It's hard to put into words just how fascinating and unique this game turned out to be. I had already predicted it might be a "Game of the Year" contender before release, but I never expected it to be this ambitious, this captivating.

Let me get straight to why I believe this is one of the strongest titles of the year (aside from the upcoming DS2):

Art design, graphics, and environments: This is easily one of the game’s strongest features. Every environment feels like stepping into a living painting — vivid, atmospheric, and full of personality. The variety of locations is staggering, each one carrying its own soul and visual flair. It’s a constant sense of discovery.

Combat: I both understand and don’t understand the complaints about dodging and parrying. For me, compared to Persona or Metaphor: ReFantazio, the combat stayed engaging all the way through. I deliberately avoided dodging and focused on mastering parries on expert difficulty — and it felt amazing. Every encounter became a satisfying dance of timing and skill.

Story and characters: The plot is intriguing from the first moments to the final choice. The characters are compelling, the narrative keeps you locked in, and the ending is impactful. There are no clear-cut heroes or villains — everyone feels human, complex, and worth understanding. And yet, you're still forced to make a choice.

Music: I'm not exaggerating when I say the soundtrack reaches near Nier: Automata levels of brilliance. It's haunting, beautiful, and perfectly tied to the world. Some tracks instantly landed in my playlist. Whether it’s the sonar echoes in the underwater zones or the enchanting songs of the Sirens, the music shapes the soul of each area.

From meaningful side quests to that nostalgic feeling of exploring without handholding, the game is packed with charm. Post-story secrets, costume variety, and clever travel mechanics — all of it is impressive, especially considering it was developed by just 33 people on a modest budget.

As for the downsides — and these barely count — I’d mention the lack of a location map, some tasks taking more time than they should, and a subtle feeling that the narrative leans more toward a “feminine” emotional perspective. Many male characters feel either overly fragile or emotionally distant in contrast to the depth given to the female characters. This is just a subjective observation, and it doesn’t detract from the experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend this game to anyone with time to dive in. It’s a mesmerizing journey through a hand-painted world bursting with color, emotion, and imagination. Easily one of my favorite releases in recent years.

9.5/10