I am Setsuna Review | Can it compare to the classics?
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
- Forewarning that I spoil the plot pretty hard so check the chapter markers if you're skimming around. In between gearing up for my next video I managed to beat this game and it got me thinking a lot about nostalgia and it's value in gaming and when maybe it works a little less... which made my next video delayed but hey! A surprise video with a surprise length. Some day I'll keep the script short.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
1:37 - my experience
4:28 - Nostalgia, and valuing experiences
7:20 - [opening few hours spoiled] Setting the stage
12:53 - A Love of Ritual
18:36 - Meet the Cast
20:48 - [Spoilers for whole game] Grasping Themes
37:16 - [Spoilers end] Restraint in Design
40:34 - Conclusion
32:17 - Outro
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Игры
Not many people talk about this game, it's not perfect by any means but I did love my time with this game.
6:50
That's the difference between Tokyo RPG Factory and Team Asano. Both retro styled RPG subsidiaries of Square Enix but the latter is modern and the way how the characters just don't shut up.
Dear JRPG developers,
If a cutscene is so long that the controller automatically disconnects or if on handheld the screen dims, it's too long.
Mmm I wouldnt unilaterally say all cut scenes need to be x time. You could always adjust your console setting so things arent turning off so quickly. Xenosaga also faced critisism for its long cut scenes and i get being annoyed when you just want to play. But oh goodness some of those longer stretches of cut scene can hit hard, as i was replaying a bit. As long as its quality content I dont mind. I kind of wish developers would give us a heads up on the length of the cut scene. Id make myself a snack and a tea or something.
@@ohcharlie428 You can also pace things out better though. If a scene is too long then the GAME element of the game is missing. Think of healthier ways to parse the information such as through environment.
For example time travel is a huge part of this game... yet it is unused.
You don't see echoes of the past hinting to things, you don't see the echoes of the lost lands. You don't see anything in the town or castle hinting to what happened despite the game making it very clear that in lore that would make sense.
Instead you're left with what is literally Magus waiting at the end of his castle but fused with Zeal from Chrono Trigger. He even uses the same attacks as Magus does. He even can join your party as he does.
Chrono Trigger, a game this takes a lot of ideas directly from, especially when Crono dies.
Excellent video, was genuinely surprised when I saw your subscriber count. You're channel is definitely gonna grow if you keep putting out videos with this quality
Thank you so much for the kind words!
it was a good game that gets criticized more than it should considering it’s contemporaries
Thanks.
This is the ONLY review of the game I've seen and you sold me on it. Others either go into their personal opinion over what's in the game or drone on how it isn't Chrono Trigger.
It isn't that it isn't Chrono Trigger... it literally tries to be it.
Just keep an eye on the Reaper you meet. Look at his skill list when you fight him. Read those spell names. Look at the names of spells your characters get and some items. Look at how their ultimate weapons directly reference Chrono Trigger.
Even the final dungeon is literally two major areas from Chrono Trigger combined.
@@Buglin_Burger7878 yeah, but instead of talking about Chrono Trigger, others can talk about the game. I never played Chrono Trigger and when I look for a review about Setsuna, and everyone talks about Chrono Trigger, it makes me not want to play neither.
Fairly certain square said they were dissolving Tokyo RPG Factory due to lackluster sales of their three titles. It's a shame too because their games got larger in scope with each title and they really filled a niche.
This being only your second video and you’re already doing so amazing man. Well done, looking forward to what’s next!!
