Fairy Fencer F: Dark Advent Force Reviews

Fairy Fencer F: Dark Advent Force is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
5 / 10.0
Jan 27, 2020

Fairy Fencer F is still a pretty decent RPG, containing a lot of the same fun mechanics that make quite a bit of the other Idea Factory RPGs work so well. However, it all comes down to the gameplay loop in the end, and unfortunately, while the combat is great fun and exploration is fine, the repetitive nature of traversing simplistic dungeons over and over again is just a big bore, as even with the boosters and free DLC the game lets you use to power through the story if you so desire, it still feels like you’re just going in boring circles and not doing much of anything, even as you recruit new party members, gain access to alchemy and sidequests, and have lots to do. When it just feels like busy work, it’s tough to recommend this older game over one of IF’s newer RPGS.

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Rudy Lavaux
Top Critic
7 / 10
Feb 7, 2019

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force benefits from great sound design and artistic direction, and is uplifted by a story that's interesting to sit through, and, at moments, hilarious.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2019

To conclude, you'll never be bored with all the stuff that's jam packed into this game. The story and characters are colourful and fun to play through and the combat keeps on giving you more and more. Yeah, maybe the jokes can get a little corny and over repetitive at times, but I always seem to have a smile glued to my face. I give this game an 8 out of 10.

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Digitally Downloaded
Ginny W.
Top Critic
Feb 4, 2019

The bugs as well as the fact that all roads lead to a grindfest can be hard pills to swallow if you don’t already have a connection to the cast of Advent Dark Force but on the balance of probabilities, there’s still more than enough shine and sparkle in the game to warrant you giving it a spin.

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No Recommendation / Blank
Jan 30, 2019

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is a fairly deep JRPG that is, unfortunately, held back by several key components. The story and cast are just not good enough to incentivize long-term play despite the excellent character customization and combat systems. Unless you adore lazy, food obsessed-men and a healthy dose of boob-jiggling physics, then you’re in for a real cinematic treat. Furthermore, the performance issues and overall poor quality of graphics in the field prevent you from fully appreciating the exploration and combat aspects of the game – that of which will make up the majority of your game time. Although you can easily get dozens of hours out of this game, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it on Switch unless you know exactly what you’re getting in to first.

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3 / 5.0
Jan 20, 2019

Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force is a deceptively simple game housing some deep customization options. It's easy to get into if you're new to the series, while veterans will no doubt enjoy all of the new content that's been padded on. While it no doubt caters to a certain audience, Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force does show both promise and potential in the niche market.

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6 / 10.0
Jan 20, 2019

Despite all its flaws, however, I cannot completely count out Fairy Fencer F. It is dated and may not be a great game or even a good game all things considered, but overall I would consider it a pretty okay choice if you're simply browsing the eShop in search of a quick “junk food” JRPG. There's not a lot of substance to it, but it will at least keep you busy and entertained in some form for the twenty or so hours it will take you to complete a single route.

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6 / 10.0
Apr 24, 2017

Lack of any real innovation makes this game a bit too mundane for all but the most hardcore JRPG fan.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2017

Building upon the original release, Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force includes new characters, combat and endings. While there are some typical anime tropes and cliches, you'll find a great cast of characters who offer witty banter on a lighthearted journey.

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2017

Fairy Fencer F definetly has its flaws, like the bland story and clichee characters that Neptunia did way better and smarter, it just can´t make the characters or humour appeal to me since it offers nothing new or innovative. Mixed with a very repetitive Gameplay and grinding mechanics it definetly is not for everyone but the excellent combat system and way of customization that furies offer you, really let it stand out from other Compile Heart games.

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5.8 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2017

Fairy Fencer F Dark Advent Forces feels like a visual novel stapled to a JRPG, making for an odd homunculus that just can’t compete with other titles in the genre. I can only recommend this one to those who already have sunk hundreds of hours into similar games.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 24, 2017

Interesting title, many content and good combat system. Maybe a little repetitive in the long run.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2017

Fairy Fencer F Advent Dark Force is definitely a must-buy for fans of the original game as it provides players with new experiences and improvements on existing features. Nonetheless, the game may feel stiff at times with nothing too ground-breaking. Overall, the game is a standard JRPG which can be fun enough for many players but may not stand out to those looking for something unique. Nonetheless, I am hoping for a sequel as I did enjoy the story, especially with Fang’s interactions with Eryn.

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Feb 16, 2017

The plot is largely uninteresting and the characters are annoying, especially on the only route that most people will play through. The game pokes fun at RPG conventions, but it also plays them completely straight. The sole innovation lies in the fairy and fury systems, which work well together, but it isn't enough to keep the battles from blurring into an unmemorable mess.

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CGMagazine
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2017

With Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force, Compile Heart has proven to be the Platinum Dunes of otaku entertainment – an assembly line of titles with similar plots, repeated mechanics, and fan service that feels designed for middle schoolers.

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4 / 5.0
Feb 13, 2017

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force provides enjoyable gameplay, memorable characters, and a branching story good enough to warrant multiple playthroughs – and hey, isn’t that all that matters?

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Renan Fontes
Top Critic
4 / 10
Feb 13, 2017

For such a story-heavy RPG, Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force gives little incentive to invest in its rather unoriginal plot. It would be one thing if the story acted as an homage to the RPG narrative of yore, but it simply follows the tired "good god/bad god" routine without bringing anything new to the table. Battles themselves are too easy to take advantage of a potentially good battle system, and poor, underdesigned dungeons rip away any possible depth the gameplay could have had. Newcomers to the genre might be able find something to appreciate about Advent Dark Force despite its flaws, but diehard fans are hard-pressed to find much exciting about a port of an already unimpressive 2013 JRPG.

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PS4Blog.net
the_nmac
9 / 10
Jan 3, 2017

: Overall we really liked what this new take on Fairy Fencer F had to offer. If all goes well, we might even get a sequel on PS4! The addition to the battle system was great and completely changes the way battles play out. The new storylines are a major addition to the game and give players who already enjoyed this one on PS3 a reason to come back for more.

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Sep 26, 2016

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is in kind of a weird spot. The characters and gameplay are fun but at times they can be hard to invest in due to the over-scoped plot. Normally I would say go for it and just don't get too invested; but this is a JRPG we're talking about here, not some beat 'em up or other quickly-concluded escapade. However, the ideas present in the world are unique and there's a guy with a Canadian accent, which is rare enough to cherish whenever it pops up. If you're looking for something fresh to scratch that RPG itch of yours, Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is a worthy offering.

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87%
Aug 30, 2016

Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Forces is a great release. The graphics are very polished, the voice acting is excellent, and dual audio is available for all of you to enjoy! What is even better is that the music is by famous composer Nobuo Uematsu. What more could you possibly want in a JRPG? Fingers crossed sales do well enough to warrant another Fairy Fencer F game for us to enjoy! I had a blast playing the game for my Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Forces review, and I’m still going strong towards the Platinum trophy!

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