Pier Solar and the Great Architects

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 12 out of 42

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  1. matthewbennion
    Oct 7, 2014
    8
    If you were a kid of the 80s / 90s it won't be hard for you to appreciate what Pier Solar HD has to offer. The game is a swan song to the golden age of 16-bit RPGs.
  2. Magus80
    Oct 1, 2014
    4
    Only played 10 hours so far before I got annoyed and stopped.
    Good: decent story, dialogue with some humor that feels natural but lacking character development. graphics are nice considering this game was originally from 16 bit system along with enemies looking nice. Equipment / accessories add some decent customization.
    Bad: bland animations that take forever to play out and there's    Only played 10 hours so far before I got annoyed and stopped.
    Good: decent story, dialogue with some humor that feels natural but lacking character development. graphics are nice considering this game was originally from 16 bit system along with enemies looking nice. Equipment / accessories add some decent customization.

    Bad: bland animations that take forever to play out and there's no options to speed or skip it. Normal random encounters can get very tedious, they usually last about 1-2 minutes. Not much of variety to enemies. Map design is all over the place, often requiring you to consult a guide to navigate. Healing in the field is just as annoying, you're forced to watch 5 seconds of healing effect animation each time that only heal 1/5 of your HP. All of those are very baffling game design choices that the devs went with would not hold up to the modern standard of most present-day JRPGs even including past JRPGs that were well-executed.

    Despite those glaring flaws in game design, I got a distinct impressions that this game is a labor of love and possibly could be enjoyable if you have a patience and are in a mood for something relaxing.    … Expand
  3. IanClue
    Oct 3, 2014
    2
    Terrible game when it came out with none of the game breaking issues corrected with the HD version. The first few hours are fun and the nostalgia effect is great. But as soon as your party is "full" the painfully drab battle system and slow animation make this game more a chore than anything else.

    The confusing maps and hidden goals are annoying, but typical of games in the 90s. You    Terrible game when it came out with none of the game breaking issues corrected with the HD version. The first few hours are fun and the nostalgia effect is great. But as soon as your party is "full" the painfully drab battle system and slow animation make this game more a chore than anything else.

    The confusing maps and hidden goals are annoying, but typical of games in the 90s. You can consult a walkthrough if you get stuck, but there is no fix for spending 2 minutes after every 2 minute battle healing your party 1 at a time.    … Expand
  4. iwilllol
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    I originally played the game on the SEGA Mega drive back in 2010 and I knew I had to play this HD port! Had so much fun reliving the story and enjoying the updated graphics, anyone who loves JRPG's particularly the classic Lunar, Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star owe it to themselves to play this game.

    The puzzles are challenging in a way similar to the RPG's of the 16-bit era. The    I originally played the game on the SEGA Mega drive back in 2010 and I knew I had to play this HD port! Had so much fun reliving the story and enjoying the updated graphics, anyone who loves JRPG's particularly the classic Lunar, Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star owe it to themselves to play this game.

    The puzzles are challenging in a way similar to the RPG's of the 16-bit era.

    The music is a masterpiece within itself and the graphics are beautiful whether you choose the original 16 bit graphics or the remastered HD variant.

    It has its own unique feel as well as having its own battle system which oozes originality in bounds and really ups the ante in terms of fighting strategically.

    All in all I highly recommend this game for everyone, You can pick it up on many platforms from PC/MAC/LINUX Dreamcast PS3/PS4 OUYA with XBOX ONE and Wii U And Vita coming soon.

    You must play it, its one of the best JRPG's this century!    … Expand
  5. Rdm3182
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    This game is great! i have been having a blast playing it. I get that it's whole concept is dated but that's why I bought it. I like the 16 bit feel and the cheesy story line it makes for a good time.
  6. rhap
    Oct 7, 2014
    10
    Great game. Having lots of fun with it. Refreshing in a world where all the RPGs became generic boring Action games with pointers everywhere telling you how to finish the game. I understand the menu can be confusing for some people, but it's not the game's fault, more like the players nowadays who are lazy and want everything being done automatically.

    I recommend it to players who are    Great game. Having lots of fun with it. Refreshing in a world where all the RPGs became generic boring Action games with pointers everywhere telling you how to finish the game. I understand the menu can be confusing for some people, but it's not the game's fault, more like the players nowadays who are lazy and want everything being done automatically.

    I recommend it to players who are after a good old school game.    … Expand
  7. phil80
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    Don't listen to the bad reviews. This game is what you need if you liked the Lunar games or traditional rpgs in general. The story is lighthearted in the beginning but gets very serious at the end.
  8. christophhhhhh
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    If you like classic RPGs like Chrono Trigger, FFIII, Phantasy Star etc - this is one that you are going to want to check out. Can't wait for the Dreamcast version!
  9. dtp11
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    If you loved or liked classic JRPG's, you will probably love this game! Technically, it's an 8 or 9 out of 10, but I had to give it a 10 to outweigh some of the silly negative reviews this game undeservedly receive. I know, that's not how it should work, but that's what I did because I don't want fellow 16-bit JRPG lovers to miss this because they think it's mediocre based on the averageIf you loved or liked classic JRPG's, you will probably love this game! Technically, it's an 8 or 9 out of 10, but I had to give it a 10 to outweigh some of the silly negative reviews this game undeservedly receive. I know, that's not how it should work, but that's what I did because I don't want fellow 16-bit JRPG lovers to miss this because they think it's mediocre based on the average score. Sure, there are a few things that can be irritating, but there is nothing game-breaking and it's definitely NOT a game to pass up. If you are approx. 20-45 years old and liked JRPG's on your SNES or Genesis, then you should buy this game (not limited to those ages of course - I just think it's just the most-likely age group to enjoy it). It doesn't cost a fortune and is worth every penny and then some. Very nostalgic and a great game overall. Highly recommended.… Expand
  10. ArmVM
    Oct 8, 2014
    9
    If you're a fan of rpgs from the 90s like Lunar, the classical final fantasies, phantasy star or even PC Engine rpgs like Emerald Dragon, Cosmic Fantasy or Tengai Makyo, you will really enjoy this game.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. RPG Fan
    Dec 1, 2014
    70
    In going so far retro, Pier Solar HD shows that it hasn't learned from modern advancements in game design.
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  2. Gaming Nexus
    Nov 4, 2014
    74
    While the presentation is spot on, the gameplay is marred by combat that seems to favor the enemies. Couple this with obtuse puzzles and an aimless story and you have an adventure game that is good, but doesn't stack up to the best games in the genre.
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  3. Push Square
    Oct 19, 2014
    60
    This is a retro RPG down to its very core, and if you aren’t prepared to accept its charmingly archaic quirks, you probably won’t relish your time with it. However, if you are willing to embrace its idiosyncrasies – some amiable, some aggravating - you’ll find a veritable wealth of content to explore.
    Read full review
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