Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero may not be the most unique JRPG in recent memory, but there’s still not much out there that can capture the specific charm of its gameplay. It’s a delight if you’ve never played a Nippon Ichi RPG or if you’re a veteran, and as one of those veterans, I’m so glad that this series has returned from the dead. Seems to be a theme.

I absolutely loved my time with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero and hope that it marks the start of many more sequels as I'm excited to see where Marona's adorable adventures take her next.

After years of mere cameos and remasters, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero finally gives the series the attention it deserves: a true sequel that expands on its mechanics. It takes the series into new waters with a brighter tone and streamlined storytelling, but in doing so, it drifts away from the emotional depth that made its predecessor so resonant. Yet, the very fact that this sequel exists signals something greater for the series—if this is just the beginning, then the future of Phantom Brave is brighter than ever.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero delivers solid tactical RPG gameplay, but suffers from excessive tutorials, awkward camera angles, and slow-paced dialogue. Still, if you enjoy long battles and dungeon crawling, it's a rewarding experience.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a surprising sequel that does a good job of living up to its predecessor, but it doesn't exactly tread new ground for the franchise. A cute but forgettable plot, solid gameplay, and a near-infinite amount of grinding potential give the game a solid amount of value. The only thing holding it back are the unimpressive visuals and poor performance. If you're a fan of the Nippon Ichi games or the original Phantom Brave, there's a lot of fun to be had in this sequel.

Given a choice, I’m sure I would pick a different game from NISA’s illustrious PS2 JRPG lineup that I would rather have a sequel of, but all things said, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a great sequel that improves on the original in almost every way, providing a fun, tactically satisfying RPG that I’m very glad made a return.

Tactical RPGs are always a hit and miss with gamers but Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a fun and accessible title for anyone looking to get into the genre and those who already enjoy it. With a fun cast of characters and entertaining, if somewhat simplistic combat, I found myself addicted and had a hard time putting it down.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero offers a refreshing take on the SRPG genre with its unique gridless combat and deep customization. While the slow pacing and complex systems may deter newcomers, fans of tactical games will revel in its rewarding gameplay and intricate strategies.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero brings its own approach to SRPGs, and with it, a freshness worthy of the best sea breeze. With a light and pleasant story, as well as engaging gameplay, we have very good waters to navigate for fans of the genre.

Marona's, Ash's and Apricot's adventure is yet another worthy entry in Nippon Ichi Software's catalogue and a memorable experience for fans of the company or those who like a borderline experimental touch to the tactical RPG genre.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a recommended experience for those who enjoy challenging tactical RPG combat systems. While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, its mix of various mechanics and gameplay systems makes it a worthy addition for the more patient players. It can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but those who stick with it will discover a fun and rewarding challenge.

Fans of the first Phantom Brave know just what to expect with the sequel, and it delivers on those grounds. Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero brings the best gameplay mechanics from the first title and lightly refreshes them for a new era, with crisp graphical updates and slight improvements that are sure to delight fans of the genre or developer. While the story lacks the narrative depth of its predecessor, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a sequel that knows what it is good at, and leans into it, delivering a sharper and more refined experience.

Some parts of the game are undeniably charming, such as the story, the character art and the bright colours. However, reusing a dated system really shows a lot of its age. Along with design choices that are simply confusing, it drags down the experience along with the 3D models. While there is certainly a level of 'too much' going on, this also applies to battles in a good way if a player is ready for it. The craziness is part of the charm and many of the battles are surprisingly hard, short of power leveling.

Any game receiving a sequel after 20 years is an achievement, especially one from a company's niche portfolio. Phantom Brave has always seemed more like a Disgaea spinoff than a major Nippon Ichi Software title. Still, the game had its unique identity, unusual features, and heartfelt characters. The sequel, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, expands on the original's mechanics. It introduces new ways to employ the phantoms and their quirks in strategic combat and also adds fresh methods to strengthen and progress characters. However, a lackluster and overly childish story might turn off players uninterested in grinding to astronomical levels, potentially putting the series back into a long hiatus or even ending it for good in favor of NIS's more acclaimed tactical RPGs.