Welcome, fellow gamers, to this comprehensive review of Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness. Developed by Chime Corporation and published by Spike Chunsoft, this 3D action RPG is based on the popular anime and manga series, Made in Abyss. Today, we’ll dive deep into the game’s mechanics, graphics, sound, story, and more to give you a thorough understanding of what it offers.
Gameplay Mechanics – A Mixed Bag
Made in Abyss splits its gameplay into two modes: Hello Abyss, serving as a tutorial, and Deep in Abyss, where players create their own characters and embark on cave raiding adventures. Unfortunately, Hello Abyss has been criticized for being long-winded and poorly designed, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
Deep in Abyss, while presenting an engaging narrative, mainly consists of fetch quests that can become monotonous over time. Players explore fixed dungeon layouts, requiring climbing and rappelling. However, the slow walking and climbing speeds coupled with the “Curse of the Abyss” condition, which inflicts sickness on the player as they ascend from lower depths, can make exploration feel tedious rather than thrilling.
Despite these shortcomings, the game successfully captures the perilous allure of the Abyss. The survival aspects of the game, such as managing hunger and equipment durability, add a layer of tension that keeps players on their toes.
Visuals & Audio – Room for Improvement
Visually, the game’s graphics are mediocre at best. The environments and character models, while decent, suffer from plain textures and minimal shading. The animation lacks fluidity, and the game occasionally struggles with frame rate drops and performance issues.
The audio aspect of the game is also underwhelming. While the voice acting is generally good, the soundtrack is generic and fails to capture the eerie beauty of the Abyss that fans of the anime would expect.
Storyline – A Beacon of Hope
Where the game truly shines is in its narrative. It begins with the meeting of Riko and Reg, marking the start of their adventure. They travel to the Seeker Camp in the second layer of the Abyss, experiencing the Curse of the Abyss and encountering primeval creatures. This part of the game closely follows the anime’s story.
Furthermore, the game introduces a unique storyline that takes place many days after Riko and Reg depart for the Abyss. This story, about the adventures of a nameless Cave Raider in the Abyss, offers content not found in the original series, keeping players intrigued.
Add-on Purchases
While the game does not currently offer any add-on purchases or downloadable content (DLC), potential updates could introduce new characters, storyline expansions, or even cosmetic upgrades for characters, adding value to the gaming experience.
Personal Thoughts & Critiques
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is a game that tantalizes with potential but falls short in execution. Its intriguing premise and narrative connection to the anime are commendable. However, the gameplay mechanics, graphics, and sound design leave much to be desired.
The game could greatly benefit from improvements in these areas. The tutorial sequence should be shortened and made more engaging. The walking and climbing speeds could be increased to make exploration less tedious. The balance of gameplay elements, such as weapon durability and enemy spawns, needs to be revisited. And lastly, a more immersive experience could be achieved with better graphics and sound.
Final Ratings & Recommendations
In conclusion, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness might appeal to hardcore fans of the series, but others may find it more frustrating than fun. For its intriguing premise and narrative connection to the anime, I would give it a 6/10. However, for gameplay, graphics, and sound, it gets a disappointing 4/10. The overall rating stands at a modest 5/10.
This game holds potential, and with some tweaks and improvements, it could offer a much more engaging and enjoyable experience. Nonetheless, it provides a new format for fans to experience the Made in Abyss narrative and offers a glimpse into the world of the Abyss.
That concludes our comprehensive review of Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness. Despite its shortcomings, the game still holds a certain charm for fans of the series and could be a worthwhile experience with some enhancements.
