Digimon World Data Squad

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
43

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 9 out of 12
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  1. Hardcore Gamer
    60
    I'll be honest here: Data Squad really isn't going to make a lot of converts. [Oct 2007, p.60]
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  2. My Gamer
    56
    All in all, there’s very little reason to get Digimon World: Data Squad. Between the simplistic-yet-frustrating battle system and the absolutely terrible graphics, there just isn’t anything positive to say about the game.
  3. Game Chronicles
    55
    Digimon World Data Squad was decent as far as gameplay was concerned, but the graphics weren’t the best. I’ve seen better cel-shaded games on the PS2 than this title.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2007
22
#22 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 33
  3. Negative: 3 out of 33
  1. neojotic
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    A really fun digimon game with cool graphics. It carries on from Digimon World 3 and 2 with it's battle mode but the game is unique enough toA really fun digimon game with cool graphics. It carries on from Digimon World 3 and 2 with it's battle mode but the game is unique enough to have it's own charm.

    This era was a strange time for Digimon but atleast we got a decent game out of it.    … Full Review »
  2. daebu_char
    Aug 9, 2020
    7
    I'd like to start off this review by saying that I believe the overwhelmingly negative reception by the critics is somewhat justified becauseI'd like to start off this review by saying that I believe the overwhelmingly negative reception by the critics is somewhat justified because I can see how frustrating and downright insufferable this game can be for an audience not familiar with (or interested in) the Digimon lore. However, as someone who literally grew up with the franchise, I definitely see this game in a very different light. As a Digimon game, this is actually one of the more solid ones due to the JRPG elements that allow the player to roam the Digital World and interact with different characters from the same universe as the anime (and specifically, the fifth season of the TV series). You can imagine how exciting that concept was to me as a fan; prior to Data Squad -- no other Digimon game delivered that in full 3D and on a modern (at the time) video game console like the PS2. Yes, if you compare "Digimon World Data Squad" (or "Digimon Savers: Another Mission" as it's known in Japan which is more fitting, imho, since it's not really connected with the original Digimon World trilogy) with other PlayStation 2 games of 2007, obviously, this game is lacking in a lot things -- however, I can still name some that I think weren't given enough credit. It is for this very reason that I can't help but think the critics were way too harsh on this game. Say what you want -- maybe I am blinded by nostalgia goggles and whatnot, but I've played way too many bad video games to classify this one as a complete disaster.

    First of all, the graphics. People judging this game in hindsight are spoiled by the plethora of cel-shaded video games currently in existence, and don't realize that this was one of the first few titles on the PS2 to fully utilize cel-shaded graphics. Is it timeless, without a single flaw, and holding up extremely well in comparison to other cel-shaded games of today? No... but was it executed poorly? Absolutely not. I still enjoy the look of this game, it resembles the television series quite faithfully which was a breath of fresh air after the odd CGI/clay-like look of previous Digimon games on PlayStation. There are also some really nice visual details that further help to translate the concept of a 'digital world' -- the sky, ocean, as well as some specific areas of the terrain in the game have a hexagonal pattern hinting at the fact that you are not in the real world, and other decorations such as luminous tree stumps have been strategically placed in certain places to give the appearance of a futuristic/artificial realm. It's these little details that make the game world "pop." Also, all of the game missions have a nice & unique color scheme, which makes them quite memorable and pleasant to explore.

    Other things I enjoyed were the music, animations, and certain gameplay features. Once again, none of them are exactly revolutionary, but they're far from bad. Obviously, one of the central features of any Digimon game is the ability to level up and evolve your Digimon into different forms. Data Squad introduces the concept of "galaxies" which are constellations of stars that provide the player with previews of possible evolution patterns for the six main partner Digimon. This is fun because each evolution has a certain set of requirements the player must meet in order to "unlock" it, some of which are quite challenging and/or require the completion of side quests and bonus boss battles.

    And now that the fun stuff is out of the way, let's move onto the sources of frustration. The game can feel EXTREMELY repetitive with enemy encounters every 5 seconds or so which CANNOT be skipped unless one buys an item to repel enemies (and the said item is available for purchase fairly late into the game). This sole gameplay feature is so off-putting that I don't hold it against anybody if they quit playing the game after 30 seconds. Certain battles tend to drag on for ages which makes certain maze-like dungeons/levels with multiple floors literally a nightmare to explore. Then there's the story... oh boy. I pity everyone who purchased this game not knowing being a Digimon fan is more or less a requirement because the game is quite heavy on dialogue & text, and it assumes some previous knowledge of the Digimon lore. I enjoyed it, but I understand it's probably unbearable for the majority of people. The protagonists are bland and one-dimensional, and the plot twist near the end quite predictable to say the least.

    For me -- this is one of my favorite Digimon games out there, although there's admittedly a lot of room for improvement, and I can see why a lot of people didn't enjoy playing it. It is, however, far from being the worst game ever. If you like Digimon, and if you can muster up some patience to get through the billion enemy encounters, there's a lot of great stuff waiting for you. If you don't like Digimon, this isn't a game for you. If you've never heard of Digimon, this game is not the best introduction.

    7/10    … Full Review »
  3. SnowDay
    Nov 4, 2015
    2
    I never once thought I would say this about anything Digimon, but stop. Just stop. Bandai is ruining the good name of Digimon. The battleI never once thought I would say this about anything Digimon, but stop. Just stop. Bandai is ruining the good name of Digimon. The battle system is ridiculously under thought and the desire to keep playing is nonexistent.… Full Review »
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