So you are probably wondering, NicheGamer where are you Digimon Survival review? We’ve seen Killerkdemons post that he’s streaming it as part of a review, so where is it? Well, the answer to that question is… here. As you know, we usually review games before their official release or something after that; however, Digimon Survival is a special circumstance. For this review, Tyler and I both tried our hand at the latest Digimon game and something felt a little off.
Tyler’s thoughts
Tyler thought the core of the game was almost solid, and the story was almost interesting. However, he also believes that the combat system, as well as the pace of the story, kept him from ever really engaging.
Mixed Reviews
When I first received Digimon Survival, I had already read snippets of reviews that others had posted there, but they were everywhere. Some called the game a masterpiece, others called it a disaster. So what about? Digimon Survival can make members of the press so divided? Before we dive into the review, let’s make three speculations about why the review scores varied,
- Reviewers previously loved the Digimon World series and others Digimon titles.
- They went in without expecting anything and found something nice.
- The amount of dialogue and repetitive aspects in the game wore them down.
Digimon Survival Game header
Digimon Survival
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Developer: Hyde
Platform: Microsoft Windows – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam and Xbox One (reviewed)
Release date: July 29, 2022
Players: 1
Price: $59.99
The main story
Digimon Survival is the story of eight children who are chased away while they get lost in the mountains. For those familiar with the Digimon series, the focus of this story is reminiscent of the first Digimon season. Each character has their own personality, but none are unique compared to other Digi-destined individuals; in fact, it feels more like the developers decided to take personality traits from the original eight and fuse them with another to create this new lineup of eight characters.
The game begins with the introduction of these eight children and their Digimon partner. The beginning introduces the player to the combat mechanics as the main characters and their partner are washed away Digimon. Unlike previous Digimon games and TV series, Digimon Survival doesn’t hold back blows. Early on in the game, the players have to deal with the concept of death and that everything around them could kill them and possibly try. Throughout the game, this plays an important factor in the mental state of the characters and the overarching story.
While the players search for a way to return home, they encounter an organization that tries to sacrifice the girl and the children to restore peace to the digital world. As the kids try to thwart the organization’s plans, the characters’ mental state negatively affects their Digimon, leading to unforeseen circumstances. The fates of the children and their digital partners are intertwined and ultimately bind them together. As the story progresses, players will eventually discover why popular Digimon terms have been left out of the game.
The end of the game leads to a dramatic battle and results in one of four outcomes. Yes, you read that right. Digimon Survival has four different endings, but only three can be unlocked during the first playthrough. Now let’s dive into the good and bad of Digimon Survive gameplay.
negatives
Digimon Survive is a twelve chapter game where each chapter is about the length of one or two movies; this ultimately depends on whether the player skips dialogue, skips leveling, and rushes the story. For our playthrough, we read a lot of the dialogue, making the length of each chapter quite long. The in-game dialogue is rather long-winded and the game’s localization isn’t always accurate. Based on our Japanese knowledge, we were able to see when the translation was inaccurate and changed to meet the needs of the localization team. The character Miu often says Ni San and the team translates it to Kaito; yes, Kaito is her brother, but that’s just one of the easiest changes we’ve noticed.
The game’s chapter length is actually one of the game’s biggest drawbacks. As we mentioned earlier, in the time it takes to complete a chapter, they could have either watched a season of an anime, watched a movie, or something else. In fact, as we played through it, it took about three hours to complete each chapter. During those three hours, at least two of the hours were spent on character dialog menus. The other hours were either recruiting new digital partners, honing XP, or fighting the Chapter battle.
In addition, the game does not explain how the relationships that the player establishes with each character will affect the overall gameplay. The choices the player makes between Moral, Wrathfulness, and Harmony will change the ending of the game. Annoyingly, some characters’ deaths can be prevented in the new game+ if the affinity level is high enough. In addition, the affinity determines whether the supporting casts of Digimon get an Ultimate or Mega form.
To get to the real ending, you have to play through it at least twice and save everyone. This task is more difficult than it looks because of the redundant dialogue in the game. Yes, you can skip parts, but if you get a choice and you skipped, it can be a problem.
Positives
Digimon Survival does a great job giving players a wide range Digimon to use in battle. Yes, some missions require you to use a specific partner Digimon, but usually the player can choose who to use. The only downside to this is that the player has to recruit others Digimon from the free arena. This is not a requirement to complete the game, but gives players a wider variety of monsters to use. In addition to a variety of monsters to recruit, the player can choose which Digivolution to unlock once they have secured the correct evolution item. The evolution trees give the player a wide variety of choices to choose from, including some series favorites.
The battles in the game are quite simple. If you’ve ever played a turn-based strategy game, Digimon SurvivalThe fight will feel rather childish. The game offers four levels of difficulty (Very Easy, Easy, Normal and Hard) for the player to choose from. Even on the hardest difficulty, if leveled properly, the player can easily overcome the challenges. The game’s very simple mode allows players to get through battles if they want to focus on the story.
In addition, the game features an automatic battle system that eliminates the need for the player to control the battles. The only downside to the auto battler system is that it doesn’t equate to the benefits of the partners talking to the Digimon while conducting the battles; this can make the battle longer or more tedious.
The controls of the game are so easy to use that a child with no experience can pick up the game and play with it. What is arguably our favorite part of the game is the game’s soundtrack. While playing, each area has its own feel. The tempo of the music changes in more intense moments and slows down when it comes to sadness or mystery. Sometimes the soundtrack reminded us of Kingdom Hearts and even inspired us to move on.
Finally, while the dialogue can be repetitive and grueling at times, the overall story is an enjoyable ride. Yes, you can predict a variety of things that could happen, but when they do, it’s a satisfying payout. Each death can be predicted based on the player’s actions. What’s frustrating is that the game forces you to play a second time to get the real ending. The developers decided to force certain aspects instead of giving the player a chance to change things on the first run. Does it affect how the characters feel and propel the story forward? Yes, but in the end it feels more like forcing trauma or using death to make the characters more recognizable.
verdict
Looking back on our time with Digimon Survival it’s easy to see why some reviews didn’t like the game. The game’s general words and forced dialogue can be mentally and physically exhausting. In addition, the redundancy of some dialogs can be annoying. But looking back on those moments, we can see that the game tried to emphasize certain aspects. Could they have done it more subtly or more directly?
Yes, but ultimately those moments were meant to connect the player more with the characters and the story. If you’re looking for combat, this isn’t the game for you. In fact, this is more of a Digimon narrative game rather than a tactical strategy game. If you are a fan of the TV series then this game is more for you.
With different battle difficulties, a variety of Digimon choices, an enjoyable soundtrack, and multiple endings, it’s easy to see why some enjoyed the game. The dialogue, localization changes, chapter length and forced results, on the other hand, can certainly turn fans away. If you are a diehard fan of the franchise then this game will be an enjoyable ride; if you’re someone who hasn’t followed it along the way, it’s easy to be disappointed. Ultimately, each person will have to decide for themselves whether they want to Digimon Survival.
Personally, despite the sheer amount of dialogue and repetition, I enjoyed my time with Digimon Survival and will eventually go back to see the different endings.
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