This is not how I would normally stage a review. However, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is utterly broken thanks to its scaling system, or rather, lack thereof. I find it impossible to talk about any other part of the game in isolation because the scaling issue impacts literally all of it.
What makes Granblue unique is the fact that while you have a “main” character, you can choose to play as any member of your crew for almost any quest or mission. On the other hand, the mission structure and much of the progression feel very much like a Monster Hunter game. Complete with a central hub, a board of quests to take on, and plenty of weapons to upgrade.
Much like Fallout and the Elder Scrolls, there is a unity in its design that makes every individual mechanic connected. Not necessarily to each other. In fact, sometimes aspects of the game are frustratingly disconnected from each other in irritating ways. But they are a unified part of delivering the overall experience of playing a game where at any given point, you can play it your own way whilst encompassing your vision for your character. There may even be a term for it, something called, a role-playing game?
Storytelling is an aspect of games that falls a little low on the list of things that matter to me. While I can enjoy a good story, I’d prefer it in a good book or movie. I like games, to be games first and foremost. Yet, there is one type of storytelling that I can’t resist, the kind that isn’t written yet.