• Review: Chantelise- A Tale of Two Sisters

    by
    Emily "Darkcamllama" Hatcher
    Published on 09-02-2011 06:58 PM
    0 Comments Comments


    Developer: EasyGameStation
    Publisher: Carpe Fulgur
    Platform: Windows PC
    Genre: RPG, Indie
    Rating: Everyone* (Euro rating 7+, NA is not available)
    Release Date: July 30th, 2011 (International)

    Presentation
    From the creators of the popular indie title Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale, comes Chantelise – A Tale of Two Sisters. In Japan, Chantelise was actually released before Recettear. However, the latter found its way to international gamers sooner. Don’t go out at night when the moon is red, or the witch will curse you. That was the warning passed down, yet two young sisters, Chante and Elise disobey. After wandering through the woods, they see a mysterious figure. In a flash, the girls’ lives are changed. Upon awaking, Elise discovers her elder sister Chante has become a fairy. Together the two set out to lift the curse, meeting new friends and adjusting to their new living conditions along the way.

    Graphics
    The character designs are highly similar to those in Recettear: sweetly drawn young anime girls. While the sprites and drawings are charming and moderately well animated, the level designs seem to lack any real deep detail. Levels are linear and often too cluttered with enemies. Enemy designs are fairly simplistic and not exactly memorable. The only plus is that the graphics are slightly reminiscent of early Playstation games, so those wanting a taste of nostalgia can have something to enjoy. Those who played Recettear first will certainly notice the similarities and less refined appearance. The game is very text heavy, so those players interested in the story will be reading quite a bit (if they cannot understand the Japanese dialogue). Whoever translated the game made an attempt to keep the dialogue modern and “up to date” but seeing the phrases “aight” and “score” slipped into conversation feels very out of place. One positive about the visuals can be that PC gamers without powerful processers will probably be able to run Chantelise without much difficulty, though they may feel some lag when there are more enemies to battle at once.

    Sound/Music
    For those that prefer their spoken dialogue in English, Chantelise never received English voice overs. The voices are cutesy in their Japanese tone, but at times the girls can sound fairly obnoxious. Chante may be a small fairy, but she takes on the stereotypical role of the older sister: pushy and demanding. Elise on the other hand can be ditzy and pouty. Other characters you meet along the way also fall into the anime stereotypes, with voices to match. The music has a very rustic feel, suiting the game’s atmosphere. I found myself turning down the vocal audio and the sound effects just so I could enjoy the melodies a bit more. The constant sound of slicing enemies with swords and the shouts from Chante and Elise grew tiresome to listen to.

    Gameplay
    Chante serves as a sort of Navi figure, floating around Elise to provide tips and suggestions. She will also be your spell caster, giving her a bit more purpose. Battling is fairly simplistic and repetitive at first, a mix of sword slashes and magic to blast groups of enemies. Magic orbs are gathered off the ground after attacking foes, and Chante is limited in her powers of casting early on. Magic also plays a big part in killing enemies early in the game, as Elise’s sword swipes are fairly weak, and getting in too close can cause her to be harmed too easily. Targeting foes is helpful, but sometimes magic still goes awry and hits a different target, or sails over them completely depending on the height difference. The camera angles at times can be a hindrance, causing the player to miss an attack and be hit in the process. Enemies will occasionally drop instant heal items upon their defeat, but it would have been better if the player could choose to hold on to the items until they needed them. In order to progress, all enemies on screen must be eliminated the first time you pass through a stage. If you happen to die, the stage will thankfully remain open, but the enemies will respawn.

    Many have criticized the game as being difficult due to the lack of leveling up and the scaling of enemies. While that certainly is problematic, I think the biggest fault lies in the game’s lack of focused design. You will die, that is certain. However, there is no punishment for dying, save for the annoyance of having to backtrack. Upon death, you simply restart in town. I did not notice any loss of money or items. Buying items and equipment will boost your attack and defense, but the cost of each item increases after purchasing, causing the player to hunt for more treasures to sell. You are also limited, at first, to two equipment slots, so equip wisely. Sellers beware: the cost of your treasures will also decrease as you continue to find and sell them, causing you to grind even longer.

    Lasting Appeal
    For fans that like anime-rpg style games and dungeon crawlers that offer some level of difficulty, Chantelise is certainly worth a try. The game does hold a unique sort of charm, but is marred by flaws in the gameplay. There are no achievements to strive for, but the game offers time attack modes from the start, allowing players to compete against themselves in how fast they can clear a level of enemies. The time trial mode seems a bit tacked on and out of place

    Conclusion
    While the game is interesting to a certain degree, many of the gameplay flaws detract from the enjoyment value. I bought the game during the Christmas Steam Sale for cheap, and I was certainly glad I did not pay full price for the game. Chantelise has delightful characters with a decent story, and can easily grow on you, but the existing problems cause the gameplay to suffer. Between Chantelise and Recettear, I think I will stick to Recettear.

    Score:
    4.0/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.