Cladun X3
So here's the thing. I'm new to this series and checked it out because the idea of such a customizable RPG was appealing to me. I didn't really know what I was getting into otherwise.
If this game came out when I was younger and a) had patience b) didn't have a ton of other games to play at any given point because money was low and we got fewer games (plus we didn't have the internet to easily download stuff), this would have been my JAM.
I'm not a big dungeon crawler guy outside of some Diablo-like games, but even with those, I mostly play them with my brother. Anyway, I say this because that's the gameplay loop. Go into a dungeon for quick runs, level up, do it again. The loop is fine for me, but it's not as addictive as it is for a lot of other people who have played this and commented on it. The grind is definitely real.
Honestly, in an RPG I want a great story. It needs to have memorable characters at the very least, so even if it's just a simple story, I get invested. That's the main reason I've always played RPGs. This doesn't have that. It's kinda funny but that's about it. Which is completely fine because that's also not the focus of Cladun X3.
The focus is the systems. And man, is this ever deep. Magic circles, crazy customization from character, weapons, to even the music, etc. Take magic circles for example: you place created characters into slots to get stat bonuses and the like, and they also take damage for you. This gets really repetitive, but it's kind of a neat system, although I don't like how main characters only get certain bonuses so the game tells you that you should swap out for your sub-characters (also because it's "more fun" but that seems at odds with the game being pretty free otherwise).
Anyway, the customization is great for those who want it. And I thought I did. I like some depth in RPGs but this isn't what I'm feeling right now. Maybe if I was more in the mood for it I'd feel differently. But if I were still a kid and came across this? I'd be editing everything. Now I spend a lot less time with individual games because there's so much to play, so I can't/don't want to give myself to this game like it wants.
And to be clear, most of this isn't Cladun X3's fault. Magic circle and slightly wonky combat is, but outside of that, nah. This game deserves a 90. But this is MY rating, MY enjoyment, and my enjoyment dictates that it's a "good" game. In some ways it's what I want, though it can be a bit too much, and in some ways it lacks what I want from an RPG.
If this game came out when I was younger and a) had patience b) didn't have a ton of other games to play at any given point because money was low and we got fewer games (plus we didn't have the internet to easily download stuff), this would have been my JAM.
I'm not a big dungeon crawler guy outside of some Diablo-like games, but even with those, I mostly play them with my brother. Anyway, I say this because that's the gameplay loop. Go into a dungeon for quick runs, level up, do it again. The loop is fine for me, but it's not as addictive as it is for a lot of other people who have played this and commented on it. The grind is definitely real.
Honestly, in an RPG I want a great story. It needs to have memorable characters at the very least, so even if it's just a simple story, I get invested. That's the main reason I've always played RPGs. This doesn't have that. It's kinda funny but that's about it. Which is completely fine because that's also not the focus of Cladun X3.
The focus is the systems. And man, is this ever deep. Magic circles, crazy customization from character, weapons, to even the music, etc. Take magic circles for example: you place created characters into slots to get stat bonuses and the like, and they also take damage for you. This gets really repetitive, but it's kind of a neat system, although I don't like how main characters only get certain bonuses so the game tells you that you should swap out for your sub-characters (also because it's "more fun" but that seems at odds with the game being pretty free otherwise).
Anyway, the customization is great for those who want it. And I thought I did. I like some depth in RPGs but this isn't what I'm feeling right now. Maybe if I was more in the mood for it I'd feel differently. But if I were still a kid and came across this? I'd be editing everything. Now I spend a lot less time with individual games because there's so much to play, so I can't/don't want to give myself to this game like it wants.
And to be clear, most of this isn't Cladun X3's fault. Magic circle and slightly wonky combat is, but outside of that, nah. This game deserves a 90. But this is MY rating, MY enjoyment, and my enjoyment dictates that it's a "good" game. In some ways it's what I want, though it can be a bit too much, and in some ways it lacks what I want from an RPG.
Mini Review: Should read the full review for context here. This game is great, but I don't love it. Incredibly deep customization and systems make this a dream for people who are into that kind of thing. The story itself is okay, though mostly it's silly and occasionally funny. Graphics are fine, hardly impressive but also hardly the point. Combat doesn't feel entirely satisfying. Dungeon runs are quick and the grind is real.
Watch the Trailer