This is def going into the wishlist now. I dig your video essays so much. Great review!
hey, just wanted to say your video style is pretty good. best of luck with growing your channel!
instant follow for your work and especially your spoiler warnings
You’re a hell of a reviewer. You have really well thought out points, your editing is too notch, and your voice is so well suited for videos like these where there’s a lot of dialog. Definitely doesn’t get grating or annoying! Keep it up man, you’ve got something great here with your content. You deserve so many subscribers and views 😊
Great review of this title. The developers, Tokyo RPG Factory make really great retro JRPGs but they never get much acclaim. You should make reviews on their later titles - Lost Sphear and Oninaki, they have a lot of improvements compared to I Am Setsuna and they learned from their mistakes. The only thing I really hated with Lost Sphear is that I was doing a review for it on its release, but the game ended prematurely and I had no idea you were supposed to load in the mandatory bad ending to keep playing, I played only half the game apparently. I'm going to check out your Star Ocean 1 retrospective next, I heard the newest Star Ocean 6 didn't do well financially but I really enjoyed playing it, they learned from their mistakes from Star Ocean 5 and they seem more familiar with the game ending they're using, it had fun mini-games, the combat was fun, and the story was decent for once compared to the extremely polarizing story of SO3 and the abysmal stories of SO4&5.
People who dont like til the end of time didnt understand til the end of time
I'm excited. I just found your page, a quick glance and I can tell you have a lot of content I'll be interested in. Can't wait to check out your stuff.
Also as a fellow Cody I have to do my part and support.
I really enjoyed this game, to the music to it's somber snowy setting, the art style of the characters, the aesthetic and themes of it's menu screen and such... I enjoyed all the characters also, the story and Setsuna herself really touch me.
Great video! Hope you have more to come.
This channel has a bright future if you keep it up.
This is a great video man
I just bought this game on PS4. I have other games to get through first, but after watching your video, I’m so excited to try it out for myself!
It’s interesting to think how many games were affected by Final Fantasy X. There are so many JRPGs that came after it that focused on a pilgrimage that involves the sacrifice of a special girl at the end of it. Tales of Symphonia also comes to mind, though it gets more complicated beyond that. I wonder if that story format existed prominently before FFX, too?
I remember writing my own video game stories in notebooks in middle school and high school that followed a similar format haha. FFX really impacted me.
Bruh. TEARS at the ending. And that's after just listening to someone tell me the friggin story. I think that's equal parts that game and your narration. So good. Love that ending. To me (having not played the game but knowing about Setsuna being "overly" sweet), it actually makes sense how they build her up as this empathetic person - seeing the good in everyone and trying to be nice to everyone - for her to finally sacrifice herself for someone else that way. Only someone *that* devoted to others gives their life like that. Cause I was like, "oh, so he gets to live inside someone compassionate and live out their days seeing nice person be nice and warm". Nope. We go down together. What?! Lawl. Anyway, well-told.
This game is a gem, also lost sphere is amazing as well!!! Don't miss out on these !
Covering a niche jrpg? a creator after my own breathing soul. Easy sub.
I LOVE this game, first played it on release and has held a firm place ion my heart ever since, i even did another play through finished just a few weeks ago!
welcome to the tokyo rpg factory defense squad 🫡
Honestly, I think that name kinda shot themselves in the foot. Definitely sounds like a "Let's pump out as much stuff as possible" team, tho I don't think that's at all accurate.
This game seems like something that will be considered a underrated classic in the future. Maybe in the 2030s someone will make a video essay reteospective about it
Please note
This is the second release of i am setsuna
It also had a free release as an rpgmaker game, so that context makes the final version even more impressive
Incase nobody knew, the save points being relevant to the story is a call back to Xenogears.
Hey that's a good point. Nice call-out. That same team did save point shenanigans in Chrono Cross too now that i think on it. Nice catch.
I may have to try this sometime. I finally started playing the 1st Octopath Traveler recently, just as the 2nd one came out, and I've been absolutely loving it! I love how the game has extra depth to the standard battle mechanics we all know, but what's special about it is how well executed it is. It's often the little things that matter in games like these.
I also love how the game allows you to be truly overpowered if you really know what you're doing. It seems that the game can either be very easy or very hard depending on your smarts going into it. There are those who complain about boss battles taking a half hour or more to defeat, which tells me that they MUST be trying to play it like a traditional old school turn based RPG, which is simply NOT how you play that game.
You can't just turn your brain off during combat which I absolutely love! You have to actually think about what you're doing. The game gives you all the tools you need to be absolutely overpowered even at very low levels, so there's really no excuse unless you just plain suck at the game.
