Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Reviews
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a charming tactics game with a lot of depth, but its Switch performance leaves a lot to be desired.
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.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is an absolute gem that shines whether you're a returning fan or a newcomer. It takes a while for the very many mechanics of the game to make sense and click, but once they do, you're in for an unforgettable experience.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a clumsy-feeling game, but its scatterbrained energy comes from an admirable place of bucking standardized gameplay conventions in a genre that doesn’t budge often.
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.
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.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero revives a two-decades-old series with aplomb, all while managing to stay accessible to not only newbies but also relevant to long-time fans.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is an amazing experience and story that rides the experience from the first game well. There can be some technical hiccups with the free movement features, but it doesn't lessen the experience in combat.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a superb SRPG that every fan of the genre needs to play. Its complex battle system and engaging story make this an absolute blast to play through!
This is truly a tactical RPG that you can play any way you like. You decide which Phantoms to take into battle, how to deploy them, which equipment to use and more. Now, that is true for more games like this, but the sheer number of possibilities is quite something. Add the gridless battlefield to that and the special abilities Marona has, and you’ll have many hours of gaming fun with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a good sequel to a beloved series that introduces a lot of good ideas. Still, it's a game that falls flat in its storytelling, going a bit too over the top, resulting in something that is hard to get engaged with.
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.
All and all, I had a pretty good time with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero. The story and characters are great, and the music is very fitting for the game, overall. If you are a fan of other NIS strategy titles, picking this up is a no brainer at $59.99 price tag, you’re gonna find a lot to love here. This is a good entry point for newcomers as well since the story is self contained and you really need no knowledge of the previous game to have a good time here. Now if you will excuse me, I have some more random levels to attend to.
The Lost Hero is a honorable sequel that doesn't limit itself to the past and wants to offer to the player something refreshing while keeping it faithful to the original. It's a title that innovates in its systems and abuses them in the right way; it's especially challenging enough for SRPG fans, but also accessible in the same manner for those who aren't as keen in the genre. Its story is equally accessible, offering a simple narrative, but well structured and tight with a colorful and fun cast.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero manages to bring many iconic ideas from the previous game, such as the confinement system, while also injecting new life and ideas to make the formula even more refined and appealing to the new generation of players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a strong sequel to what was perhaps Nippon Ichi’s most unique title. The characters are charming, the gameplay is robust and tactical, and while the unlockable methods of powering up may be slightly overwhelming, newcomers should manage just fine playing through.