Sword & Fairy: Together Forever | PS4

Hyped or not some games have a lot to live up to due to anticipation, especially when it's a game not typically seen in a certain region of the world. Games like "Sword & Fairy: Together Forever", for example, have a lot to gain or a lot to lose depending on audience favor. Being a part of the social gaming scene I can tell you now that the hype for this title is set pretty high, and has been from the start. People I follow have been singing it's praises, and anxiously awaiting it's launch since it was first announced. Personally, I was one of those gamers. I tend to seek out games, as a reviewer, which I believe have what it takes to impress. Something worth writing home about. Sometimes I get it wrong despite that natural ability to sift through BS though, and find myself deeply disappointed alongside everyone else. 

To that end I'm oddly in a tug-of-war of thoughts with this one after having played it, and experienced it first hand. I find myself neck deep in a love & hate relationship with the game, and therein lies my dilemma. Before I get too far ahead of myself please allow me to properly introduce you to "Sword & Fairy: Together Forever" ...

This entry in the Sword & Fairy series is not what you'd call a first game by any stretch of the imagination. In fact I think it's about seven games in, if I'm not mistaken. Hailing from a long ongoing franchise that has just now left the shores of it's origin country for us here in the West. Although it is not the first it is still standalone enough to carry itself for new players without leaving them left out. The game is steeped in rich Chinese lore, and mythology that is explained well enough through the given context and character relations without being overly heavy handed. Incorporating demons, mythical creatures, deities, and those of influence from the dynastic human world in climactic clash of interests. The storytelling, which is told through cinematics and dialogue, goes balls to the wall from the start only to stop shortly thereafter to create a more slow burning, linear, and methodical journey in which key characters, and situations are introduced. Ascending and descending in roller coaster fashion to fit the urgency, and laxness of the situations going forward. 

When the game opens up we find Xie Wu, a sword toting divine immortal, running hastily from the pursuit of an army of winged Garuda commanded by their King as he tries to carry out orders bestowed upon him by Lord Aoxu. Those orders aren't made clear initially, but within the span of that introductory sequence of events we realize Xie's mission is one of dire importance. This is later eluded to after his narrow escape from the demon realm, and his fall into the human realm.

Switching from Xie, to Yue Qingshu we find a sect that she is a part of at odds with rival sects. Going about her daily life unaware of what is about to transpire. Through Yue's fated discovery of a marked mystery fruit while dealing with violent beasts a series of events unfurls leading to her, and Xie's story intertwining. Through the chance meeting of a chosen child named Zidiq they find themselves in the midst of a war where Heaven Demons are intent on invading the human realm for reasons unknown. Standing between them and that endgame is the chosen child who acts as a vessel for Lord Aoxu. That, and a sect leader and chosen child caretaker who seems to have questionable motives regarding the child. It isn't until Yue, Xie, the sect leader, and Zidiq cross paths that things begin to become clearer, and as things are made more clear more characters tag along for the ride. Together battling a situation that may or may not be what it seems.

When it comes to characters that you control you will be controlling multiple characters in a swappable party sense that plays into the combo and ability based combat. These characters come into control in due time aligning with their roles in the plot. At first you'll control Xie as he deals with the Garuda, then Yue as she does fetch quests and mission quests to forward the story from her viewpoint. After that they team up only to later be joined by yet another female, Bai Moqing and her male sect partner Sangyou. Each character being able to set up to eight quick access abilities to compliment their unique weapon based fighting styles while switching on the fly, mid-combat. 

The characters along for the ride play similarly to one another though their combos, and abilities differ as do their weapons, and gear. Xie, for example, is a heavy sword wielder with longer combo strings and holy attack spells. Whereas Yue deals more in a mixture of sword, and thunder/healing magic. Using her abilities to heal, or sick her bird friend Qaoling and it's thunder attacks on foes. Of course other characters will join, and it is with those characters that you will take on mobs of enemy creatures as well a bosses with their elementally aligned, and MP dependent abilities. Attacks and combos, of the melee kind, are more or less a combination of light and heavy attacks in mixed and matched strings. Leaving the ability to jump, do aerial combos, and dodge to the other face buttons assigned for the tasks. Weapon combat, as it were, is basic, but advanced enough to add a variety of options for approach. Leaving learned abilities gained through leveling up to be the source for more substantial effect.