Honestly, it's not about originality. It's about execution, about quality. If the writing for the story & characters is excellent, then it really doesn't matter if the story is familiar or tropey. I can and will still be awesome.
Keep going Cody.
Rest in peace, Setsuna-chwan. \m/ ... I hope next time they have more biomes than gray and snow.
the more rpgs the better for me, even if it's not a classic it looks like it might be fun.
Great game. Doesn't get enough love. I'm starting a new game now after finishing it back in 2016.
Working on this game rn. So far I’m hooked. Little odd but still fun
Came for the cookies, stayed for the good times.
Granted, "Back in my day" could also be used to described how much something SUCKED at that time.
Most their ultimate weapons at the end of the game are literally from Chrono Trigger and make reference to having one belonged to a "legendary hero."
Back in my day we had Pong and we liked it and we didn't whine about things like "character development." That is to say I played I Am Setsuna a couple years back and thoroughly enjoyed it. Really loved the piano soundtrack, but that might be because I'm a pianist.
If you like this game then you could try Lost Sphear as well. It's made by the same developer and is basically just I am Setsuna but took place in the Autumn instead. There's also Oninaki which is also from the same developer but I had not play that one yet so can't really recommend it yet but do check it out.
I played it on my nintendo Switch patiently waiting for the physical Release come from Japan and dive into it....
I cant say i didn't enjoyed it but there's one small problem.... I found a nice grinding place and i maxed out all my character... By the time i managed to do it... I forgot where i was supposed to do next 😂
I haven't played this, and I generally don't mind spoilers, but *bruh* ... I'm genuinely surprised by the ending.
WOOOOO
You're a timeless classic
If Nidr is of Norse descent, it should be pronounced like “neither”, but with a “d” instead of “th”.
I sensed I was getting it wrong, thank you for the insight!
Great video. I Am Setsuna was enjoyable and a nostalgia trip. I enjoyed my time with it.
Side note, who plays league of legends with a controller?? 1:57
Thank you for the kind words! and it is not me, sadly. I pulled this specific stock video because of how cursed the idea of trying to play LoL with a controller would be to me. I think my brain would burst into flames if I tried to map to a controller. I'm not even good with the intended controls.
Boxbox ;)
42:00 it was interesting how to talk about this game having bosses casting stop so much that resisting it is the tactic. Then you talked about First Departure R right after but didn't mention how that game is all about resisting stone.
A fair point. The stone thing also annoyed me more, too, because the ai had a habit of walking into it.
Re-reading my comment, I applogize for the rudeness, getting the Tree Ending for Star Ocean was really annoying for me because the instructions were unclear to me and now I know I get salty when that game is brought up
I really enjoyed the game, hit a wal after putting it down for a bit and trying to pick it back up.. but I remember it being really solid.. minor nitpicks bring it down on ratings. But if you really care about that bullshit.
I messed up my play thru 😪 now i need to grind to beat where i am at
The good news is that they can't nostalgia bait me with CT, 'cause I hate that game and have since it came out!
I mean.... I like the Piano too & the way it sounds, but I think the soundtrack could have did with at least a couple more instruments thrown in at times when appropriate, like for Boss or Dungeon themes & such. The town & exploration based music would be fine just using Piano, but having the entire soundtrack be nothing but that one instrument? Yeah, I can see why some would complain about that.
I read what it was about on Steam and thought it sounded nearly exactly like FFX so I just kinda put it in wishlist and forgot about it. Seems pretty cool though.
Pretty fair review, the marketing of the game was a bit over the top and hurted it hindsight.
At least i got cookies!
I had problems with it and had things I loved. Loved the music, hated the story. Loved the character design, hated the sidequests. Also the final playable character is unlocked immediately before the final boss and any side quests or attempt to get their abilities has to be done by leaving the final dungeon. i just think... it could've been more. There are other games not high budget that I had way more fun with.
