Fairy Tail

Gust’s Fairy Tail game is one of those adaptations where it feels like the developer really understood what people love about the series.

While coming in at the end of the 11th story arc of the show might feel like an odd starting point, the game does a good job with a quick introduction of the characters. While it may leave some questions if you are unfamiliar with the series, it still gives enough information for newcomers to enjoy; Fairy Tale enthusiasts will certainly have no trouble knowing what is going on. Fairy Tale is certainly a solid game on the Nintendo Switch.

Without a doubt, fans of the series will enjoy what the game brings to the table, but for the first time, I can say that it’s the video game that has got me more interested in continuing to watch the show. The varying chapter lengths and uneven pacing are noticeable distractions, and there isn’t much depth to the tasks you complete around town or through guild requests. However, these concerns are more than outweighed by the charming and funny characters and all the moments they have together. FAIRY TAIL is an easy recommendation for RPG and anime fans, but those new to either of those groups might just find a true sleeping beauty here.

Fairy Tail is finally on consoles and PC with a full-fledged RPG. The fanservice in this one is great for everyone. The fights are over the top with all the magic happening everywhere and the world takes you to a lot of different places. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of different enemies and the guild board missions are all similar after a while. Still, the game invites you to explore everything until you reach the spectacular ending and then some.

It’s apparent that a lot of work went into Fairy Tail to ensure that it’s something fans would embrace. While its target audience is obviously fans of Fairy Tail its pacing and mechanics provide an engaging enough experience where those unfamiliar with the franchise would still find it a worthwhile experience. Taken strictly on the merits of gameplay without taking the license into consideration, it’s a good though unremarkable JRPG. Side quests were abandoned a few chapters in due to their repetitive nature, but the main story and character side stories are interesting enough to keep the player engaged to completion.

All in all, Fairy Tail is a fun experience, and while it is mainly designed for fans of the franchise, the game isn’t entirely unapproachable for new players. The battles are pretty and fly by quickly enough that they never drag on. There is a lot to like about this title, despite a few hiccups such as the unresolved finale. It feels very much like it recreates scenes straight from the show, and while some quests can bog down the experience, the main story kept me engrossed and wanting more.

Fairy Tail's game adaptation is primarily targeted at longtime fans of the comic and animated series, who will immediately insert themselves in the game's action and plot. But newcomers too will find something involving here, mostly the game's combat system, which can become quite addictive and engaging as the game advances. While the experience will be different depending on familiarity with the series, Fairy Tail has assets that don't disappoint.

At the end of the day, Fairy Tail is not a great RPG. Shortcomings in storytelling, pacing, difficulty, and performance all add up to make for a less than stellar experience which consistently seems to waste its potential. The well-made combat system and the adherence to the tone and content of the source material give occasional glimpses of the much greater RPG that Fairy Tail could be, but alas, it’s never really given the chance to spread its wings. We wouldn’t recommend you pick this one up, especially given the wealth of excellent RPGs available on the eShop right now, but we say that with the caveat that fans of the franchise will get a lot more out of this game than newcomers.

Fairy Tail is an occasionally charming game for fans at best, and an incredibly repetitive RPG at worst.

Gust has developed a Fairy Tail JRPG that is pure fanservice. It is not a good Japanese role playing game but an acceptable entertainment for the fan of the anime.

For fans of Fairy Tail, I recommend turning on a podcast and smashing some monsters with your favourite Fairy Tail characters while filling up various experience bars. Not a fan of Fairy Tail? Then I don’t see much to keep you around. Some of Gust’s charm and design comes through, but not enough to make the game stand on its own. The story is likely to be almost incomprehensible without prior knowledge, and corners are cut in all aspects, from the environments and quests to the combat. I enjoyed my time with Fairy Tail less than I thought I would, but I sincerely hope Gust gets another chance at making a licensed RPG, just without all the budget cuts.

For fans of the anime, Fairy Tail may be the best thing since sliced bread. For JRPG fans who couldn’t care less about the source material, this is just another basic release that fails to do anything remotely interesting.