The turn based combat is pretty simple but very intuitive, dynamic and fast paced compared to previous turn based Digimon games since the PS1 days. It feels like a very straight forward evolution of games like DW2, DW3 and the DS Titles with some SMT / Persona influence. Collecting and managing mons can get a bit grindy but it still a very enjoyable experience due good variety to engage with the system mechanics and decently expansive evolution trees.

The thing I dig the most about this game tho is how it taps into a wide range of themes within its writing, it can vary from pure nonsense (and hilarious) japanese humour to complex social problems or some deep web creepy stuff (really, there are some crazy sub stories out there in this game).

I just really appreciate how Digimon always had something to say about plenty of complex human / society problems since the animes, even if it doesn't get as deep as something like SMT / Persona games when talking inside the JRPG spectre, but it's really nice to see that the series still doesn't play the safe route of writing stuff that appeals mostly for kids, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it feels refreshing when compared to other similar games / series.

Now, when is the next Cyber Sleuth game coming out? I'll probably be there day 1 if it happens, this is the good stuff 👍

insert good review here

I got this game with the intention of playing through it with my wife. Since she was at the helm for the entire game, these are her thoughts:

"At first glance, this game should have been a wonderful trip through my nostalgic feelings for the Digimon franchise. Familiar faces, goofy attacks, all the bells and whistles of what made Digimon great. What I got, however, was nothing short of a pedantic slog of an experience.

"The digivolution system is almost entirely nonsensical, where you'll get a Digimon and think "oh, they're supposed to digivolve into this other one that I REALLY want" but the digivolution trees just send you on this weird rabbit hole. Plus, the system of needing to digivolve, then de-digivolve, and then digivolve them again to HOPEFULLY get the Digimon you ACTUALLY want is just useless padding and doesn't enhance the gaming experience. It instead makes it arbitrarily frustrating and acts like more of a timesink than anyone should be expected to endure.

"Storywise, the direction is all over the place. The game attempts to be this deep philosophical dive into metaphysical terminology and spaces, but really, it's just another 'we have to save the world because humans screwed up' that gets wrapped up in tons and tons of random battles. The game is built around annoying grinding and leveling and de-digivolving. I spent 77 hours playing something that really should have only taken half that time.

"I would also question why only a select few shops sold actually relevant and necessary items, like revives and stat boosters, especially near the end of the game when you really can't leave to go to other areas. You essentially get locked in during Chapter 18 and have to hope you have enough of those items to get through the final dungeon and both phases of the Final Boss.

"To summarize, the game felt much longer than it needed to be. It felt like watching a movie you could see all the plot beats for, but you can't leave and have to sit through it for another 2 hours while the movie acts as though it's super clever. I would only recommend this game for people who have a lot of time on their hands and not much aspiration to do anything productive for that day. I'd rather watch a marathon of Angela Anaconda than play the Hacker's Memory part of this.