[b]B — Excellent tactical battles; a much less compelling journey for me[/b]
[i]Stopped around Konan 3rd Block. Story and character grades cover the material I experienced, not the full narrative.[/i]
Boss preparation was the strongest reason I kept coming back to Vengeance. Press Turn makes weaknesses and vulnerabilities matter, while demon swapping gives you practical ways to respond when a setup fails. Its best battles rewarded understanding the encounter and bringing a useful team. I enjoyed that tactical foundation enough to recommend it despite leaving the playthrough unfinished.
Enjoying the fights did not mean I enjoyed everything leading into them. Planning affinities and assembling an answer to a boss was satisfying; negotiation, fusion and collection were less consistently rewarding. Early builds could feel incomplete, and parts of the preparation became chores before I reached the decisions I cared about.
Exploration followed a similar pattern. The environments and atmosphere initially encouraged curiosity, but traversal and map cleanup became tiring. The game looked polished and the soundtrack supported its mood well. Those strengths helped, although neither gave me enough motivation once the routine started wearing thin.
What I missed most was a party I cared about beyond its abilities. Demons made useful, flexible teammates in combat, but I never developed the attachment I get from a stable cast with meaningful relationships. The story also failed to pull me in during the portion I played. Once exploration fatigue arrived, there was little emotional reason to continue.
My recommendation is therefore strongest for players who want tactical combat and demanding preparation to be the main attraction. Those elements impressed me. If you rely on party chemistry or story momentum to sustain a long RPG, my overall experience is a useful warning: excellent battles may not be enough to make the entire journey work.
[b]Category grades[/b]
[list]
[*]Combat: S
[*]Progression: B+
[*]Story: D-
[*]Characters: D+
[*]World: B+
[*]Music: B+
[*]Presentation: A
[*]Pacing: C
[/list]
[i]Check my profile for more JRPG reviews.[/i]
