Mugen Souls (PS3) Review
For the longest time I had thought Japanese RPGs had gone by the wayside during this console generation.? After being spoiled on the Playstation 2 I expected the PS3 and Wii (hell, even the 360) to produce content worthy of the newest tech.? A couple years passed with only a few noteworthy releases to see our shores?Valkyria Chronicles and Eternal Sonata to name a few?to the point where Western RPGs became the new golden standard.? When the highly divisive Final Fantasy XIII was released, it felt like the standard for what truly constitutes a JRPG had changed to something more action-oriented.? These days, the search for a more ?Japanese? experience will more than likely lead you to a niche market of quirky titles that constantly tinkers with RPG mechanics but feels surprisingly traditional.? Out of all those games, Mugen Souls is the title that relishes the most in playing around with what makes an RPG to create a complex and ridiculous genre piece.
Story
The story of Mugen Souls revolves around Chou-Chou, the self-proclaimed ?undisputed god of the universe?.? Chou-Chou?s main goal is to make everything in the universe bow down to her and that includes the seven worlds of the universe.? Why?? Because she finds them beautiful; at least that is the primary reason at first.? Each world is based on a color and its own unique feature.? For example the tropical tree world is green, the red world is a fire world, and blue is the advanced metal world and so on.? At first Chou-Chou is accompanied by Ryuto?her loyal peon and captain of her ship?and Altis?an angel who used to be a demon but lost her title because she ended up doing good every time she tried to do evil.
Dialogue scenes are pretty and funny
Chou-Chou has the unique ability to change her form and each form has a different personality attached to it.? There?s the blonde ditz, the leather-bound sadist, the submissive masochist and more.? Chou-Chou uses this ability to turn enemies and other characters into her loyal peons (referred to as a Moe Kill).? To conquer each world, Chou-Chou uses her moe kill ability to turn that world?s hero and demon lord into her loyal servants.? Often people criticize the stories of NIS-produced games because they are merely there to serve the gameplay.? While this is actually true for several games, Mugen Souls surprisingly has a lot going for it.? Though the format of conquering world after world is repeated several times, you will also get some questions about Chou-Chou?s past and what exactly is going on with all these personalities; there?s even the addition of a ?greater threat? that adds enough flair to the story so it doesn?t get bland.? After a point, however, you will realize that the story is less about Chou-Chou and world domination and more about characterization and some damn good humor.? In addition to poking fun at the entire spectrum of video games you will get some funny lines about heroes and villains (the joke about how a character must be a hero because they are invading a person?s home and throwing around pots looking for money being one of the more obvious nods).? The dialogue in this game will always have you laughing whether it?s being completely tongue-in-cheek or placing a whole group of characters in an awkward, albeit somewhat sexual, situation.? In fact, if I were to attach one warning to Mugen Souls, it would be that the game has a lot of adult content.? While it never becomes vulgar, a lot of the jokes and content are something only an older audience would get.? Female characters are often scantily clad and have some certain exaggerated features.? Chou-Chou?s form changes are correlated with how they get someone off; there?s even a chapter in this game titled ?Overwhelming Size! In the biting cold, the group encounters something massive! (It?s boobs)? and I?m not lying.? It?s guaranteed to provide a lot of laughs, but the younger folk should probably stay away.
Graphics
The character and world art is what stands out in Mugen Souls as with any similar game.? Any fan of anime, Disgaea, or Compile Heart?s Hyperdimension Neptunia series will feel at home during the still cutscenes and dialogue.? As always, it would be great to see these beautifully drawn models in motion but they get the job done.? When it comes to the in-game character models and general design, things are very colorful but still dated.? Each world you come to is appropriately exaggerated to fit its theme.? There?s a lot of lava in the fire world and lots of snowmen in the snow world but beyond a few nice vistas, there isn?t much to be excited about.? I appreciated a few visual nods here and there like an enormous sword stuck in the ground during the first world or the technological ruins in the snow world.? In the end, though, these things are static and just there for looks.? What didn?t bother me as much were the simple and cartoony character models; the reason being is because the simplicity allows for such deep character customization (body parts, costumes, and weapons).? The graphics remain appropriate for the overall look and feel of the game, but you will wonder what it might look like in tune with bigger budget releases.? There were also moments in the game where you might experience a lot of lag, especially at the start of a battle.? If there are too many enemies on the screen, the framerate will stutter greatly until you manage to get rid of a few.? Loading times are also a bit long when transitioning from such simple things as menus and area selections.
Sound
The game does feature some more ?mature? content
Whether in English or Japanese, the voice acting in Mugen Souls is wonderful. ?Personally, I often prefer the Japanese mainly because the English voice actors never seem like they are too invested in what they are saying.? Instead of coming off like a budget dub, the English voice option sounds professionally done and captures the ridiculous and funny air of Mugen Souls as you would expect.? As much as I wanted to switch back and forth between both tracks at times, the English voices do help you follow along in this dialogue heavy game.? Music is also handled well.? Battle themes pump you up or become serious during boss fights appropriately.? Each world has a different theme that you will find yourself either enjoying or be satisfied with it enough to the point of not wanting to turn the volume off.? The only background music I got tired of was the music for the G-Castle/hub world.? Though it fits the setting of being on an enormous flying ship with a bunny-like head and a rainbow stretched around its back, the campy tune might be a little much if you are spending a lot of time upgrading your equipment or buying and selling.
