13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim

[zztop]

Spoiler for Cover art:

Other title : 十三機兵防衛圏
Developer : Vanillaware
Publisher : Atlus
JP site : http://13sar.jp/
EN site : https://atlus.com/13sentinels/lang/en/
Release date : Nov 2019 (JP), Sept 2020 (International)

Vanillaware, the storytellers behind Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown, craft a sci-fi mystery epic spanning thirteen intertwining stories.

Uncover the truth and delve into a 2D sidescrolling adventure featuring gorgeous art and environments. Then, battle the kaiju in fast-paced, top-down combat. Customize the Sentinels with an arsenal of mechsuit weaponry, and fight to defend humanity!

Key Features

- Beautifully rendered in Vanillaware’s signature hand-painted visual style

- Uncover a deep story through visions of the past and the future

- The doomsday clock is ticking. Become a Sentinel pilot, customize your mech, and fight waves of kaiju in top-down tactical combat

Gameplay is a crossgenre mix of adventure sidescrolling interaction, visual novel and RT strategy. Main focus (and praise) is for the adventure story segment. Story mainly takes place in 1985 Japan, but also features different time periods like 1945, 2025, etc.

Voice actors include Shimono Hiro, Tamura Mutsumi, MAO, Uchida Maaya, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, etc.

Sales initially quite poor during the Japanese release, but good word of mouth and endorsements helped propel its domestic sales to really good levels.

Lots of good reviews from Western gaming sites.
Thoughts and opinons?

[shmaster]

The information management and coordination within this game has reached a new height never seen before in a video game.

It really brought me to tears that this level of craftsmanship still exists within the industry.
And definitely one of the few cases that I can say yes, this is exactly how a video game can be art.
It is this narrative style only possible in gaming format. Then combined with jaw dropping and eye blowing level of information management, the narrative finally become something that made me go "This is it1 This is finally it!"

Hopefully Vanillaware can publish their holy bible someday so we can all find out just how exactly they managed to coordinate all this.

[MeoTwister5]

I actually REALLY want to get this game, but with Cold Steel 4 this month I'll probably either get this after that or if it's on sale.

[zztop]

Originally Posted by shmaster

The information management and coordination within this game has reached a new height never seen before in a video game.

It really brought me to tears that this level of craftsmanship still exists within the industry.
And definitely one of the few cases that I can say yes, this is exactly how a video game can be art.
It is this narrative style only possible in gaming format. Then combined with jaw dropping and eye blowing level of information management, the narrative finally become something that made me go "This is it1 This is finally it!"

Hopefully Vanillaware can publish their holy bible someday so we can all find out just how exactly they managed to coordinate all this.

The narrative is somewhat reminiscent of TV shows like Westworld, whose S1-2 had a number of multiple timeline plots throughout its run.

Speaking of narrative style, could the story and narrative be ideal for adaptation to anime format?

[shmaster]

Originally Posted by zztop

The narrative is somewhat reminiscent of TV shows like Westworld, whose S1-2 had a number of multiple timeline plots throughout its run.

Speaking of narrative style, could the story and narrative be ideal for adaptation to anime format?

No, one reason this narrative works so well is because you can choose where you start and the order you play them. With the way the information are gated and how it baits the player, it managed to creates multiple version if misdirection base on the order the player chooses to proceed.
Especially with the power of first impression. It really can affect the player's interpretation of a character.
The information is craftily gated that dispite I pretty much figure out the truth behind the mystery by about 60% into the story. The game still manages to bait me by turning to the puzzle format, in which you know the final picture but still want to know how the pieces are laid.

[zztop]

Originally Posted by shmaster

No, one reason this narrative works so well is because you can choose where you start and the order you play them. With the way the information are gated and how it baits the player, it managed to creates multiple version if misdirection base on the order the player chooses to proceed.
Especially with the power of first impression. It really can affect the player's interpretation of a character.
The information is craftily gated that dispite I pretty much figure out the truth behind the mystery by about 60% into the story. The game still manages to bait me by turning to the puzzle format, in which you know the final picture but still want to know how the pieces are laid.

Ah well, one can dream.

That being said, apparently Dengeki Comics released a manga anthology of 13 Sentinels. Looks to be a SOL anthology.
https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322005000576/

Maybe given time, they might order a manga adapation of the game story itself. Like how Atelier Ryza just got a manga.

[shmaster]

Oh yes! Oh yessss!!!! Vanilla Ware is going to release their holy bible on November!!!
YESYESYESYES!!!!!!!

[FlareKnight]

Honestly I don't know if this story could work in any other way then as a game. The time you can spend and spend as you please makes it work. You can have everyone be their own main character because you can take time after switching to settle in and easily check on little details.

And work it did. Honestly this was legitimately a great game. One of the better ones we've gotten this year. The story and how they told it just works. There's always a layer of mystery in wondering what is going on and having to re-assess what you believe about this show.

Maybe not my absolute favorite of the year, but absolutely in the conversation. This was just excellent.

[MeoTwister5]

Game is like $40 right now on sale. Yay or nay?

[The Green One]

Amazon has this game on a black friday sale for $30 off. I just ordered it.

I really enjoyed Odin Sphere made by this company and while I've never played Dragon's Crown I've heard good things about this one's story.

[MCAL]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Game is like $40 right now on sale. Yay or nay?

Yay. Its worth the price.

[MeoTwister5]

Finally started the game after beating Cold Steel 4. I have to say I'm hooked on the concept of the game, however it also feels a little odd for me since I just beat CS4 and can't remove from the back of my mind the fact that I'm hearing the same voice actors and associating them with their CS4 roles. I'm almost pretty sure I've heard half of Class VII already 2 hours in.

[MeoTwister5]

Me today:

[shmaster]

Only at 30% after a week?

[MeoTwister5]

Eh had other things to do and be distracted with.

[shmaster]

This is something I recommend binging before the narrative charm wore off or forgetting on some plot points.

[Klashikari]

I agree. Considering its narrative and structure, it isn't really a good idea to drag it especially a huge part of the fun and intrigue is to piece things together, moreso when you get revelations back to back. You don't need to binge it within 1-2 days, but you are bound to forget stuff on the long run, especially for characters who have spread screentime (such as Hijiyama).

[MeoTwister5]

In my case I just did as much of Remembrances as I can then pumped up the terminal score bonuses so I could get as much MP as possible.

[The Green One]

Still have to finish cold steel 4 before I get to my copy of this game. If it's as similar to Odins Sphere story wise as it sounds like I want to focus on it once I start.

[MeoTwister5]

Finally done. That was one hell of a ride if I do say so myself. It's pretty difficult for a lot of games to try this multiple perspective mystery narrative to come together in the end, but at the end of it all once all the info came together the story clicked together beautifully.