GOD EATER 3
A new AGE is dawning
Leaving the world’s salvation to a group of troubled teens is nothing new in the world of videogames; the message that you can overcome anything if you stick with your friends and don’t be a jerk should be valued, however cheesy. But while the angsty teen trope certainly isn’t exclusive to storydriven titles, it’s a comparison that’s hard to shake when playing God Eater 3. While the plot is more than sufficient to draw you in, it’s disappointing that the missions don’t build on that initial excitement when the story begins to open up, and instead settle for the ‘run around corridors until you find something to kill’ formula. The gameplay focuses on smacking monsters around with oversized weapons in the most flashy and efficient way possible. Fans of the series will be familiar with the postapocalyptic tale that centres on the fight against the Aragami (essentially powerful deities).
Before you begin, you’ll need to create your character, who has a pleasing number of gravitydefying hairstyles in a variety of colours. You play as an AGE (Adaptive God Eater), a human with high resistance to the corrosive ash of the Ashlands, and advanced combat abilities, as well as questionable wardrobe choices. You’d think these individuals would be worshipped for the services they provide but instead, they’re considered dangerous – locked up and restrained until their skills are called upon.
Each mission has a time limit, and on completion you’re rewarded with a ranking based on performance. You can embark on these missions with up to three of your AI companions (you’ll recruit more as you progress) or later by teaming up with other players via matchmaking. You’ll also gather crafting materials from various corners of the map, as well as from defeated Aragami.
FIT TO BURST
Time between missions sees you interacting with other characters until you find the one that will trigger the next series of story events. This can get tiresome, especially as your default walk is painfully slow, forcing you to hold down the dash button if you want to move around with any speed. Still, it’s a good opportunity to get to know your companions or marvel at how Hilda can possibly stay warm in such a ridiculously skimpy top.
While the missions retain much of their original simplicity, the combat is fastpaced and complex. You can switch between melee and ranged weapons on the fly and use a variety of attacks both on the ground and in the air. The customisation options are perfect for setting up a build that suits your playstyle but so much choice is almost overwhelming. The combat takes time to get used to, but if you can grit your teeth through the annoying sound your character makes after getting knocked down yet again, it’s well worth the effort.
VERDICT
“FOCUSES ON SMACKING MONSTERS AROUND WITH OVERSIZED WEAPONS.”
Fans of the God Eater series won’t be disappointed. Fun, fast-paced fighting – if you put in the effort to master the complexities of the combat system. Sarah James