Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time review

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time offers an opportunity to revisit Level-5’s life simulation RPG series. The original Fantasy Life debuted on the Nintendo 3DS in 2014, and earning a cult following for its unique take on open-world role-playing.

Fans have begged for a sequel for years, and after a decade of anticipation, Level-5 has finally delivered with The Girl Who Steals Time. This follow-up not only sustains the series’ skill blend of combat, crafting, and simulated socializing, but also brings the experience to a larger number of hardware platforms. Now, those with a PlayStation, Xbox, or PC owners can savor Level-5’s cheery optimism right alongside Nintendo owners.

Succinct, Yet Spirited Storytelling

Fantasy Life I follows the story of a customizable adventurer who sets sail to explore a mysterious, uncharted island. Alongside an archaeologist named Edward and Trip, an avian sidekick, your ship’s trajectory is guided by the brilliant green light emanating from the dinosaur fossil on the top deck. Following an unexpected confrontation by a Dark Dragon, the relic awakens, unveiling a Bone Dragon. After attempting to thwart the attack, the fearless fossil is forced to flee, while Edward’s fate is uncertain. You’re tasking making it off the island, which means tackling a multitude of different role-playing vocations, from hunter to tailor.

While some might assume the cartoonish looking characters signal this is for a younger demographic, Level-5’s other components ensure that audiences of all ages should be enamored. Cutscenes are framed with the expertise of a veteran cinematographer. From fly-overs that hint at the scope of Fantasy Life I’s worlds to stunning perspective shots, it’s evident that someone at Level-5 is a hardcore film buff. This is accompanied by a consistently stirring soundtrack with contributions from Nobuo Uematsu. Just try not to smile at the swell that accompanies the opening logo reveal. And try to keep an eye dry when Fantasy Life divulges Trip’s backstory. Best of all, the game’s localization preserves the occasional bits of hilarity.

The Girl Who Steals Time Could Pilfer Your Recreational Hours

However, don’t expect many of the traditional role-playing trappings. Although the subtitle hints at some of the game’s mysteries and motivations, plot definitely takes a backseat to play. And instead of facing adversity head-on with an inventory of augmented stats, progression is rooted in assisting the island of Ginormosia’s numerous NPCs. But players who appreciate light life-sims like Animal Crossing and Story of Seasons are likely to get hooked on Fantasy Life. It’s the type of experience where you’ll feel gratification by jumping in for an hour each day.

Play is rooted in the property’s distinctive “Lives” system. Here, you’re largely free to jump between fourteen different jobs that range from hunting and mining to cooking and carpentry. Wisely, the single-player game encourages players to switch between Lives freely. There’s a clever cycle of interdependent activities with Blacksmiths forging weapons for Mercenaries or Cooks counting on resources from an Angler. The interconnected progression system regularly rewards players for mastering multiple skills, unlocking new recipes, tools, or skills. But you’re not just the new town servant. While Fantasy Life can’t match the scope of Animal Crossing, you can create and customize your own humble homestead.

While interacting and assisting Ginormosia’s populace is pleasing, there are a few minor shortcomings to Fantasy Life. Combat provides players with different kinds of weapons, skills, and rewards those who execute a well-timed dash. But it’s merely competent, rather than truly riveting. Likewise, the mini-games that accomplish crafts are easily accomplished as you follow on-screen prompts for button taps and holds. A fast-travel system eventually opens up in the game’s third chapter. By that time, you’ll be tired of sprinting from one quest to another.

Multiple Lives, But Focused on Individual Play

Although The Girl Who Steals Time is a thoroughly engaging single-player experience, a number of puzzling constraints hampers some of the multiplayer enjoyment. From the inability to make any character or world progress to a time restraint for dungeons and farming, it’s clear that Level-5 wanted to safeguard the game’s campaign from duplicitous actions. Following the latest patch, multiplayer still feels a bit restrictive, but it’s evident that the developers are working toward creating a balance.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a requite experience fans of the original and newcomers alike. With a wealth of content build around the game’s inspired Lives system and thoroughly charming interactions with NPCs, this is undoubtedly one of the year’s better RPG experiences. While the multiplayer component feels underdeveloped the game shines in its halcyon celebration of everyday accomplishments and the joy of mastering skills at your own pace. From the Dark Cloud games, Rogue Galaxy, to Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, Level-5 has crafted several masterpieces. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time sustains the Fukuoka-based studio’s legacy.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.