Fairy Fencer F

Fairy Fencer F will surely please fans of Idea Factory's output, but it's not likely to win over any fresh blood for the fanbase.

Fairy Fencer F has remained largely unchanged. It is still an enjoyable title that doesn't quite manage to pull itself together, but doesn't fail, either. It still has potential. It is still, frankly, fun. Aside from people that desire to play this on the PC over the console, though, there simply is no reason to buy this version.

A solid JRPG with an addictive battle system which is let down by the repetitive plot, minor technical glitches and generally being way too easy.

It's far greater than the sum of its parts and should please all fans of JRPGs.

Overall, I'm of mixed feelings about this game. I stuck with it for the long-haul without feeling like it was chore, but there's a whole new-game-plus section to the game I've not tried, and I'm not sure I want to see how it changes things, even though the Steam Achievements spoil some intriguing ideas. I might be content to leave it, as the issues it had failed to capture my heart, even with the charm it had.

In conclusion, Fairy Fencer F is one of the strongest examples of a B-tier JRPG; what it lacks in originality or technical achievements, it makes up for having a simplistic-yet-fun battle system, a generous helping of customization and content, and a significant trimming of fat as well as fanservice, both of which continue to bloat up the Neptunia series with each new game. If anyone was ever curious to try one of the growing number of Western releases from Compile Heart, this would definitely be the game to try, especially now that it runs smoothly and carries a budgeted price.

It's still not going to go down as a world class RPG that everyone should play, but If/Compa fans will get a lot out of it, and it does some interesting things with its mechanics that I think many JRPG fans will enjoy. It's simple in nature and complex when getting into the nitty-gritty customization and harder combat sequences. This is by far the best game the developers have released to date, and JRPG fans should check it out.

Fairy Fencer F probably will not gain the same kind of following that the more satirical Hyperdimension games have garnered over the years, but it is by all rights a solid effort that manages to surprise in pleasant ways while still providing some familiar mechanics that make the title approachable. The story itself did not do much to burn itself into my memory, but the characters are well written and elevate the overall material with their interactions. JRPG fans who missed this title when it released on PlayStation 3 should absolutely give this PC version a try.

Fairy Fencer F is a mixed bag of a game, the combat is excellent but the story and setting failed to grab my attention. Overtime the battle system also started getting on my nerves due to the lengthy dungeons. The setting is different from the Neptunia series, so if you definitely want to play one of Compile Heart's game and Neptunia is not swinging your boat, then go ahead give Fairy Fencer F a try.

Fairy Fencer F is not a great game, but it's also a lot better than some of the more recent JRPGs, with a decent combat system that combines turn-based and real-time movements, and some really good presentation in its story scenes.