Chaos is outside. But you already know that, don’t you? ninja team and Square EnixThe latest inexplicable collaboration – Stranger in Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins – Coming soon, tons of reviews from across the industry have gone live today. For a mid-budget Final Fantasy spin-off, the scores are as crazy as you’d expect.
The world is no stranger to Final Fantasy side projects (pun not intended); over the past 30 years we’ve seen fighting games, rhythm games, Monster Hunter clones, RPG experiments, racing cars and god knows what else. Now – finally! – We also have the nifty Final Fantasy ‘soulsborne’ game from Nioh developer Team Ninja.
But can this outsourced experiment in the Final Fantasy series live up to the lofty standards of the main series? Is it right for Square Enix to rent the game out to Team Ninja and let the eccentric developer run wild in its mythology? Well, it depends a lot on who you ask.
There seems to be a more general consensus that the game is a 7/10 – the many reviews listed below suggest it’s done well enough, but definitely not worth it if you’re just looking for a Final Fantasy game (and the rich story that goes with it content level).
But there are some who prefer the title—or less—than that. GamesRadar notes that “low-quality script and poor story” undercut “satisfying combat mechanics” [and] work system,” while RPGSite says it’s “certainly a fun chaotic romp that will delight number crunchers and action RPG fans alike.”
My personal favorite review so far is from Eurogamer, which describes the game as “gorgeous and trashy” and hints at the word soulLite – not the soullike – For this teen type. I like that (just don’t tell the “don’t call it Metroidvania!” crowd).
Take a look at the score roundup below to see if you play it yourself, when Stranger in Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins launches on March 15 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Series X/S Where.
iGamesNews – 3/5: Stranger in Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins is a B-movie game. It’s loud, silly, and fun. If you want to extract joy from its chaotic heart, you’ll have to ignore many — many — problems, but once you commit, play with weapons, penetrate its inexplicable mechanics and forgive Jack’s one-dimensional personality, you’ll get A part Devil May Cry, part Nioh and part Face/Off game. Honestly, who doesn’t want to play?