Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast review

by

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen the evolution of tactics games from their humble beginnings to the masterpieces they are today. However, Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast feels like a step back in time, reminding me of those early days when grid-based battles were more yawn than yay.

In more recent times, some of my preferred video games have been tactics games, but I must admit that this genre wasn’t always my top choice. When I was younger, there were many less engaging tactics games that made me dislike grid-based combat. If a tactics game has slow and uninspired combat, it tends to lose my interest, and in the early days of the genre, this was quite common. The game Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast feels like a throwback to those early years, which is disappointing for fans of the anime.

To begin with, I must confess that prior to this game, I was completely unfamiliar with Goblin Slayer as an anime or novel. After doing some digging, it appears that the story centers around the main character Goblin Slayer, who is indeed present in the game, but not as the central figure. Instead, the protagonist here is Guild Master, a young girl who has inherited the local adventurers’ guild from her deceased father. It seems that every major city in The Four Cornered World boasts a guild like this one, but running a lesser-known branch isn’t a walk in the park. Despite the challenges, Guild Master remains undaunted and embarks on a mission to recruit new guild members and assist the community in dealing with monsters, even if it means getting her hands dirty.

In Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast, it may appear that the game structure transitions smoothly from one battle to another, much like many stories do. However, I found myself engrossed in the narrative far more than anticipated, taking up roughly half of the gameplay. This title is a unique blend, with approximately equal parts tactics and visual novel elements, interspersed with substantial narrative segments between each combat encounter. If only the storyline wasn’t so dark and overly edgy, as I encountered explicit vampire dialogue about the Guild Master’s virginity within just thirty minutes of gameplay.

As the storyline in the visual novel part of the game winds down, it’s time for some tactical combat. You’ll lead a group of adventurers into battle against various fantasy foes spread out on a grid. Expect plenty of sword-swinging and spell-casting! However, if you’re familiar with tactics games, Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast might not offer anything new, which is a pity given that the game can be quite sluggish and uneventful at times.

A significant problem with the battles in Goblin Slayer lies in the vastness of the battlefields. The scattered enemies make it tedious to advance your units one by one over several turns. Even when you reach them, the available attack options are limited and not very thrilling. As the game advances, this issue becomes less pronounced, but with so many other games in the genre offering instant excitement, it’s challenging to overlook the slow beginning.

In Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast, there’s an exclusive feature named Fate and Chance, which sets it apart. These are unique abilities tied to luck, that can be equipped before combat begins. When they activate, only if you succeed in a dice roll, they will work. Initially, this ability ensures a critical strike when you clear a D&D-style skill check, but as you progress, you can utilize them to completely neutralize specific damage and ward off unpleasant status effects. It’s an engaging concept that brings a touch of complexity to the battles.

To truly emerge victorious in your battles against the world’s monsters, you should focus on recruiting allies via the guild. While it may seem that managing an adventurers’ guild could be complicated, in Goblin Slayer it’s more like selecting options from a menu to acquire new characters and equipment. Over time, you’ll accumulate a large number of peculiar companions, but determining which ones would be beneficial for your party can prove challenging due to the lack of an easy sorting method.

I find myself struggling to find positive aspects in Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast, as it seems all I can come up with are criticisms. For instance, the controls feel awkward and the visuals fall short of expectations. This game has been a while since a tactics title left me feeling this let down.

Enthusiasts of the anime might discover additional appeal in this game, yet I found Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast to be a significantly disappointing tactical title. The narrative aspect of the game doesn’t fare well either, with some rather awkward and cringe-worthy scenes that detract from the overall experience. If you’re a strategy enthusiast seeking fresh grid-based games, I regret to say that Goblin Slayer -Another Adventurer- Nightmare Feast isn’t among them.

Read More

2024-11-23 18:46