The Alliance Alive Reviews
Good pacing, engaging mechanics, and an interesting setting help make The Alliance Alive a noteworthy RPG.
The story and characters of The Alliance Alive will stay with me far longer than anything else in the game. Yoshitaka Murayama has proven '90s-style storytelling is still as enrapturing today as it was two decades ago. His work just needs to be paired up with a better game. I respect all of the new gameplay ideas present here, but without fine-tuning, they bring down what should be one of the last great 3DS games.
The Alliance Alive is a great-looking game with an interesting premise and intriguing battle mechanics, but in the end it falters from its combat decisions.
This is just a charming game. The art style is like a watercolor painting come to life
I had hoped that after a few initially rocky hours, The Alliance Alive would somehow turn it all around and be a game that I would love. Unfortunately that's not quite the case here, and on a system with no shortage of good RPGs, it's hard to sell The Alliance Alive to anyone but the most ardent of fans.
I had a lot of fun learning about these characters in search of a blue sky and I appreciate FuRyu taking chances on new IPs in a generation full of sequels and remakes. The Alliance Alive is a straightforward and fun JRPG with enough to keep the player invested throughout its story, but it could use some work on difficulty balancing and the inclusion of voice over.
Cattle Call has done a fantastic job with The Alliance Alive, addressing the complaints of its predecessor while building on its strengths to make something that's truly special. Whether it be the engaging story, expansive overworld, deep combat, or unique progression options, this is a game that oozes quality in just about every aspect. The Alliance Alive is a must-play for fans of JRPGs, and we would give it a strong recommendation to anyone looking for another great game to add to their 3DS collection.
Cattle Call moved a bit closer to greatness with The Alliance Alive, but they are still not quite there as one of the 3DS's last RPGs falls short.
This RPG is more than deserving of attention with its compelling combat system, well developed progression, rich and varied visual environment, as well as a vast and varied world. Alliance Alive would deserve to see an earlier release in Nintendo's last-gen handheld, if only to ensure more visibility to its efforts.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cattle Call tries to make improvements on their previous RPG outing, but not to great effect.
The Alliance Alive's one-of-a-kind atmosphere and decadent soundtrack are high notes in an experience otherwise subject to the whims of random number generation.
While it may not stand out as an individual title, The Alliance Alive gets by with somewhat unique ideas and a memorable soundtrack.
Even though it's not the best JRPG out there in the vast 3DS library, The Alliance Alive comes in the twilight of the portable system, and it offers 40-plus solid hours of adventuring for the ones who were left wanting more from The Legend of Legacy.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Honestly I love this game. Never did I feel like I was slogging through just to progress, which is often the case these days. The Alliance Alive is very charming and well thought out, with plenty to help it stand out from other jRPGs, without doing anything significant to turn more traditional fans away. Just for the characters and story alone, i'd recommend this game.
iTunes: The Thirsty Mage
The Alliance Alive invokes the finest elements of the JRPG genre, modernizes them, and innovates where necessary.
When it comes to RPGs, the Nintendo 3DS isn't lacking for quality, even this late in the system's lifespan. If there's one title that deserves a spot in the upper echelons, it's The Alliance Alive. Its battle system is reminiscent of the SaGa franchise, except taken to the next level through superb balancing and design. No matter the player's skill level, they are treated to an adventure that caters to them, without coming off as condescending or frustrating. Not only is the world filled with wonders to explore, anyone who takes the time to do so will find their efforts appropriately rewarded. Simply put, this game is a modern classic.
The Alliance Alive is a good game that's held back by some unfortunate missteps. Its fantastic premise and strong narrative provide a storyline that feels surprisingly fresh compared to other JRPGs, while its combat provides some welcome depth to its turn-based gameplay. The title often feels too easy, even by JRPG standards, and several features could have been better fleshed out, but the overall product is a stark improvement over studio Cattle Call's previous effort. With the 3DS on its way out to pasture, those with a hankering for an old-school JRPG with some new ideas should find something to like with The Alliance Alive.
The Alliance Alive delivers a charming and satisfying JRPG adventure with a mix of traditional and fresh gameplay elements.
The Alliance Alive is a solid, well designed JRPG that's definitely an improvement over its predecessor. It's filled with enjoyable character interactions and excellent features like the fast forward option for combat.