LumenTale: Memories of Trey

Lumentale: Memories of Trey is a wonderful blend of the fresh and the familiar that offers a fully fleshed-out experience on both the RPG and the creature-collector fronts. I think it is a game that will appeal to and satisfy new, returning, and veteran players of the genre, which is a feat unto itself. With stellar visuals, an excellent soundtrack, loads of content, and a nearly flawless combat system, this is a game you want to have in your collection. With a few tweaks, I firmly believe that Lumentale: Memories of Trey has the potential to become one of the best, like only a few have ever been.

LumenTale is proof that being passionate about a series of videogames does not mean that you have to blindly follow in its footsteps: the combat system is able to cleverly mix elements from both Pokémon and Final Fantasy, while genuinely feeling like its own thing. What more could you ask for?

Ultimately, LumenTale: Memories of Trey is a fascinating and occasionally frustrating experiment. It represents a bold new evolutionary branch for monster-collecting RPGs. Time will tell whether this specific branch can survive the harsh ecosystem of the genre, but its successful mutations give it some strong fitness factors. A highly commendable first outing for Beehive Studios.

LumenTale follows many of the genre’s familiar conventions, but succeeds where many predecessors stumbled. It’s a gorgeous love letter to creature collectors and their origins, while offering slight variations that keep the gameplay fresh. With a narrative influenced by the player’s choices, a fresh combat system, gorgeous art, and a ton of smaller features to get lost in, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre—even if its technical performance frequently holds it back.

Quotation forthcoming.

LumenTale: Memories of Trey isn’t perfect, but it is definitely more than just a Pokémon fan game. From the 130+ Animon to the huge and detailed world, Beehive Studios has put a ton of heart and effort into this adventure, and a lot of the time, it can draw you right in. The plot can feel impenetrable at times, and the gameplay has its quirks. However, if you’re a creature collector fan looking for something new, LumenTale: Memories of Trey will definitely provide a memorable experience.

LumenTale: Memories of Trey is a tale of two games. When everything is clicking, the combat, Animon designs, and story all feel really nice and leave a positive mark on the genre. Though the long load times make exploration feel like a chore, and hiding some features as well as evolution methods makes it get in its own way and take longer than needed. It can truly feel exciting to weave through Animon, shooting out the Holoken to catch or damage while solving puzzles, and learning about Trey’s past, but in the meantime, that quality title is buried underneath some flawed execution.