Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3

I'm giving all three games in the series the same review because the fundamental structure, graphics, and gameplay are virtually identical, except for a few variations as time progresses. I consider these games to be a single story divided into three parts, and they should be played as such. This is a story that starts out simple but goes to places that truly no one (who hasn't played the other games in the Little Tail Bronx project) could have predicted. Few games manage to expand while maintaining coherence across successive chapters, and this series does it very well. If you haven't played Tail Concerto or Solatorobo, certain situations and twists within the Fuga story will be incomprehensible, but I don't recommend searching for further explanations online until you've finished the third game to fully enjoy the crazy stuff that happens. And from the second game on, it only gets more insane. All three games have great replay value and plenty to discover, especially if you're interested in solving all the individual mysteries of the single game and learning more about the characters and the world you'll be taking with you throughout this long story. This is a project (Fug…

A very poor ending to a mediocre trilogy. The gameplay is dumbed down to a point where normal fights are boring and boss fights are annoying. The assist and combo systems are nice ideas, but they turn the game into a "numbers go up" simulator when I'd much rather play an idle game on my phone for the same effect. But the bigger problem? The story. Characters are even more flat and one-note than before. All attempts to build tension (or to shock the player, as shock value is frequently used as a substitute for anything substantial) only highlight the amateur and immature quality of the writing. The pacing is equally terrible, jumping from high-stakes plot beat to high-stakes plot beat and dumping extraordinary amounts of exposition with no regard for letting the player ingest anything. And the plot is, frankly, insulting to the player's time and intellect. I know it's cliche to call this-or-that thing an "insult" in gaming spaces, but some scenes left me frustrated and upset at the choices this cobbled-together "narrative" made. If you want a better version of this game's story, simply watch "The Last: Naruto the Movie". Or, rather, watch a compilation of "hype moments" from Na…

I sincerely cannot recommend this game enough. The combat is engaging, and the story leaves me begging for more.

What. A. Ride. This is less of a review of Fuga 3 and more of a review of the entire trilogy. After completing all 3 Fuga games in quick succession I can confidently say I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and I can see myself revisiting them in the future. The gameplay is very fun and unique! Finding the best combos to use with the children, finding the best strategy to take down a difficult enemy or choosing the best path to take based on your current predicament. All of these mechanics are all very satisfying to master. The art style is gorgeous and evolves with each installment. Offering more detailed sprites, images, even a few simple animations. The children and side characters are memorable, charming, and have fantastic designs. The music is top notch, with a soundtrack that never got even remotely repetitive. And the story was one heck of a ride with several twists and turns I never saw coming. I was on the edge of my seat literally kicking me feet several times throughout this series. All of these things and more were all just fantastic and genuinely made me care for these characters and their world! But the games are not without flaws... First, there is the problem w…

If you enjoyed the second Fuga and want more, this is more. Story is fine. Leaves room for a sequel but also a fine place to stop. Easiest of the trilogy. Recommended for less than $25. Does recycle a lot of stuff from 2.

If you enjoyed the first two games then you'll enjoy this one.