It's a shame you didn't like the game. I played through to the end and I honestly really enjoyed it. The familiar/trope aspects of the game gave it a comfort-food sort of feel which I liked, and there were several interesting twists at the end that I wasn't expecting. I'm a huge dungeon crawler fan so I probably enjoyed it more than most, though 😅
Interesting perspective there! I can definitely see where you're coming from :) To be honest, my biggest concern was that since I normally play a bajillion different types of RPGs, I usually tend to look for titles that bring a little something extra to the table. But with Sapphire Wings, even though it felt a little too safe for me, I can also see why people would really enjoy that "comfort-food sort of feel" this game offers, like you mentioned. That being said, I still cringe quite a lot from hearing the words "Light", "Darkness" and "Friendship" in dialogue - but it isn't anywhere near as bad as Kingdom Hearts 😂 Are there any other RPGs that you're looking forward to this year? - Anthony
All the negative points you give are valid but idk, i am currently really enjoying it. But im a sucker for "haha cliche/corny tropes" i also feel even though all the points are valid you need to remember this is really a 2010 game, literally an 11yo game, just renamed for the west so it is kinda unfair to compare this to current drps. But that is just my take. 🤷♂️
Hahaha! That's fair enough! If I got this game back in 2010 though, I still probably wouldn't have played it because there were some banger RPGs out at the time. But I can see what you mean, the DRPG scene was still pretty niche in 2010. Do you prefer DRPGs or traditional JRPGs? - Anthony
FINALLY an honest review that just doens't tell you everything is good and everything gets 7/10. Don't let the haters stop you, great channel! We need more honest reviewers like you.
Thanks so much for that! Means a lot! @Nepu-Tech ❤️ Since we try and write these reviews as honestly as possible, it's really awesome when someone can look at our reviews or a game as objectively as possible. So again, thank you so much for your kind words. Really helps spur us on! Are you subscribed to our YT channel? Because we'd love to see you back for future videos ❤️ - Anthony Sub link: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
@@TheBetaNetwork Sure NP :D, it's very hard to find a trusted objective reviewer these days because as soon as someone becomes big and famous companies start sending them review copies to keep them in line. The so called "access media reviews" this is why honest reviewers are so hard to find and I appreciate your work! I'll make sure to subscribe :D
Still a great game to scratch our Etrian Odyssey itch on switch. While the story is nothing to write home about, i love the atmosphere given in this game. The party also feels livelier than EO since they actually have backstories. Corny as they are, almost all JRPGs are very corny. I played DQXI, Fire Emblem 3H, and Persona 5, and most of them are lingering around fiery teenagers tackling a great evil kind of thing. Cliched to all of them. For those who prefer deeper storyline with many daring but immersive elements, i'd suggest western styled rpgs such as Divinity, Pillars of Eternity or Operencia: The Fallen Sun.
Due to scheduling, I haven't had the chance to check it out unfortunately. How are you finding it so far though? Any interesting gameplay mechanics? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork it's story is more grounded on what you the character interact with. The world is bleak. You are tasked with helping the three guilds of the world bring order. It's alot more appetizing than sosw
Oh awesome! That actually sounds a LOT more appealing than Sapphire Wings, with its battle of 'light' and 'darkness' trope - where have I seen that before? 😅 From what I've gathered, the art style in Stranger of Sword City is very appealing. There's this kind of rustic look and feel to everything. As opposed to Sapphire Wings which almost has too generic of a typical anime RPG look to it, in my opinion. Btw, are you Subscribed to our TH-cam channel? We release RPG reviews like this almost every week, and it really helps support the channel too! Just gotta click the link below: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
@@TheBetaNetwork yes I am subbed and yes I was wary of sapphire wings but I only got this for stranger or sword city. It's a classic for me since my first grid based game was etrian odyssey
Yep, good choice there 😁 You can find way better RPGs to play than this, that's for sure. Btw, are you subscribed to our TH-cam channel? We've got reviews out like this, every week + it really helps support the channel! Just gotta click the link below: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
Yeah, it gets a bit stale to look at, not gonna lie! 😅 Never really got into Dragon Quest myself, but I am a MASSIVE Final Fantasy fan (don't know how that works! Hahaha) Is Dragon Quest XI worth looking into? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork Nah, not so much in my opinion. I know there are tons of good reviews on DQXI but for me, the series is very bland and traditional. It's not for everyone. The story is too generic, fairy tale-ish, with one dimensional characters everywhere with cliched stories. The battle does not introduce anything new, much like Savior of Sapphire Wings, very very traditional. The monsters are very cartoony, and unimmersive. The gameplay loop left so much to be desired, nothing is as repetitive as constant traveling between cities, helping people, grinding, boss fight, repeat. Progression is stable, and graphics is nicely vibrant. Character customization is almost non-exist outside equipments and highly neglectable skill tree. Even this game offers more character customizations than DQXI. Depending on your taste, you might see my negatives as positives, but who knows.
