Digimon Story Time Stranger continues the Digimon Story games series almost seven years later and has become one of the best ever!
Digimon Story Time Stranger continues the Digimon Story series, the last installment of which, Cyber Sleuth, was released around seven years ago. Cyber Sleuth ranks “Very Positive” on Steam with 90% positive user reviews, making it a real success. Time Stranger now aims to build on this success and perhaps even improve on it. The sequel has been available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series since October 2, and we had the opportunity to check out the game. In this review, you’ll find out what we think.
Phase Electron Life Forms
At the beginning of the game, we first choose one of the two protagonists. We have the choice between Dan Yuki, the male character, and Kanan Yuki, the female counterpart. So we don’t create our own character, but choose one of the two pre-made characters mentioned above. This didn’t bother us, but we know that many players value starting games with their own creations. Once the choice is made, we start the game.
We are agents of the ADAMAS Special Investigation Bureau and are conducting a dialogue with Inori Misono. You will find out why the NPC’s name is important later on. We then travel back in time to Tokyo before the city became the scene of a conflict between Digimon. Here we meet Inori Misono again, who at this point still knows nothing about the “phase electron life forms,” as Digimon are called in technical jargon. Most others also do not yet know that these digital life forms exist—and that the real world is connected to the digital world. We can already see that the plot could take on complex features.
Complex, rewarding story
Since we have known about the existence of Digimon for quite some time, dealing with them is much easier for us. Inori, on the other hand, is still naive and rescues an Elecmon, which soon evolves into Aegiomon. This is how our journey begins, as we learn more and more about the past and try to save our world in the future. The Titans, a faction in the game, want to destabilize Digimon society and take revenge for a curse that weighs heavily on them. In the process, we also learn more and more about the ADAMAS, Inori’s past, and, of course, the secrets of Aegiomon.
These three levels of the plot provide a lot of input at the beginning of Digimon Story Time Stranger that we first have to understand. Once we get through that, however, the game unfolds into a beautifully told and sometimes emotional story that we didn’t see coming. The same applies to the credibility of the world we inhabit. The whole thing is not limited to the Digiworld, which seems incredibly believable, but we also travel through Shinjuku, for example, and are among humans instead of digital life forms.
Complete data set
The highlight, however, is the time spent in the Digiworld, as each region is varied and believable. Not only do we see beautiful landscapes, but we can also watch the Digimon go about their activities and simply let ourselves relax. Every NPC in the world seems to belong there and doesn’t feel like a placeholder thrown in to fill the scenery. This gives us the feeling that we want to see what the next area looks like and which Digimon we will encounter there. The urge to explore and discover is therefore fully addressed.
In the course of the game, we repeatedly encounter Digimon that we know from the anime adaptations, for example, but also those that are less well known. However, this does not only apply to “meeting” the creatures, but also to us. We can catch different Digimon and add them to our team. In the course of the game, we have to engage in turn-based battles again and again. If we win these, we receive data on the monsters we defeat, and as soon as the data set reaches 100% – the maximum for each Digimon is 200% – we can convert it and use it.
Rock-paper-scissors
As already mentioned, battles are turn-based. This means that there is a turn order in which the various creatures take their turns and can make their moves. Battles are fought according to a rock-paper-scissors system, which takes into account the type (e.g., virus), the damage type (e.g., physical), and the element. This gives the battles a certain depth and means they are not just a matter of firing off random attacks. Especially later on and in boss battles, it is important to use the system to your advantage. Boss battles also have their own systems, such as the break bar, which make the whole thing even more varied.
If you don’t like fighting yourself, you can also let the battles run automatically. However, you should be aware that the most sensible move is not automatically selected. This means that the automatic mode is only recommended for smaller, less important battles. Later on, we also get the option to eliminate weaker opponents immediately without having to start the battle. This not only saves time, but also nerves.
Another important factor in Digimon Story Time Stranger is the digitization of your own monsters. We accompany most of them from their egg stage to their mega form, and we always have various options to choose from. This is because digitization depends on various factors, such as attributes, personality, or special items. For example, Veemon only becomes ExVeemon if it has a certain speed value. If it is equipped with a specific item instead, it becomes Flamedramon.
Conclusion
“Of course, there are always a few things here and there that you think could use some improvement. But overall, Digimon Story Time Stranger is the best Digimon game we’ve had so far. This is not only due to the believable world, which has rarely felt as alive as it does here, but also to the more in-depth combat system, the well-told story, and the well-staged cutscenes. It’s also just fun to build your own team of Digimon and discover new creatures that you may remember from the past. Fans definitely won’t go wrong here, and those who appreciate good RPGs certainly won’t either.“
The review key for the PS5 was kindly provided to us by Bandai Namco.
