In short, it is a good game. You play as a secret agent involved in Digimon matters, which is a more engaging role than a cyber detective investigating random urban tales.
I will review it with pros and cons without giving story spoilers while comparing it with Cyber Sleuth and other Digimon games.
Pros:
+ It is a Digimon game.
+ We interact way more with the Digital World this time around, as it should be.
+ The visuals, both for character models and fields, are vastly improved. There are some breathtaking areas in this game, contrasting against the bland dungeons of Cyber Sleuth.
+ No Random Encounters, thankfully. You can see all field enemies now. You can even attack them before a battle.
+ Side missions are more connected to the main plot now, albeit not without cons.
+ Rejoice, all Digimon fans: ABI is gone! There is a new digivolution system in place. It is not perfect, but miles better than Cyber Sleuth's.
+ Time Stranger's battle system is more dynamic and entertaining than Cyber Sleuth's convoluted arrangement of piercing attacks and constant item spamming. It is faster too.
+ Your Digimon feel closer to you. Talking with them and riding them can be fun.
+ The Agent Skill system helps you feel more in control of your progression.
+ Themes and elements of Time Stranger's plot are more interesting than Cyber Sleuth's shtick of e-drama. The cast is better too, especially Aegiomon.
+ The truth about ADAMAS did surprise me in a positive manner. In hindsight, It wasn't that hard to see it coming if you weren't distracted by everything else going on. For me, that reveal was an excellent hype moment before the final struggle against the main villain.
+ A huge improvement over Cyber Sleuth in general.
+ Veterans of the franchise will easily recognize that Time Stranger took inspiration from other Digimon games, such as Digimon World 1.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, it still didn't surpass Digimon World 1 as the best Digimon game. Maybe the next Digimon game will succeed.
- Some of the plot twists will only work if you do the side missions before progressing with the main quest. Otherwise, you might not understand them.
- As a courtesy of incorporating Time shenanigans, the story gets a bit wonky during its final stages. Nothing that can stop you from enjoying it, though.
- Hard Mode isn't that hard at all. I think Cyber Sleuth's hard mode was better.
- The Digimon Farm is absoultely less engaging here. I couldn't be bothered to use it. I only used it once in my entire playthrough. Felt like a wasted mechanic.
- Tying Digivolutions to the Agent Skill system is a choice. It is nothing unbearable, I understand why they did it, but I still can't agree with it.
- Unfortunately, the side missions felt a bit lacking. Cyber Sleuth's side missions weren't special, but I still think they were better.
