Resonance of Fate user reviews (Xbox 360)

5.0 stars

"Spectacular battles and an intriguing story line." on September 22, 2010 by Ruffnekk73

Pros: The game has great graphics and sound. The gameplay is unique, difficult and refreshing.

Cons: Steep learning curve.

Summary: Resonance of Fate is one of the best RPG games I've ever played and I'm a fan of the genre. The unique map and battle system is really refreshing and the story will suck you in, never wanting to quit playing this. Although the game is quite hard to learn and the battles are difficult from the beginning, it is really rewarding to defeat your opponents and reap in the rewards. You really shouldn't play this game if you are looking for a fast-paced action game, because that it is not. The story slowly unfolds, but is well written. The voice acting is unusually well done, which makes following the story so much more pleasant. A bit of dark humour every now and then keeps it from being boring too.

There are a couple of main playing scenes were you move around. The first is the field view, where you walk around the streets of Basel, visiting shops and talking to people. In this mode you can look for new missions or receive the rewards for completed ones.

When you leave this mode to the world map, the tower of Basel will be displayed at the current level you are at. You can move a cursor around here to visit other towns or buildings, if they are accessible. The layout of the map is a hex grid, with some accessible and other not. To access the ones you cannot walk on yet, you have to lay down energy hexes and thus create a path. Some places require a certain colour of hex that you will have to acquire first. Hexes are rewarded for winning battles or can be bought at a shop sometimes. While walking on the world map you may encounter random battles, especially during night time. Always be prepared.

The third main scene in the game is the battlefield. Here you can carefully plan your tactics as long as you don't move. The battling is hard and can be frustrating, but satisfying nonetheless. Before heading out, you may want to visit the Arena for a quick training session, explaining the most important issues during a battle. Here you will also learn how to move, attack and plan your tactics.

Other features of the game like customizing your weapons and your characters' outfits will keep things interesting. Although you will not learn new 'moves' to use in battle, upgrading and customizing your weapons is necessary and fun. You can build custom parts that can be attached to your weapon from scrap parts you find on the streets or get from winning battles. You can also buy completely new weapons at the shop, but they are expensive and will usually not be available in the first part of the game.

All-in-all this game is a must-have for a real JRPG fan. Once you get the hang of it you'll never want to play anything else for a long time!