Granblue Fantasy: Relink review

Move over, Monster Hunter. Relink’s fluid combat and assistive allies make taking down those towering baddies a pure delight.

First announced in 2016, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has faced several worrisome complications. Scheduled to arrive amidst the 2018 Tokyo Game Show, the title was delayed three different times. In 2019, the collaboration between PlatinumGames and Cygames splintered, with the latter taking control of all development duties. But like some of Relink’s stunning battles, where a party of plucky adventures takes down a daunting foe the size of a skyscraper, Osaka Cygames has beaten the odds in brilliantly spectacular fashion.

What’s especially remarkable about this action role-playing game isn’t the obvious things. Yes, it succeeds at all the fundamentals. With its personality-driven storyline engaging action and visuals that whisk you through stunning looking skyworlds, Relink is built on rock-solid foundations. However, it’s the small but clever details that truly elevate the title, making Relink a joy to play.

Many Shades of Blue

When it comes to plot, Relink’s storyline isn’t overly complex. Built around the lore established by the property’s gacha roots, the preface introduces players to several key cast members. Identified as either Gran or Djeeta (depending on your gender selection), lead character “The Captain” is typically the focus throughout the adventure. Although the protagonist’s personality has a bit of malleability, a few too many dialog choices only ask if you want to advance the plot.

After emerging from an intense storm in the Grandcypher skyship, the Captain engages in a bit of banter with each character. And it’s immediately evident that this is a likable cast that you’ll want to spend the next thirty hours with. Yet, Cygames understands that players might not be familiar with the crew. Not only does the game provide a glossary that explains Granblue terminology, but later you’ll be able to complete quests that provide a backstory from each character’s point of view. Interestingly, these narratives are all over the emotional spectrum, balancing cheerful tales with a few that are poised to pull at the heartstrings.

A Rousing Adventure

But The Captain’s chats are cut short by an assault of airborne creatures. Attempting to do her part to offset the attack, a young girl named Lyria summons Bahamut to fight the assailants. After defeating these enemies, the mighty creature begins attacking the Grandcypher, shredding the vessel to pieces. The bulk of Relink’s playtime centers on discovering why these entrusted guardians have turned chaotic. Cults and a tendency for dogmatism are touched on, but largely Relink isn’t interested in pointing fingers. Instead, the game favors cultivating a bit of intrigue, providing a spotlight for the game’s assemblage of personalities to shine. And here’s another ingenious idea: if you want to skip the cutscenes, Relink offers a short synopsis of what you’ll miss.

Satisfyingly, the game’s action matches the quality of the characterization. When you begin a new campaign, you’ll be able to select from three difficulty levels. There’s a commendable range here, with Relink’s combat scaling from tranquil all the way up to taxing. Character-specific movesets are rooted in light and heavy attacks while special abilities are mapped to a trigger-hold and face button combination. Regardless of character, Relink manages to keep the cooldowns quick and the animations flashy. Occasionally, the title channels the energy of a fight sequence in a shōnen anime.

Mastering the Arts

Some of this visual spectacle happens during Burst and Skybound Arts. The former becomes available once a gauge fills, triggering a character-specific but universally helpful ability. In execution, Burst Arts deliver graphical dazzle – especially when your AI assistants have their meters maxed out as well, joining in on the action. Skybound Arts also give your monitors a robust workout, with a press of both analog sticks triggering a succession of intense attacks, as characters call out the name of the next ally in line.

Here, Cygames doesn’t miss an opportunity for expositional detail, with feisty young mage Io responding to her turn with a self-protective, “I know!” Delightfully, that’s not the only instance of character developer that pokes out from the usual structure. Chapters occasionally make detours, so a quest to rescue hostages might evolve into an incursion on a goblin base. Although you’re customarily chasing down the next waypoint on a map, the flow is more organic than most action titles.

Fighting as a Team

Routinely, games that try to cultivate a sense of synergy with CPU-controlled teammates falter. But save for some late-game showdowns that push the artificial intelligence past its limits, Relink does a great job of imitating playing with humans. Typically, if you’re low on health, a healer will offer rejuvenation. And when you’re cornered, allies attempt to lure the opponent away. While you’ll probably yearn to switch freely between characters, Cygames wants you to role-play as a single party member, continuously collaborating with your partners.

As you make your way through Relink’s chapters, you’ll gradually unlock additional quests that can be tackled online with fellow humans. A bit of day-one co-op revealed lag-free interaction which played remarkably close to the game’s single-player game. Yes, we’ve finally reached a point where the behaviors of bots and people are truly beginning to blur. And given the ability to have input in ally behavior, soloists shouldn’t be put off by Relink’s team-based action.

A Protracted Sense of Progression

Naturally, progression is sufficiently rewarded, providing Mastery Points that can be used to unlock nodes on a sprawling skill tree. One downside here is that the dividends are rather incremental, offering a modest stat boost or a slight upgrade to elemental resistance. Thankfully, there’s none of that micro-transaction nonsense, but Relink’s gacha heritage is palpable. Fortunately, the process of slotting in weapon sigils is a bit more fulfilling. These upgrades offer a bit more versatility, with players able to utilize multiple sigils to complement their preferred play style.

But any missteps are largely overpowered by Relink’s rich artistry. Flaunting charming character designs, sinuous animation, and plush environments that plunge the traditional 2D property into the third dimension, the title consistently indulges the eyes. Nobuo Uematsu’s presence on the music team proves just as powerful, with Relink providing everything from tranquil melodies that accompany exploration to mighty battle anthems that inject urgency into the boss battles.

Conclusion

Given the industry’s current affection for live service and micro-transaction-laden experiences, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a cobalt-colored sky offering a refreshing reprieve from a period of grey dreariness. Here’s an action role-playing game that delivers a sense of adventure, filled with warm characters and the fulfillment of being part of a team.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.