NIS has been hyping this game, and with the success of Odin Sphere's re-release, why shouldn't they? Because this game falls apart when it tries to do anything outside of combat.
Grand Kingdom is a tactical JRPG with a sort of familiar twist. Its maps are miniature overworlds where the player can see (unless they're in stealth) enemies, traps, treasures and other items of exploration as they move, space-by-space toward a goal. In combat, players are treated to a side-scroller view of the action. Each class has a main attack skill that involves some real time button presses.
The graphics in GK are colorful, and storybook-like, mirroring, but not quite attaining, the aesthetics of a Vanillaware game.
Sound is your typical JRPG fare of medieval european tunes with some mixups here and there of electric guitars, synth, etc.
Ok, enough of that. Let me tell you how I really feel about this game.
This game fucking sucks my balls out of my asshole and shits in my mouth. What the fuck is even going on with the War mode bullshit. Why is this not a fucking free-to-play bullshit mobile game. Why did they take a good thing and fuck it up the ass so hard? Things just happen. Just like this review. They just fucking happen. Just finished a battle? Fuck you. Do another one. Just lost a battle and are out of troops? Fuck you. You can't leave the menu. Go out to the PS dashboard and quit from there.
Hey, see that indicator line showing you the trajectory of your acid flask? Suck a dick, it just hit your fucking leader and killed him, even though the line didn't pass through him before you lobbed it. You want your archer's shots to start at the goddamn line? The fucking don't. They fall onto the head of anyone even near the goddamn line.
Think you can string a sweet combo with your fighter? Fuck off. His target is getting pushed the fuck out of range, bitch. Did you know that the lancer sweeps his spear out into other lanes? Too fucking bad. Friendly fire again.
Artillery fire incoming. Here's one warning. One. You don't get to see another until the bombs start dropping, asshole.
This game demands precision. Demands it. But fuck you. Unless you're AI, good fucking luck not hitting someone on your team or missing a fucking heal - or better yet, giving it to an enemy.
The War game mode. What the fuck. Battles just happen and fucking end. Sometimes you get the option to heal up and fight more. Sometimes, fuck you. It's just over. Sometimes, fuck you even harder, you don't get a break to heal up. And when you lose? You don't get shit. You get 1 or 2 XP and you fuck right off.
2 out of 5 rusty spears to sit on. Goddammit. This game looked so good.
