Artifact Adventure Gaiden DX

I mean, I both do, and yet don't recommend this game. On the one hand, it is a decent RPG with an excellent DMG vibe. On the other, it feels sort of like Half Minute Hero with the combat. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but to me it is. I like Bump Combat, love Ys. I love the OG FFL games and still play through them regularly, super nice having those on my Switch. I am giving it a thumbs up, because everything is fine, I just personally do not intend to finish the game or the original version, basically leaving this same review on both. Shame really, had I played this several years ago, I likely would have absorbed it. It's not you, it's me.

Worth it big time, even at full price. I have more hours on file than shown, as I own the original black and white version of AAG as well. "Gather your party and explore an open world." They're big statements, this game looks very simple, at first glance it may look simple and shallow but as soon as you start the game up you'll find a lot of depth. You get to bring various people along with you on your adventure and some of these (most notably, the ones at the very beginning of the game) party members really modify the way you approach the game. There's a dude who can join you who's like "Yeah I'm pretty useless but check it out I'm rich af and I own an air ship so choose me" I really like the story... I don't know how to explain it it just seems to get the feel just right, maybe it's in the dialogue. The combat is really fun, at first it'll seem really easy to bulldoze but quickly it'll ramp up. So pick those allies wisely.

Artifact Adventure Gaiden DX, developed by bluffman and published by PLAYISM and Gamirror Games, is a retro-styled RPG that takes inspiration from early handheld adventures while quietly reshaping their formula through a strong emphasis on player freedom and experimentation. At first glance, its Game Boy-inspired visuals and straightforward interface suggest a simple throwback, but the game quickly reveals a design philosophy that prioritizes choice, non-linearity, and replayability over a tightly scripted experience. It is less about following a predetermined journey and more about crafting your own path through a loosely structured world. The premise centers around an impending disaster set to occur within a fixed timeframe, giving the player a broad objective without dictating how to achieve it. From the beginning, you are free to assemble a party from a variety of characters, each bringing unique abilities and strengths, and then explore the world at your own pace. There is no strict order in which areas must be visited, and quests can often be approached in multiple ways or even ignored entirely. This open-ended structure creates a sense of agency that is rare in traditional …

Artifact Adventure Gaiden DX is a charming little retro RPG with a big promise. With its open-ended nature, its quests with multiple solutions, and its fun array of gear/customization options, this is truly a game you won't play the same way twice. The plot of AAGDX is simple. The king of Regulus has had some kind of prophetic vision of world-ending disaster. To that end, he's placed all his faith in one person: you. To that end, you're invited to wander the kingdom, level up and find gear, and otherwise steel yourself for the journey into darkness. But why would the king choose you so? Perhaps you'll find out along the way... Before you go, though, you're encouraged to form a party with one of three "distinguished individuals", and two of six other volunteers found around the castle. These people don't join you directly in battle, but confer passive bonuses and perhaps starting skills. Battles are played out in real time on a 2D battlefield; your character stands there, weapon poking out in front of them, and to attack, you move left/right and jump to ram that weapon directly into the enemy. You can also equip three active skills with varying effects and independent cooldown…

https://youtu.be/TrCZJyl81vU Improving on the original in numerous ways for quality of live and combat power is good, but does expose combat to be more of a time sink than rewarding system in it's own right.

Incredible world to explore, with neat arcadey combat. From the trailer I was initially a bit skeptical, but really glad I got it. I've actually bought this twice, just to support the dev.