC or Switch ports? It doesn't look that graphically intensive that it couldn't be on switch.

The Switch is supposedly so popular in Japan, I'm surprised they didn't launch on it.

GhostTrick · Dec 19, 2020

Y2Kev said:
I didn't see why this game was better as a visual novel than a movie or tv series or even just regular novel. I hated the act of actually playing this. Walking around slowly looking for the next one line of text to read. Meh.

Because a movie is 2 hours long.
Because a TV series cant afford to have that kind of pacing.
Because a novel has no visuals, no soundtrack, no voice acting.
Because even without playing it, I can tell you none of those medias can unfold 13 storylines the way that games seems to do.

Y2Kev · Dec 19, 2020

GhostTrick said:
Because a movie is 2 hours long.
Because a TV series cant afford to have that kind of pacing.
Because a novel has no visuals, no soundtrack, no voice acting.
Because even without playing it, I can tell you none of those medias can unfold 13 storylines the way that games seems to do.

I don't understand why a tv series can't have "this kind of pacing". This reminds me of like two animes I've seen.

And the game didn't even launch fully voiced. Is that really the price you pay for these mechanics?

Anddo · Dec 19, 2020

My 2020 GOTY. I double dipped. Initially got the digital version and then picked up the disc version for $29 during black Friday.

Jakenbakin · Dec 19, 2020

Y2Kev said:
I don't understand why a tv series can't have "this kind of pacing". This reminds me of like two animes I've seen.

And the game didn't even launch fully voiced. Is that really the price you pay for these mechanics?

It was fully voiced in the western release...?

Y2Kev · Dec 19, 2020

Jakenbakin said:
It was fully voiced in the western release...?

Oh I think I got the day 1 patch late lol

GhostTrick · Dec 19, 2020

Y2Kev said:
I don't understand why a tv series can't have "this kind of pacing". This reminds me of like two animes I've seen.

And the game didn't even launch fully voiced. Is that really the price you pay for these mechanics?

You mean it didnt launch with english voice over ? (It did in the end).
As for why a TV serie cant have that kind of pacing, there's a reason why anime adaptions of VNs mostly suck. Because they cant afford to have 30 minutes of infodump nor having a scene going for 30 minutes. Also it'd take a lot of episodes to achieve the story.
I mean, following your logic: Why didn't they make TLOU2 as a movie, a tv show or a novel ?

AIan · Dec 19, 2020

Megawarrior said:
The quality is absolutely there.

Don't get me wrong, the game is great. I played it and absolutely enjoyed what the plot and even RTS had to offer. But it wasn't through the roof as all the hype I've seen these past couple months in threads seems to allude to. I get it, the game hasn't been popular in the West so it's good to give the game a spotlight.

Y2Kev · Dec 19, 2020

GhostTrick said:
You mean it didnt launch with english voice over ? (It did in the end).
As for why a TV serie cant have that kind of pacing, there's a reason why anime adaptions of VNs mostly suck. Because they cant afford to have 30 minutes of infodump nor having a scene going for 30 minutes. Also it'd take a lot of episodes to achieve the story.
I mean, following your logic: Why didn't they make TLOU2 as a movie, a tv show or a novel ?

Well I think every one can have their own view so that's fine but the most engaging parts of most games are the mechanics. I thought here the act of playing the game actually hampered my enjoyment of consuming the story content. But that's really just me and why I'd rather have just read it.

KeRaSh · Dec 19, 2020

I've put Miles Morales on hold to play this instead. So far I'm really enjoying it. I'll reserve my final judgment until I've seen the end come together. If they can really bring it all together then I might agree with everyone who's been fawning over this game ever since it came out.

entremet · Dec 19, 2020

This is a VN? I thought it was a strategy RPG?

lemonade · Dec 19, 2020

GhostTrick said:
Why didn't they make TLOU2 as a movie, a tv show or a novel ?

Exactly, the crowd complaining that VN are basically novels give off the same boomer energy as those who say Sony first-party games are all just movies cut into a game.

The fact that players can choose from multiple protagonists at any time means almost every player will have a different experience. This makes 13 Sentinels only work as a VN.

Sande · Dec 19, 2020

Wasn't this one of those "actually she's a 1000 year old dragon" types of games? Really soured me initially, but the praise is starting to be difficult to ignore.

Crayon · Dec 19, 2020

I really want this now. :<

But it is Xmas time and I am tapped out!!!! I'll get it when I recover lol.

You haven’t played the best PlayStation exclusive of 2020 - Polygon (it's 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim)

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