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Review by Dustin Murphy
Pros:
+Extremely strong soundtrack that is charming and fits the game quite well
+Each chapter plays out like an episode from an anime with intro and end themes
+Characters are unique and befitting for an anime like scenario
+The PV editor allows for players to make their own custom music videos in-game
+Combat is based on a turn-based scenario that plays out like traditional turn based RPGs
Cons:
–Combat can get extremely repetitious
–Long and drawn out tutorials could leave some players frustrated
–Sidequests tend to be hard to find and frustrating to complete
–Unnecessary costume destruction
Welcome in the newest girls on the street, ones that have entered the scene unlike any other, and look to provide a rather entertaining experience for most. For some? This game will be a frustrating experience that will leave players frustrated, annoyed, and wanting to put it down faster than they start. Before assuming this game is bad, hard, or even poorly executed, but instead it is challenging and does have long scenarios where it feels more like an interactive novel versus an RPG title. Unlike other games, it does feel like the game is a diverse and unique title since it spawns to forms of titles, but for fans who aren’t used to games of this type, the tropes, the references, and even the Japanese pop-culture that is intertwined into the game may kick their interest off to the curb. However, for those willing to give it a shot? It’s an experience that can be charming, fun, and even bring forth an all female cast that is hilarious, unique, and presents a mindset very much different from one another. It also features a unique disc system for abilities, item crafting system, and even a unique rewards system for those looking to have a fresh new experience with the PlayStation 4’s first JRPG to released exclusively for it.
Many of you may know renowned developer Compile Heart. They are a developer well known for titles such as Agarest War, Hyperdimension Neptunia, Fairy Fencer F, Mugen Souls, and even their title Monster Monpiece, which has become well known on the PlayStation Vita. Much like these titles, the developer has decided to sit down and pop something a bit more than before. This time around? They’ve mixed tech and music into bringing J-Pop idols into being heroes, rather heroines of the day. In the world that we are introduced into Takt and Otoha are dealing with something unique as they begin their adventure: a world where it has been destroyed and a beast type called Blare are to blame, which leaves us with some beautiful scenery to explore. With the world laid to waste and our stage set (literally) for our female heroes, we are given a strong sense of duty as they become dancing, singing, instrument/weapon wielding Verse Maidens – all of them who seen to maintain a world safe for their fans so that they can enjoy their lives. This is where the game picks up and the fun begins. As the game begins with a heavy set of graphic novel like-introduction to the world, the cast, and the events that lead up to where the game is taking place, players will get to meet multiple teenage girls who want to save the world while going on their usual antics. This includes and isn’t limited to a rather heavy set of adventuring, sight seeing, and even focuses on interactions that the girls, but also their manager Takt shall experience throughout the game.
Much like any traditional RPG, Omega Quintet follows the stereotypical anime setup with a rather long first few hours that are used as interactions. This includes introductions to the cast, combat scenario, setting(s), skill sets, combos, and even the editing of in-game music videos. Once the first few hours of 10-15 minute chat scenes and video clips are over, fans get to take on an experience unlike any other, and get to take a joyride where players get to experience the unique world Compile Heart has set before them. When playing the title, players are also introduced to chatting with the Verse Maidens, but also crafting their gear, customising their apparel, and even how to take on side missions for those who live within the city. For some players, however, this is where the game grows weak and will lose their interest within a matter of minutes as players come to deal with the drawn-out period of interacting with the Verse Maidens within their new home, the general office for them to work out of, but also live in. Some of these conversations are quite awkward for people with some edge towards the situations between the characters.
When looking away from the awkward moments, the game is filled with insanely painful tutorials, long dialogue moments, and even the awkward moments of navigating the menus, the game is a rather enjoyable experience that will lead up to some amazing and traditional turn-based battles that include insanely powerful bosses that will lead players to using several modes within the game. One of them is the Harmony mode, which sends players into being able to use unique combo skills between two of the Verse maidens, but also setting up a devastating set of skill links that will allow for quick bursts of damage against bosses, but at the cost that these abilities can only be used once during each of those battles. This also allows for players to choose their lineup so that they can trigger who Takt is comboed with, but also a characters placement in the battlefield. Since each character has a unique set of weapons that can be moved in and out, each of these characters also get a unique set of skills that allows for them to provide a unique fighting style for them. Much like the combat scenario with Harmony, but unlike Harmony, Live Concert Mode allows for the Verse Maidens to get special buffs, but sometimes at the cost of debuffs that can either debilitate them in the area of resistances or simply by slowing down their attack speeds, increasing damage taken, or increasing enemy chances of status abnormalities.
Unfortunately, even with these combat strategies, the hardest bosses are easy, which provides players with some form of mediocrity when moving through the game. The game itself is still overall quite enjoyable thanks to the mixture of a well done score, vocal tracks, script, episodic like placement of missions, but also the games capability to provide interesting dialogue between the locals in the areas that players will visit. Thankfully the game allows for hours of gameplay time that can be filled in by playing around with the in-game PV mode, which takes advantage of the games video capture mode. With all this being said, Omega Quintet is a title that has plenty to offer for fans seeking a game that plays out like an anime and even fulfills that need for one all the while taking on amazing bosses, well crafted enemies in a hand-drawn like world. This is a game that will definitely leaving fans craving for more within this potential franchise.
Final Score: 7 out of 10
Ethics Note: This version of the game is based upon a pre-release retail version of the game. Our copy was provided to us by the games publisher. For information about our ethics policy please click here. Omega Quintet will be released on April 28th, 2015, exclusively for the PlayStation 4 and will be priced at 59.99 USD both physically and digitally.
About the Writer:
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, MMO’s, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable and can’t be softened by even the biggest names in the gaming industry. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. To follow Dustin, hit him up on Twitter over at @GamingAnomaly, find him on his Google+. Wanna game with him? You can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.