Trying to write up something around “The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time” is going to be a challenge. This is, without question, one of the hardest games I’ve ever had to write about. No, it’s not because the game is hard. It’s not that difficult, but it does offer a challenge. The problem is that I don’t know if I want to talk too much about the game because doing so would spoil too much. Let’s say, this fourth-wall-breaking game is one of my absolute favorites of this year.
The Less You Know the Better
Although I’m a kid of the 90s, my first home console was a PlayStation One, which I bought around 1999. Before that, I would have to go to a friend’s house and watch them play their Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. Because of that, I missed out on many of the notable RPGs of the decade. I only played Chrono Trigger when it was re-released on Nintendo DS. Now, I have many versions of that game across PS Vita, PC, and both iOS and Android. I still need to get around to playing Final Fantasy VI.
This game takes the idea of remaking a game that the developers consider to be “The Greatest RPG of All Time”. Instead of remaking the entire game, they decided to only remake the end of it. While it’s a strange choice, you start to see why not too long after you start the game.
The thing is, that this isn’t an RPG. Instead, this is a puzzle game. As I mentioned in my intro paragraph, this game breaks the fourth wall very early on. It’s not a spoiler to say that there is a game within the game. Yes, this game features RPG-like mechanics, combat, and exploration. However, for most of this game, you’re finding clues to solve the puzzle behind the game’s “troubled development”.
More than Meets the Eye
Like the games of the 90s, this doesn’t give you a tutorial or explain things. You’re thrown right into the middle of the action. Chances are you’ll fumble at the start. Even with its developer commentary and promo videos, there is more for you to discover.
The lack of hand-holding might confuse some. I can say that I wasn’t sure what was happening when I started playing. It takes a bit of time to see that there is more to this game than what’s shared early on. As you progress, those revelations start to appear. Playing the game will only get you to a point. It’s once you discover what’s outside of the game, you start with that you see what the developers are trying to do.
There are plenty of easter eggs and nuggets to discover. At the same time, though, this is still a linear experience. Being successful with the RPG is easy to find, but you must read through the materials that you come across. Progressing the story is not that difficult. It helps that there aren’t too many places to explore. There are a few useless materials and items you find. In most situations, you already have the items you need to progress.
Not sure if this is original, but it kept my attention
I can’t say if this is a unique concept. Video games that break the fourth wall are not new. This game had my attention from the moment I discovered that there was more to this game. At the same time, I spent a bit too much time seeing if I could find hidden/secret things. There are likely secrets here that I missed out on. I spent far too much time on one puzzle late in the game. What’s funny is that I came across the answer I needed earlier on. It’s the little things that you can do that you might not realize are important to the story.
The sense of discovery and looking for clues might frustrate some players. Again, this isn’t a hard game. In most situations, the answers are in front of you. The devs want you to make an effort to explore things and to pay attention to the clues they give you. The only thing I did find difficult at times was the combat sequences. Combat sequences are intentional, so you can’t avoid them or “escape” from them.
The thing here is that combat is super specific. The RPG combat doesn’t allow for freedom. When you get into fights, you have to hit foes a specific way. I did enjoy the combo mechanics, but I often made mistakes with the inputs, which prolonged fights. The downside is that your attacks won’t do any damage until you pull off the end of the sequence, when you trigger a combo. So, you’ll have to wait as you see a foe resist three attacks only for the attack to kill them.
Avoid Spoilers if possible
If you are nostalgic for RPGs of the 90s, then “The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time” is easy to recommend. Yes, that’s even after you discover that there’s more to this game. Those familiar with games like Frog Factions or Inscryption will understand that. But without question, try to avoid spoilers if possible. This isn’t a long game, and part of the charm is discovering its quirks as you play.
