Review: Resonance of Fate

Roleplaying - with guns.

Published 27/04/2010 at 10:00.
By DJ-Katy.

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Let’s get this straight from the start. Resonance of Fate is both strategically hard, and an absolute behemoth of battle system complexity. If you don’t have patience or the willpower to spend a few hours familiarizing yourself with the gameplay dynamics of a new title, you may skip over this one right now.

Resonance of Fate – also known as End of Eternity in Japan – is a JRPG with a twist. Think Borderlands vs Final Fantasy XIII. This single-player story attempts to deliver a fine balance between traditional questing and turn-based gunplay, and for the most part succeeds.

In Resonance of Fate, you start off and finish off with 3 characters: Vashyron, Zephyr and the adorable Leanne. The characters’ appearances are fixed but for a pittance of in-game money – known as rubies – you can customise their outfits extensively. I bought Leanne a sexy pair of glasses to make her look more like a blonde Bayonetta. Each character has 3 weapon skills (machine guns, handguns and throwing weapons) which all start at level 1 and level up as you gain XP with the weapon type in question. The total level of each character is the sum of their individual weapon levels.

You start in the somewhat washed out-looking but otherwise beautifully rendered Ebel City. Many of the areas in the game are split into zones; the display handily fades out at the edges to warn you you are about to cross a boundary which is a nice touch. Zone loading times are snappy, taking only a couple of seconds.

The graphics are pretty but not groundbreaking. The entire game is based around a giant steampunk-themed tower where the last surviving humans live. This theme works well and fans of steampunk will love it – the rest of us will enjoy it too. Some of the cut scenes are almost up to FFXIII standards, but others are graphically weak.

Audio-wise, the world music-style soundtrack is beautiful and never gets tiring. The voice acting is passable and doesn’t get too stale.

The story-telling is predictably bad and disconnected, although the characters have quite the twisted sense of humour with plenty of swearing and sexual jokes to amuse us. Vashyron can often be found subtly hitting on Leanne or commenting on her “natural beauty”.

Resonance of Fate has an intriguing and unique map system. Areas are not unlocked through story progression; rather each level of the tower is made up of a large number of hexagonal areas, with the levels connected by various elevators. Initially all the hexes are locked, but by acquiring energy hexes – which are easily available as loot – you can place them on the grid to open up new areas. Many of the hexes are just through-paths where you will hit upon random encounters as you travel from A to B, others are towns or quest areas. The hexes come in various Tetris-like shapes so some forethought is required to place them optimally to reach a point on the map.

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Nauraph | 27/04/2010 10:05
Member
656 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

I ordered this game before the weekend. I’ll get it today. I’m pretty sure I’m going to like it. ^^
Completed Demon Souls also, which, I think, is considered ‘hard’ aswell.
I can’t wait! Thanks for the review, gave me lot’s of extra info.
tonycawley | 27/04/2010 10:12
Member
1718 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

Oh. Well this has come out of nowhere. You’ve made me really want this! Love RPG. This could be just the game for me now I’m done with FF13.
Crazy_Del | 27/04/2010 10:16
Member
1048 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

That was a longest read when I read the last page I was like is that it!?!?! until I notice pages 2,3,4 whew. Great review, was going to purchase this but got NEIR instead only started it but I know I will enjoy it.
I will keep an eye out on Resonance of Fate for the summer or whenever I have more time to focus on that one game :)
retro_ | 27/04/2010 10:29
Member
517 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

I ordered this from Zavvi yesterday for £17.99 along with Yazuka 3, also £17.99
newsky87 | 27/04/2010 10:38
Member
544 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2010

Will give this one a miss. As much as I enjoy a JRPG I’m not great at them, especially the more strategic ones (still stuck on Valkyria Chronicles). Plus I’ve already got Star Ocean which I haven’t even started yet, and those damned side missions in FFXIII where some of the bosses make the main story ones look like pushovers (I still have nightmares about the Tonberry Trio).

Top review Katy, I’ve only registered with TSA this week, but have been reading for a lot longer and your articles are always a highlight.
- a inferior race | 27/04/2010 16:59
  I'm special
  2964 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
  
  Do you want tips on the Tonberry Trio battle?
  - newsky87 | 27/04/2010 17:51
    Member
    544 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2010
    
    No that’s ok, I got the little psychopaths in the end. Thanks though.
Squalje | 27/04/2010 11:01
Member
763 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

Thanks for the detailed review. I was on the fence about this one but I think I will definitely try it now. Been looking forward to all these RPGs of late.
YOURMUMANDME | 27/04/2010 11:11
Member
3028 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008

When I read the OPSM review I thought “Meh” because as good as review they gave it, they didn’t seem like they got what it was all about.
After reading this though I’m kinda tempted to go get it.
- hairfreax | 27/04/2010 11:23
  Member
  2025 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
  
  Im even more tempted now to
MadBoJangles | 27/04/2010 13:37
Member
499 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009

Great review :)
I got the platinum on FFXIII a few days ago and need a good, challenging rpg to play, so this may be the one!
skibadee | 27/04/2010 16:11
Member
15748 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009

I got this last week still on the fence as to weather I like it or not great review DJ-Katy.
BIGAL-1992 | 27/04/2010 17:10
Member
3593 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009

I think I’ll wait until Demon’s soyl’s appears over here in June.