How many games let you eat some tasty gods?
Gods Eater Burst has got to be one of the oddest titles in a long time for a video game. The box art is equally as busy and … interesting but don’t let that hide this addictive PSP experience. In the vein of Monster Hunter, Gods Eater Burst puts gamers in control of a custom created character tasked with saving the remnants of humanity and doing mucho weapon and equipment customization while killing monsters, in this case ones called Aragami. What makes Burst an enjoyable gaming experience, let’s take a look.
Gameplay – The Gods players must eat and burst (?) are called Aragami. These Gods come in a variety of sizes and powers and must be defeated with special weapons called God Arc. Gamers assume the role of their designed character as a member of Fenrir, a task force who wield these weapons to take on Aragami and protect humanity. As a game it boils down to leveling up your character, improving their weapons and taking on missions. There is a single-player mode but the fun resides in battling with buddies and continuing to level up, improve your character. The action is third-person and battles can be ranged with the weapons component of the God Arc or up close with its sword/melee abilities. The customization is key as gamers can work with weapons, guns, bullets, skills and shields to customize to no end. Throw this into 225 missions, 47 enemy types and tons of anime style cut scenes that have a very Persona feel, and gamers have one beastly gaming experience with no end in sight.
Graphics – The anime scenes are great and they have a very Persona, slick feel to them that just begs for a longer anime story. The in-game graphics feel pulled from the Persona series also and while it gets the job done there are better textures on the PSP. The custom characters and weapons look solid as do the Gods that need some bursting and eating but this whole post-apocalyptic setting, been there, done that. Bland. A good looking game that’s above middle-ground but not quite up to the level seen by titles such as those put out by Square Enix or Sony.
Sound – Voice work, when used, is solid and the battle sounds are well done as well. The soundtrack moves the action along but as the game progress it gets lost in the background. Not bad, not memorable, just there.
Design – The comparisons to Persona also extend to the slick character design which just looks rock solid. The amount of customization available is outstanding and while the levels are a bit drab the monster variety is pretty sweet, odd, but sweet. The addictive gameplay is the best piece of this games design in the hours lost adventuring and upgrading. The gun/sword evokes memories of Final Fantasies past and makes the gamer more than just a close or long range fighter.
Miscellaneous – The comparisons to Monster Hunter are very accurate in relaying the overall experience, yet for all the success of these style games in Japan, they still have trouble catching on here. There are differences in gaming taste from shore to shore but when gameplay is so solid one has to question why the lack of success? Marketing, system penetration, preference; yup, open to debate.
Overall Gods Eater Burst offers up hours of addictive gameplay with solid graphics, decent sound and an anime style that will attract a certain gaming group. It’s success in Japan is the main reason gamers are seeing it here in the States but know this, don’t miss out on Burst if MMO’s and games like Monster Hunter joyed you. Solid portable gaming, period.
