Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time Review

by

The Nintendo 3DS represented the final version of their DS series and was their last dedicated handheld console, not designed as a traditional plug-and-play device. While opinions may vary about its standing among the others, there’s no denying it showcased some exceptional games.

Among them was a game called Fantasy Life, a meticulously designed and irresistibly engaging role-playing game that seemed to mimic Animal Crossing’s style. However, it wasn’t just a money-making scheme. In the realm of Nintendo 3DS, Fantasy Life stood as an underestimated treasure.

Fundamentally speaking, we’re awestruck by the enhanced and refined version of Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time today because it essentially transports the original story, art, music, and gameplay into the present day. However, these minor adjustments and modifications significantly enhance the experience.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that this updated version certainly looks impressive, much like its predecessor, it seems poised to fulfill the promise of its title by snatching away those precious moments of freedom we all crave. However, the question arises, do I surrender and invest countless hours into this once-portable phenomenon? In essence, yes. But stay tuned as I delve deeper into why this might be an unmissable experience.

The JRPG Journeyman Approach

As a gaming enthusiast, diving headfirst into a conversation about a game sporting such an intricate and unique blueprint is simply irresistible. Let’s uncover the secrets hidden beneath the charming veneer of this captivating JRPG together!

Fantasy Life I doesn’t limit itself to just one central gameplay aspect or a single world set in a specific era. Rather, it provides various worlds, each offering unique activities that significantly differ from one another.

Initially, there’s a job system that doesn’t resemble traditional combat roles as seen in games like Final Fantasy. Instead, it’s similar to improving different abilities by repeatedly practicing, much like the skill progression you may be familiar with from a game such as Runescape.

This game shares some similarities with MMOs, but what sets it apart is that players can simultaneously progress in each role alongside story developments, spontaneous adventures, and temporal leaps. Instead of feeling like a daunting list of tasks, it feels like a delightful assortment of experiences to savor, akin to sampling various dishes in a meze platter.

Yet, these roles form just a piece of the puzzle, since there’s also a contemporary island at your disposal. This island resembles a typical Animal Crossing town where you can customize its layout, choose your preferred NPC residents, and express yourself artistically by styling it according to your unique tastes.

Fantasy Life I doesn’t limit itself to just one main gameplay aspect or a single world set in a specific era. Instead, it provides various worlds, each offering activities that are vastly different from each other.

In other words, Fantasy Life’s content is likely excessive even for the hungriest JRPG enthusiasts. However, it doesn’t stop there; it also incorporates an exploration-focused dungeon crawling element, giving it a touch of Zelda-style gameplay, enriching this already complex JRPG treat.

In theory, it seems like there are too many people involved, similar to having too many cooks in the kitchen. However, to continue with the dessert metaphor, each layer contributes uniquely and harmoniously, resulting in an incredibly delicious final product.

Idle Hands Are The Devil’s Playthings

Just like the heart of the game’s mechanics hums with activity, you too will find yourself immersed in action. While this might sound intimidating, it’s precisely the kind of engagement you’re looking for in a game like this.

In many role-playing games (JRPGs), once you get used to each system, gameplay can become quite monotonous and predictable, consisting mainly of repetitive tasks or grinding. However, Fantasy Life breaks this pattern by offering a diverse range of activities, ensuring that you’re rarely stuck doing the same task for an extended period.

This endless bounty of tasks is what makes Fantasy Life so addictive.

Within just a few minutes, you could find yourself embarking on a narrative quest, ticking off story events, gathering resources, wrapping up a job assignment, battling a boss, finishing a daily task, reeling in fish, discovering strange characters, and eventually returning to your island to transform them back into humans.

The never-ending stream of activities is what keeps Fantasy Life so engaging, as many games initially hook players with a constant flow of small victories to trigger a surge of serotonin in our brains, mimicking the satisfaction a rat might feel when it finds food.

Initially, these games may seem enjoyable, but they gradually require more effort for smaller rewards. Thankfully, Fantasy Life consistently avoids this issue, as it’s filled with frequent small successes and the rewards that accompany them.

Instead, what makes this task less like scaling a daunting mountain for many is the fact that none of these jobs require immediate completion, have no failure points, and your progress can be paced according to your own rhythm.

Surely, you’ll often find yourself encountering a barrier when the game requires you to frequently change professions to suit new roles. For instance, switching to the blacksmith profession enables you to craft superior equipment for combatants, while choosing the farmer profession allows you to gather ingredients essential for your Chef role.

Even if it might be true, there’s always no compulsion to adopt a specific style of play. Instead, you’re free to explore and enjoy whatever catches your interest at your own pace – that’s the essence of relaxed gaming.

Brilliant But Basic

In other words, Fantasy Life I, much like many games with numerous activities and gameplay styles, must forgo intricate details and subtle nuances in order to provide such a diverse experience.