Gameplay
Without any effort you could write a short novel on the gameplay of Mugen Souls.? Putting it shortly, there?s probably around ten different ways you can tackle any battle.? Most of Mugen Souls takes place in a field where you get from a start point to an end point.? Items and enemies are visible so there aren?t any random encounters.? If you get close to an enemy it will rush at you; if it touches you, a fight like any other random RPG encounter will begin.? You have the chance to outrun these enemies before a fight happens but if it hits your back, the battle will start with the enemies having a turn first; if you attack first, then you get the first move.? When in battle you have four characters you control and each one has a certain range they can move around in giving you the ability to strategically place your characters.? From there you can use items, skills, attack, or even switch a party member like normal but that is only the surface of what can be done in any fight.
A look at a typical battle
Moe killing is one of the more unique methods of combat in this game.? Whenever you gain control of Chou-Chou, you can have her change form and attempt to moe kill an enemy.? Each enemy has a certain affinity which signifies one of Chou-Chou?s forms (ditz, bipoloar, terse, etc.) and a mood (maybe happy or sad).? When you activate a moe kill you are then given dialogue choices to use on the enemy; if you are the right affinity and say the right things you can moe kill and enemy and make it your peon.? Other times you can turn it into an item.? A third option will actually anger the enemy and cause it to regain all its health and become stronger (but killing it nets you more experience).? In addition to enemies and bosses on the battle area there are also power crystals.? These crystals can be moe killed and have area affects such as making you stronger or even damaging you but they work on enemies as well.? Breaking them also releases some sort of effect to anyone within range.? Every battle has a big central power crystal and by moe killing it every enemy will be affected.? If you are able, you can finish the battle instantly by moe killing the big power crystal and turning it into an item or peon (all enemies will follow suit) but you could also make every enemy stronger.
Special attacks in the game also aren?t elemental but based on affinities.? A fire attack has a masochist affinity and an ice attack has a sadist affinity, don?t just think you can attack an enemy with whatever spell or you might heal them.? A lot of special attacks have the ability to blast an enemy.? By hitting an enemy with a blast attack you can actually launch it around the field into other enemies, crystals, or your party.? Shattering that main crystal will activate something called ?fever mode? where you can launch an enemy into the air and bounce them around causing massive damage.? There are other elements involved in a battle such as the peon ball or peon commands but it?s best to experience them yourself.? But after a fight is done you are awarded gold, experience, and mugen points; based on your combo count or other factors you actually will get multipliers creating the possibility for big rewards with more experimentation.
Another big element to Mugen Souls is the mugen field.? For those who have played Disgaea, it?s like the item world, for those who haven?t it is basically a gauntlet of floors with progressively harder battles.? You enter the mugen field and can bet mugen points, from there you can pick different routes (normal, tough, or eventful) and then head in to fight.? Usually after you reach every ten floors you are given the option to press on or bow out plus some customization options.? You can limit what kind of attacks you use, if you can change party members, or even use items; each limitation adds a multiplier and increases your rewards.? The mugen field also provides you with the opportunity to do things like increase your level cap (because who would be satisfied with getting a character to 100 when you can see all those pretty 9?s?), increase the power of your skills, unlock job classes, or a million other things.
There are many ways to create a character
Actually, the customization and the ability to build your character will be the biggest draw and reward for most players, but it can also be the most frustrating.? The ability to raise the level of any piece of equipment or any skill is wonderful, but it is also very time consuming early in the game.? Raising the level of an item costs a lot of money and the only way to do that is grind in the story levels (the mugen field is very greedy with giving you gold).? But what if you find a better weapon?? All that money you wasted upgrading early equipment adds up to nothing.? I waited a long time before I upgrading anything not only because I barely ever had money but because I knew a better weapon was probably around the corner.? You also can create your own peons but the main cast of characters is already enough to keep you busy.
?Overwhelming? is a term used a lot in Mugen Souls and at times the game can feel pretty overwhelming even to a seasoned player.? I still feel like I will never really get the hang of how moe kills work and I really feel like I am terrible at using the blast off feature.? All the options the game gives you are great but some might ask if they are even necessary.? I think the beauty of Mugen Souls is that you can almost breeze through it without even touching most parts of the game.? If you want a quirky and very Japanese game to keep you occupied for a couple weeks then this is a great option.? However, if you are one of those players who get their enjoyment out of mastering every tiny detail of a game then this is probably one of the best games out there to do that with.? I really felt like every couple battles I was discovering how to improve my combat effectiveness and even after killing thousands of enemies I still feel that way.? Mugen Souls definitely takes elements from any RPG you have ever played and twists them in such a bizarre way that it might just make you its peon.
GAMING ILLUSTRATED RATINGS FOR MUGEN SOULS (PS3) REVIEW
9.0
Gameplay
Layered gameplay makes for a unqiue RPG experience bursting with options
7.5
Graphics
Though dated, the graphics are still colorful and character art is stunning
8.5
Sound
Both Japanese and English dialogue options are equally great, music is varied and fun
9.5
Lasting
With so many overwhelming options a true RPG fan will want to spend as much time as they can mastering the game and exploring all the game has to offer
8.5
Story
I applaud the story for making me laugh so much while still remaining mostly fresh
Ben is from Kentucky where he originally began playing games (an activity he still continues to this day). With a love for writing he graduated from Centre College with a BA in English. He recently moved to California to pursue whatever future endeavors were there. A passion for music, gaming, blogging, and existing keeps him up at night and crafts him into the person he is today.
Source: http://gamingillustrated.com/mugen-souls-ps3-review/
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