Is the storyline any good?

[from small town]

I read this game got high reviews, and pcgamer also praised the pc port.

Personally I'm not a fan of strategy rpg but if it has a good story then it can cover the gameplay length (as I normally have mood to play game during weekend only).

I did finish Vandal Hearts 2 long-long time ago, which is a also strategy JRPG in PSX. That game has a really tragic and good story, although its gameplay is rather boring.

[SundownKid]

I think the story's good, but also a bit corny. If you hate games that are lighthearted then you won't like it. The game has some dark moments but overall it has a lighthearted tone.

[Zeon08]

Originally posted by SundownKid:

I think the story's good, but also a bit corny. If you hate games that are lighthearted then you won't like it. The game has some dark moments but overall it has a lighthearted tone.

yeah burning kids and women alive, Is's death. solidier dieing on Alicias hands crying for mother...even in first chapter they show a kid being shot with his family. I'd say it is good game, story is deep and dark, but not gorry.

[Red]

Concentration camps, wanton slaughter of civvies, racism, torture, and a flying pig monster named Hans.

[ﾚﾌﾄ]

It's alright. I found the battle system and Squad 7 cameradie were it's strongest points.
It's pretty light hearted for a game about war but there are a few low points too, as Zeon kindly spoiled for ya'.

[Lorx]

Zeon08 you should probably spoiler that, since if somebody wants to play for the story, they probably don't want half of the twists summarized to them right off the bat.

Extra Credits mentioned VC in a video they did a while back; http://youtu.be/Kx7oRmFs9TQ?t=2m17s

Short version being that it's probably the best attempt from video games thus far for talking about concentration camps, the story's pretty good but inconsistent in tone, ranging from anime antics to horrors of war, but still good enough to take a look at. I don't think anybody can promise a jaw-dropping amazing story that stands out amazingly well, but it's a functional story, and one that isn't really done anywhere else effectively. It's just really cool to see a story dealing with the topics that it does, and how it handles them, as that's super rare in video games even to this day (as the game was originally from 2008).

It had an anime adaption, but imo the story was...worse for wear there, better to play the game.

[AnemoneMeer]

It's inconsistant in tone to say the very least. That being said, it's a good story in and of itself, though one with some serious weak areas, mostly related to dropped subplot threads/aesops.

The plot isn't what sells the game. Nor is the cast. The gameplay certainly does, and the game's willingness to go into some pretty dark areas at times does as well, even if it doesn't mesh at all with the overall tone. Beach Episode and Burning People Alive episode aren't too far apart.

[from small town]

Ok, so it appears at least this game's story is relatively good.
I'll buy it then, thanks all for your info.

[Cutlass Jack]

Personally I think the story is the best part of the game. One of the very few games that brought a tear to my eye...well for the right reasons at least. Try to avoid spoilers and you'll have a good time with it I think.

[CaptainCoxwaggle]

The story is utterly absurd and laughable when it tries hard to be serious by introducing concentration camps, genocide, and torture. While ignoring the fact that the Main Character willingly sends a 12 year old girl to get shot to pieces in order to chuck a grenade at an enemy commander in order to achieve A Ranking and full experience reward.

It is so over the top bad, that it becomes amusing in it's own right. And the fact that the gameplay is excellent certainly helps.

[Faint]

Originally posted by CaptainCoxwaggle:

The story is utterly absurd and laughable when it tries hard to be serious by introducing concentration camps, genocide, and torture. While ignoring the fact that the Main Character willingly sends a 12 year old girl to get shot to pieces in order to chuck a grenade at an enemy commander in order to achieve A Ranking and full experience reward.

It is so over the top bad, that it becomes amusing in it's own right. And the fact that the gameplay is excellent certainly helps.

that sounds more like you suck a commander lol. why the 12 year old? send the old guy instead.

the story is good, the plots are heavy but you don't feel it because its anime-ish and everyone looks way to unique but you will get invested in the characters pretty easy as well because of this. Think less Shadows of Mordor and more XCOM japan style

[cniht]

If you're not a completely superficial person who can read at least a little bit between the lines then you'll enjoy the story. Characters are deep and thought out, story archs for both main missions and side missions (character plot development) are done well, and it still gives weight to the difficulties and realities of war without throwing the gore in your face. The lack of gore reminds me of the directing style of one Haruki Kadokawa. And all of the above comes with some extremely high quality voice acting. Yes there are the absurd moments, but this is still a JRPG made by SEGA. You should expect some outlandish things, and try to appreciate them for their place in the genre.

[Terra]

The tone is really inconsistent at times.

"Hey, genocide and nuclear weapon allegories. BUT LOOK AT THIS PIG YO"

[Harukage]

Originally posted by Terra:

The tone is really inconsistent at times.

"Hey, genocide and nuclear weapon allegories. BUT LOOK AT THIS PIG YO"

But it is a cute pig with wings. Surely you understand the sentiment... I mean, it is a japanese game.

[Terra]

Originally posted by Harukage:

Originally posted by Terra:

The tone is really inconsistent at times.

"Hey, genocide and nuclear weapon allegories. BUT LOOK AT THIS PIG YO"

But it is a cute pig with wings. Surely you understand the sentiment... I mean, it is a japanese game.

It reminds me of when we were covering Macbeth in high school, and my teacher just outright said "so this guy talking for a page and a half about why he's going to open the gate is comic relief. It's so all the regicide and dark arts is balanced out by buffoonery."

What I'm saying is that when McDuff is laying on, there should have been a pig with wings.

[Romulus]

For a japanese rpg, the story is pretty damn grounded for the most part, with the exception of some anime tropes. It is modelled on European warfare during WW2 so expect a semi-realistic tale of war.