In accordance to world traversal Xie, Yue, and the gang will be tasked with meeting, and doing quests for key characters and NPCs in different realms. In the human realm, in particular, Yue can take on side quests which will have her basically running errands to kill lesser enemies, or collecting items and returning them to the one she did the quest for. Xie on the other hand is the tag along partner with brute force benefits, and is more there for the action than the quests. Same goes for Bai and Sangyou. As these characters do what's required of them, be it fighting evil, protecting the chosen one, or dealing with their own issues, there will be cinematic cutscene transitions where the story plays out in real time, and the plot thickens on their collective behalf. Allowing you to do the missions and side quests first while resting a moment for a cutscene only to get back in the battle thereafter. Rinse and repeat. The gameplay loop itself is not unlike an MMORPG, and is definitely structured like one. Ditching the more traditional JRPG formula for a more to the point means of character and story building.

As one might expect questing and cinematics within this Sword & Fairy entry is not all you'll be tuning in for. There are mini-games hosted by resident radishes that will have you doing everything from solving environmental puzzles for rewards or playing the official in-game Sword & Fairy card game. Named something else, of course. As you level up, and find new gear for your characters you'll also come across spirit fruit which will play into the game's spirit guardian upgrade system. Allowing you to feed, pet, and battle your collected spirits. Through those actions enhancing character attributes, and abilities. 

Speaking of said spirits, Qaoling, is beautiful! So said my littlest niece who stood in my doorway watching me play. Kudos to the developer for adding such a beautiful creature to the game. It put a smile on a little girls'' face, and my own as well. That aside Qaoling acts as a transformative spirit guardian that changes from a pudgy little flying floof to a more mature and giant ride for Yue, and company. In fact you can fast travel via the map using Qaoling as transport, and boy let me tell you what. When you see that loading screen with Qaoling in the sky ... Heaven, my friends, Heaven. Bless that bird. With each new spirit guardian you win over to your side comes new abilities. Both in the battle oriented kind, and the traversal kind. They act as an extension of the main characters, and compliment them, perfectly.

For those looking to delve deeper into the Sword & Fairy mythos will be glad to know that the developers have included an all encompassing library made accessible via the options menu. With each new event, enemy defeated, character introduced, item collected, and location explored new entries will be opened up to better explain those things in context with the world of Sword & Fairy. That along with the cutscene inclusive gallery made available at the main menu gives the player access to the full experience's offerings well after the game has been beat, and during that journey.

The Dilemma ...

Now for that dilemma I mentioned earlier ... Those trailers EastAsiaSoft shared paint this game in a false positive light. By that I mean these graphics are not that great. There's tons of glitching, stuttering, pop-ins & outs, visual distortions, and stuff that really distracts from what a great game this could have been. Furthermore the audio is fairly bad at times, itself. Creating a staticky effect, and audible delay when it comes to things like combat sounds. Everything from the story to the characters is amazing though. It's something I'd love to play through and witness in a more polished version with more modern graphics, and sound. Sadly, that's not what you get here. Not by a longshot. If it weren't for that you can bet your bottom dollar this would get a "must buy" from me. That having been said I don't think the developer is going to be able to remedy all this game's visual, and audio problems though. I think it would take a massive overhaul to get it up to Western Triple A standards. Do note that the game has been updated a few times prior to launch, and will likely get more updates if the reception is less than stellar.

The Verdict ...

It's tough sometimes. This job. There's the occasional game that happens by every once in a while that is both good, and bad all at once. Creating a situation where the game reviewer has to assess the fact that the game in question has profoundly good points that you don't want to overlook, and profoundly bad issues that can't be ignored. This game is that game. It has the perfect story, storytelling, and characters. Delivers well on all those points, but falls apart at the visual and audio angle. I wish I could recommend this game for the good it offers, because that good is REALLY good, but I can't. The game is broken. It's a mess of a game to look at, and functionally flawed at times as well. If by some miracle this game can get a visual upgrade then I'll redact that statement, and go all in on a positive recommendation. Until then though expect to be disappointed. Thus is the dangers of misplaced hype. Truly sad to see.