Thanks for the rundown @Kiritsugu Emiya my desire to play it is even less now 😂 I know there's definitely an audience out there for Dragon Quest, but it's for sure not you and I 😁 What style of JRPG are you into? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork Personally speaking, i damn love traditional jrpg with extra flair. Octopath Traveler has been my sweet spot. Simple but captivating. The break and charge system is simple but offers many timing related options when it comes to tough combat. The story isn't exactly my cup of tea, but it is enjoyable enough for me to overlook it's weakness. The gorgeous animation also help a lot. But what i truly truly in love is Etrian Odyssey's party building system. I don't know if it's my nostalgia talking right now, since it is my first drpg ever, but the ailment & buff based combat is very very satisfying and strategic. I only played EO III, but man, that game is fantastic. There are some other jrpgs that are pretty much under everyone's radar like Mario and Luigi rpg series (discontinued).
Great breakdown and game choices there! @Kiritsugu Emiya I think your tastes are very similar to mine. I used to love very traditional JRPGs, but I started to grow out of them after a while. And I definitely started to look for titles with that "extra flair" like you described. One of the main reasons that I stuck with the Final Fantasy series specifically, is that each entry tried to change up the formula in some way, shape or form. My personal favourite over the last year though, has without a doubt been Persona 5 Royal. Even if I prefer the story of P4 more, Royal just has such interesting concepts and its own unique style that's so addictive to play. For me, it was like rediscovering turn-based JRPGs all over again - and THAT'S what I believe makes it awesome 🔥
Will you guys be picking this up?
Let me know below! - Anthony
Subscribe for more silly voices 😁
th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
It's a shame you didn't like the game. I played through to the end and I honestly really enjoyed it. The familiar/trope aspects of the game gave it a comfort-food sort of feel which I liked, and there were several interesting twists at the end that I wasn't expecting.
I'm a huge dungeon crawler fan so I probably enjoyed it more than most, though 😅
Interesting perspective there! I can definitely see where you're coming from :)
To be honest, my biggest concern was that since I normally play a bajillion different types of RPGs, I usually tend to look for titles that bring a little something extra to the table.
But with Sapphire Wings, even though it felt a little too safe for me, I can also see why people would really enjoy that "comfort-food sort of feel" this game offers, like you mentioned.
That being said, I still cringe quite a lot from hearing the words "Light", "Darkness" and "Friendship" in dialogue - but it isn't anywhere near as bad as Kingdom Hearts 😂
Are there any other RPGs that you're looking forward to this year? - Anthony
All the negative points you give are valid but idk, i am currently really enjoying it. But im a sucker for "haha cliche/corny tropes" i also feel even though all the points are valid you need to remember this is really a 2010 game, literally an 11yo game, just renamed for the west so it is kinda unfair to compare this to current drps. But that is just my take. 🤷♂️
Hahaha! That's fair enough!
If I got this game back in 2010 though, I still probably wouldn't have played it because there were some banger RPGs out at the time.
But I can see what you mean, the DRPG scene was still pretty niche in 2010.
Do you prefer DRPGs or traditional JRPGs? - Anthony
Thanks for the review! I started playing thing, but I wasn’t loving it. Good to hear I’m not the only one!
FINALLY an honest review that just doens't tell you everything is good and everything gets 7/10.
Don't let the haters stop you, great channel! We need more honest reviewers like you.
Thanks so much for that! Means a lot! @Nepu-Tech ❤️
Since we try and write these reviews as honestly as possible, it's really awesome when someone can look at our reviews or a game as objectively as possible.
So again, thank you so much for your kind words. Really helps spur us on!
Are you subscribed to our YT channel? Because we'd love to see you back for future videos ❤️ - Anthony
Sub link: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
@@TheBetaNetwork Sure NP :D, it's very hard to find a trusted objective reviewer these days because as soon as someone becomes big and famous companies start sending them review copies to keep them in line. The so called "access media reviews" this is why honest reviewers are so hard to find and I appreciate your work!
I'll make sure to subscribe :D
Still a great game to scratch our Etrian Odyssey itch on switch. While the story is nothing to write home about, i love the atmosphere given in this game. The party also feels livelier than EO since they actually have backstories.