I am setsuna is the third game in the chronotrigger series
One of those games if you are slightly interested give it a try
I've been interested in this game for a while but never got around to grabbing it, partially cause I mostly hear stuff along the lines of "It's aggressively mediocre," but this somehow feels more genuine to me (Don't ask me why, idk), so I might do so at some point in the future.
(Still not sold on Lost Sphear tho, but I'm aware that it's demo isn't representative of how the actual game is)
*39:10* Also, I'm sorry, but the first encounter with *who?* Fr tho, that is a very unfortunate typo. Lol.
I couldn't connect with Lost Sphear, I still haven't tried Oninaki yet, either. But I think this game, while not being a masterpiece, gets a bit of a bad reputation for some reason... also wow lol, no one noticed that typo*, not even me. Well, good eye... and yes, very unfortunate.
*the typos presented in this video do not reflect the actions of opinions of the characters in I am Stetsuna
@@prettycody Lmao. I was surprised nobody noticed that.
But ye, I do agree, I don't think this game deserves the bad reputation it gets. Part of it is definitely the CT comparisons, but I think the actual studio name is part of it too (Hell, it's literally called "RPG Factory"). It sounds kinda soulless, even if that isn't actually the case. I'd certainly play it. Probably helps that I have no nostalgia for CT since I've never actually played it, so even without this review, my expectations probably wouldn't be quite as high as that.
That is octopath traveler music right?
Good ear
i need u to review more RPG games please. thank u
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
League of legends … with a controller … DEAR GOD THE MAN IS INSANE
I consider I am Setsuna to be decent at best. It doesn't have half the charm and atmosphere of Chrono Trigger, it's characters aren't as memorable, it's environments are bland and repetitive, and the time travel is minimal so it can't even be said to be following the same idea. Also, it does definitely need something other than the piano for it's score because the calm tone that the piano creates just doesn't work for a lot of scenes.
Hence why it's decent. It's not exceptional at anything and not horrible at anything either.
You could actually remove the time travel and get the same experience. Endir met Setsuna by chance and helped her on the journey and when you beat the final boss instead of time traveling it happens then and there.
The game was bad at conveying information.
Like all the accessories and add-ons you could equip... but it the game couldn't be arsed to explain what any of them did.
What stats they boosted, what buffs or immunities they might have given, etc etc.
Any it stole Chrono Trigger's battle gimmick, but unlike Chrono Trigger, failed to show things like what enemies would be hit by Cyclone.
It felt like I was just flying blind, which explains why I gave up on about eight hours in.
Unsure if intentional that you make an apology of being unsure of how to pronounce Nidr, then say Or-on, twice in a row 😂
lol nope just terrible at pronunciation.
I am Setsuna's issue is the monster design and the fact that all the dungeons are extremely bland. Lost Sphear fixes those issues to some degree but its story on the other hand is bland AF. Setsuna's story isn't really that bad on the other hand.
Hey wanna get some johnny rockets with me?
I cant play this kind of game anymore.... nowadays i play something of its own styles such as ONI and factorio
I'm worried about the things we lost during the 80's/90's which was privacy without social sites or the sense of adventure we had when we got our bikes. Games evolved pretty damn well but as many have now realized game companies are using games to milk out their customers with micro transactions or 10+ DLCs. Nostalgia is fine to have but we also probably are feeling the actual weight of the changes happening around us.
Why is this game so expensive on the third market?
They want like $79.99 for a game that IGN gave a 7.5 and GameSpot gave it a 7.
Is it really a hidden gem?
gave it a good 10hrs and it didn't go anywhere. Nah, the game wasn't working for me
First
lol playing league with a controller
This game is terrible. If you take out all of the chrono trigger wanna be references, it has absolutely nothing. as a huge fan of Chrono Trigger, it did absolutely nothing for me.
Everything is boring and you just need to have it. So you act first and obliterate the battlefield. that's the entire game.
Total pass or play it for free. And that's the case for every tokyo rpg factory game.
You take out Chrono Trigger and you're left with Tidus, Auron, and Yuna. Take out that and...
This game for me is an 8 or a 7 out of 10! This game deserves more attention and praise!