Let me make it clear that I don’t have any problems with the simplistic elements in this game’s gameplay, as I consider it an enjoyable choice when you’ve grown weary of the complexity and intricacies found in larger AAA games. That said, it’s important to acknowledge that the immediate gameplay can be quite mindless at times.

Most jobs in this game essentially come down to pressing a button repeatedly to lower an enemy’s health meter, and even complex crafting tasks can be reduced to quicktime events. Furthermore, side missions that lie outside the main storyline are primarily made up of menial tasks such as odd-jobs and fetch quests.

This level of simplicity in the game is common across all its elements. The fighting system serves as a clear example, being just a replica of the classic top-down Zelda games from the past. Essentially, you can attack, collect some basic power-ups, and dodge. It works fine, but it’s exactly what one would anticipate from an ordinary MMO.

In other words, if you haven’t started playing Fantasy Life I yet and are seeking a comparison, think of it as a compressed bundle of all the classic JRPG tropes from the past two decades.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, this latest iteration of the game is a visual marvel! It’s almost unbelievable that it was initially designed for a handheld console like the 3DS.

While the storyline and combat are strong points, they may not be enough to fully satisfy those seeking a deep, substantial JRPG experience. However, if you’re looking for an enjoyable game overall, the solid writing and combat mechanics should make for a fun ride.

An Almighty Glow Up

If you’re familiar with the prior version of this game titled similarly, you’ll recognize that its aesthetic and feel strongly resembled a game crafted for the Nintendo 3DS. The characters and environment appeared grainy, the user interface was optimized for compact screens, and overall, it had a slightly rougher, less polished edge.

This updated version doesn’t have the issues it once had; instead, it boasts stunning graphics, an upbeat soundtrack, and numerous enhancements aimed at making gameplay feel fresh and exciting for both new and seasoned players.

This game’s graphics, enhanced by HDR, resemble an elite chibi JRPG in appearance and feel. It also brings about a cozy, Nintendo-style family environment. The most flattering comment I can make about the updated version is that it appears so visually impressive, you might find it hard to accept that it was initially developed for the 3DS console.

Nevertheless, given the extensive changes and refinements made to the game, it prompts me to ponder over certain choices. For instance, the rhythm of the main quest feels somewhat off, especially in terms of its pace.

In some expanses, the player ventures into caves known as ‘The Depths’ for an in-depth exploration. Upon completing their tasks, they must retrace their steps all the way back to the starting point.

After experiencing both Oblivion and Skyrim, I must say the impact of a continuous dungeon design over disconnected chambers is truly astounding. This is just one minor issue among several that could potentially be improved during the remake process.

The Inevitable Grind

Instead of dancing around the subject any longer, let’s tackle the elephant in the room head-on. To put it another way, it’s time we confront the obvious issue directly. I apologize for my previous attempt at humor, which may not have been clear.

In essence, Fantasy Life I is a game that immediately immerses you in repetitive tasks or ‘grinding’, and whether you enjoy this experience will significantly influence your overall appreciation for the game.

Once I choose a job, it feels like I’m stepping into a perpetual cycle where I perform routine tasks without much thought, and my days are filled with completing linear narratives that seldom progress beyond “go there, gather this.” This can sometimes feel monotonous and lacking in depth.

However, it seems quite obvious that this is the direction the game is heading based on an external perspective. Yet, it’s not the grinding aspect that bothers me. Instead, my concern lies with the pace of advancement and the scarcity of meaningful rewards.

You’ll gain experience points almost instantaneously, creating a cheerful sound effect. Or you’ll defeat powerful enemies, demonstrating your battle prowess. However, the only evidence of progress is usually a more filled-out Experience Points (XP) meter.

Regularly, your bag is bursting at the seams with objects and resources, yet it’s challenging to understand their purpose, what’s worth holding onto, or if they have any real worth. This confusion often makes received awards from supervisors and quests seem less satisfying.

Later on, it seems like you don’t get access to many creative and aesthetic elements of the game related to your island for quite some time.

As a devoted fan, I wholeheartedly appreciate the journey from novice to master in a JRPG, encapsulating the essence of the experience. However, the restrictive gatekeeping in Fantasy Life seems unwarranted, since it curtails player autonomy until deep into the game, which could potentially lead them to lose interest before they reach that point.

As a devoted enthusiast, if you find joy in reflecting on your progress after pouring countless hours into a game,

Closing Comments:

In a delightful transformation, “Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time” shines as an enhanced masterpiece worthy of its fame during the 3DS era. The enhancements in visuals, music, and overall aesthetic are remarkable, yet the elements that made the original exceptional remain unchanged. The diverse gameplay mechanics offered through various islands and time periods is a significant highlight, making the repetitive tasks enjoyable rather than tedious. Although each action in the game is simple, it never veers into monotony. It’s a quintessential comfort game that truly deserves its accolades, and for those who have long yearned for a worthy contender to challenge Animal Crossing from Nintendo, it seems your dream has finally come true.

Read More

2025-05-27 16:11