Corny as they are, almost all JRPGs are very corny. I played DQXI, Fire Emblem 3H, and Persona 5, and most of them are lingering around fiery teenagers tackling a great evil kind of thing. Cliched to all of them.
For those who prefer deeper storyline with many daring but immersive elements, i'd suggest western styled rpgs such as Divinity, Pillars of Eternity or Operencia: The Fallen Sun.
Would love if EO series came to the Switch. Whille I have them all on the 3DS I can't stream it. 😔
What about stranger of sword city. The better of the two games
Due to scheduling, I haven't had the chance to check it out unfortunately.
How are you finding it so far though?
Any interesting gameplay mechanics? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork it's story is more grounded on what you the character interact with. The world is bleak. You are tasked with helping the three guilds of the world bring order. It's alot more appetizing than sosw
Oh awesome! That actually sounds a LOT more appealing than Sapphire Wings, with its battle of 'light' and 'darkness' trope - where have I seen that before? 😅
From what I've gathered, the art style in Stranger of Sword City is very appealing. There's this kind of rustic look and feel to everything.
As opposed to Sapphire Wings which almost has too generic of a typical anime RPG look to it, in my opinion.
Btw, are you Subscribed to our TH-cam channel?
We release RPG reviews like this almost every week, and it really helps support the channel too!
Just gotta click the link below: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
@@TheBetaNetwork yes I am subbed and yes I was wary of sapphire wings but I only got this for stranger or sword city. It's a classic for me since my first grid based game was etrian odyssey
@@lunebadru5997 I don't think any of the Experience games (this, SoSC, DEmon Gazes) match or come that close to the great Etrian Odyssey games
Great video Anthony!
Thanks Alina! ❤️
I was looking forward to this... Now, not so much 😅
Hahaha! Yeah, probably give it a miss 😅 - Anthony
Agreed, I'll pass on this one.
Yep, good choice there 😁
You can find way better RPGs to play than this, that's for sure.
Btw, are you subscribed to our TH-cam channel?
We've got reviews out like this, every week + it really helps support the channel!
Just gotta click the link below: th-cam.com/users/thebetanetwork
Why these companies always do the same style… No animation on enemies… Dragon Quest still the best! Avoid!
Yeah, it gets a bit stale to look at, not gonna lie! 😅
Never really got into Dragon Quest myself, but I am a MASSIVE Final Fantasy fan (don't know how that works! Hahaha)
Is Dragon Quest XI worth looking into? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork Nah, not so much in my opinion. I know there are tons of good reviews on DQXI but for me, the series is very bland and traditional. It's not for everyone.
The story is too generic, fairy tale-ish, with one dimensional characters everywhere with cliched stories. The battle does not introduce anything new, much like Savior of Sapphire Wings, very very traditional. The monsters are very cartoony, and unimmersive.
The gameplay loop left so much to be desired, nothing is as repetitive as constant traveling between cities, helping people, grinding, boss fight, repeat. Progression is stable, and graphics is nicely vibrant. Character customization is almost non-exist outside equipments and highly neglectable skill tree. Even this game offers more character customizations than DQXI.
Depending on your taste, you might see my negatives as positives, but who knows.
Thanks for the rundown @Kiritsugu Emiya my desire to play it is even less now 😂
I know there's definitely an audience out there for Dragon Quest, but it's for sure not you and I 😁
What style of JRPG are you into? - Anthony
@@TheBetaNetwork Personally speaking, i damn love traditional jrpg with extra flair. Octopath Traveler has been my sweet spot. Simple but captivating. The break and charge system is simple but offers many timing related options when it comes to tough combat. The story isn't exactly my cup of tea, but it is enjoyable enough for me to overlook it's weakness. The gorgeous animation also help a lot.
But what i truly truly in love is Etrian Odyssey's party building system. I don't know if it's my nostalgia talking right now, since it is my first drpg ever, but the ailment & buff based combat is very very satisfying and strategic. I only played EO III, but man, that game is fantastic.
There are some other jrpgs that are pretty much under everyone's radar like Mario and Luigi rpg series (discontinued).
Great breakdown and game choices there! @Kiritsugu Emiya
I think your tastes are very similar to mine. I used to love very traditional JRPGs, but I started to grow out of them after a while. And I definitely started to look for titles with that "extra flair" like you described.
One of the main reasons that I stuck with the Final Fantasy series specifically, is that each entry tried to change up the formula in some way, shape or form.
My personal favourite over the last year though, has without a doubt been Persona 5 Royal. Even if I prefer the story of P4 more, Royal just has such interesting concepts and its own unique style that's so addictive to play. For me, it was like rediscovering turn-based JRPGs all over again - and THAT'S what I believe makes it awesome 🔥