Granblue Fantasy Relink Palms-On Preview – Developed by Cygames (though Platinum Video games was concerned up till 2019) Granblue Fantasy Relink is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC, with the action-RPG set in the identical realm as the unique title, albeit in a unique location. I used to be fortunate sufficient to go hands-on with the sport, and based mostly on my time with the sport, Granblue Fantasy Relink is shaping up impressively.
One of many first issues I did when beginning my hands-on playtime was load up the choices to examine all of the various things that may be toggled. The sport’s present construct has a 1080p 60 FPS Efficiency Mode, which appears to run fairly easily, however there’s additionally the normal 4K 30 FPS possibility in the event you want to choose this. Granblue Fantasy Relink has a really fast-paced motion, so except you actually need the graphical enhancements I’d in all probability counsel the 60 FPS possibility for many gamers. In fact, that is based mostly on desire and in addition what sort of TV/Monitor you play your video games on.
Granblue Fantasy Relink PS5 Palms-On Preview
Throughout my look by means of the choices I discovered an Help Mode too, although this will solely actually be activated when taking part in on the straightforward setting or when tackling simpler quests. As such, this characteristic looks as if it could possibly be helpful for end-game farming. There’s a easy help which signifies that in the event you pressed the motion button (which is Sq. by default) then the sport would routinely combo enemies for you. In the meantime, a full help mode means that you can simply stroll ahead and have the sport not solely carry out combos, but in addition block, dodge, and so forth. That is good for folks with disabilities and it’s additionally a strong possibility for individuals who may need to grind assets in a while within the recreation.
There’s additionally a toggle for if you need the movement blur on or off, as I do know fairly just a few folks discover movement blur to be an actual ache or simply don’t benefit from the visible impact. I additionally noticed a mode for color blind assist; this had two completely different choices to select from. Assaults similar to within the MMO Ultimate Fantasy XIV are sometimes proven on the bottom to be dodged with a pink circle marker, and so color blind assist will present help right here to make fight extra satisfying. There was additionally an choice to auto skip cutscenes in the event you want to.
I received to expertise just a few cutscenes with my fingers on with Granblue Fantasy Relink, and one of many first issues to search for was if there was an autoplay characteristic. Sure the sport does assist autoplay, so don’t have to hold urgent x in the event you simply wish to sit again and benefit from the dialogue as its voice acted. The sport additionally options in recreation storylog which you’ll be able to entry from the dialogue cutscenes too if you want, so in the event you do wish to scroll up and double examine what was mentioned throughout the cutscene this can be a characteristic you should use. Some phrases are additionally in a yellow font, these phrases are added to a glossary which you too can entry throughout these cutscenes so you possibly can return to examine any key characters,places or different belongings you may not bear in mind or have missed.
Throughout fight, you have got the power to carry as much as 4 completely different gadgets. This stuff may be simply accessed from the d-pad; the default setting has you holding the button to make use of them, which I most well-liked as there’s much less likelihood of unintentionally utilizing an merchandise. After battling a number of enemies, the hyperlink gauge slowly fills up, and as soon as it’s maxed out, you have got the power to do hyperlink expertise with L3+R3 with different members of your staff. I’d counsel when taking part in on-line to try to wait till the opposite social gathering members have additionally received the ability bar prepared. When taking part in with AI, you’ll be able to press the touchpad and Sq. button to find out in the event that they carry out the abilities when the bar is charged or await the remainder of the social gathering. I discovered that you simply additionally appeared to have an additional visitor member be part of a few of your quests additionally, this social gathering member cannot be swapped and is story locked. For the principle story, you might be additionally locked to at all times bringing the principle character too.
Enemies have an elemental weak spot, and every character you carry has a unique function and aspect sort, so it’s finest to try to carry completely different builds to extend your possibilities of staggering your foes. Enemies take extra injury when staggered, so it’s value conserving that in thoughts. This involves one of many largest flaws that I noticed within the preview. You achieve mastery factors for levelling up, for doing quests, and different issues. These factors are then used to improve expertise on every character, however the pool of factors is shared with everybody so it’s important to determine who to provide your factors to.
Now, I don’t know for sure if different characters that be part of your social gathering later have factors to spend, but when not, this might show fairly irritating. If in case you have invested 15-plus hours into a personality you type of like, however then a brand new character joins that’s somebody you want to change to, it’ll be a ache having to grind as much as catch that individual with the present staff. I used to be additionally instructed that there shall be no solution to respec the characters, so you can not simply reset the factors whole (hopefully this will change sooner or later).
The mastery tree has two completely different pathways to go down at first – offensive and defensive – with each having distinctive expertise for every character within the recreation. As well as, these are complemented by some fundamental nodes resembling elevated HP, assault, hyperlink ability fee and others. I discovered that some expertise had been locked until you accomplished chapter 5, so that you couldn’t scroll all the way in which down till progressing additional within the story.
The preview additionally gave me entry to the sport’s essential hub city. Pleasingly, the city is a hive of exercise and genuinely feels alive with so many various NPCs doing their chores and going about their enterprise, from young children to random folks chattering away within the background. Among the many highlights I noticed embody among the youngsters coaching with wood swords, whereas different NPCs had been indulging in a spot of fishing too. I did truly ask the sport’s director if they’d be including a fishing mini recreation, however there’s no plans to take action proper now.
Whereas within the city you have got entry to many various outlets, resembling a blacksmith, which can be utilized to improve sigils. Sigils are equipment in one of the best ways I can describe them that improve sure stats or traits on your character; one will increase the quantity of potions you may carry at a time, whereas one other provides HP buffs, and are additionally used to improve weapons. Elsewhere, gamers can promote trash gadgets to the blacksmith. Moreover, when out on a quest,, you have got entry to a save crystal at factors; these crystals restore well being however additionally they give entry to the blacksmith and different outlets within the city.
General I had a very nice expertise with the sport, and I can’t wait until its launch in February to leap proper again into the world. With its numerous set of characters, environments and gameplay assaults I can’t wait to discover Granblue Fantasy Relink.
Granblue Fantasy Relink is due for launch on February 1, 2024 for PS5, PS4, and PC. I’d additionally like to increase my due to the fantastic folks at Cygames for the invitation to play the sport!