Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force

It might not be as completely over the top as some of Compile Heart’s other work, but it’s a load of fun for the studio’s fans nonetheless, and its relative subtlety might just help get it over the line for people who find the Hyperdimension games just too silly for their palettes.

Considering all that it has to offer, Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is probably the best JRPG currently available on the PS4 (although stiff competition is incoming)

It’s absolutely worth playing for anyone who missed it the first time, and the new features and content make a strong argument for existing fans to take a second look.

Fast-paced, chaotic combat, an excellent soundtrack and solid improvements over the original game make Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force an infectiously fun time.

It may be a B-tier RPG, but it’s a very well-made B-tier RPG that is just as addicting for JRPG fans as the A+ classics.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force added much needed and requested changes, but not everything seems to have been addressed with this re-release. The different paths you are able to take add more depth to the already well told story.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is not for everyone. If on one hand we have a great combat system, on the other we find a lack of content in the history, so we suggest it to Compile Heart e Hyperdimension Neptunia fans. However, the presence of new stories and characters makes it attractive for who has completed it on PlayStation 3, too.

This anime roleplaying game from the Neptunia team is full of charming antiheroes as well as redundant mechanics.

For the fans of that series and its comedic tone, you will find the same style of comfort here. For newcomers, if you can put up with how contrived the story can be, it may be worth a shot thanks to the exclusive content.

It hasn't changed much, but at least it improves the performance that made the original less enjoyable. A game for Compile Hearts fans.

It doesn’t reach the level of greatness of say Chrono Trigger or Persona 4, but there is enough going for it where it is worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

It’s quite the Jekyll and Hyde situation, one I can easily recommend to Compile Heart fans, but only endorse for non-fans on the stipulation they don’t listen to Tiara and Eryn.

Though it more often feels like a Director's Cut than a true remake, Advent Dark Force nonetheless turns a flawed PS3 RPG into a stronger experience overall, making it the absolute best way to play 'Fairy Fencer'.

It takes a while to get going and doesn't do anything all that surprising, but other than that, Fairy Fencer F's engaging characters and fun combat system makes this a title very much worth playing.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is a dull game due to the fact that Compile Heart has not explored more ways in the role genre. Until then, their games still feel like they are all the same.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is a classic tactical J-RPG, with all the usual pros and cons of this kind of title. Despite the nice style, and the remarkable drawings that will accompany you in your travel in the world of the Furies, the dungeons realization and the characters 3D models are so poor they'll make you cry. The combat system is solid, and the story is enjoyable. Unfortunately, the repetitive mechanics will bore you in a few hours. In the end, a fair Hyperdimension Neptunia clone, just for real fans of the genre.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force honestly has a lot going for it, but failed to seal the deal in the end. No matter the ending, I felt more frustrated than anything with all the monotony thrust upon me. Perhaps if the stories weren’t so predictable, or perhaps if the grind wasn’t so prevalent I would have been able to overlook one or the other. Instead, I wrapped up my adventures with Fang with wistful dissatisfaction.

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force manages to succeed despite itself, though not without some misfires along the way.

The story does nothing original unless you wind up on one of the new story paths after 20 hours of play. On top of that, the visuals still reek of PS3 muddiness despite the smooth framerate. It’s a grindy number-managing repetitive experience, and you might automatically love that or hate it depending on your allegiance to Compile Heart. It simply feels out of place next to other PS4 JRPGs on offer, and could have used a lot more polish if it wanted to stand a chance in the current gen.