Listener Review: Cross Edge by Tomarcus

PS Nation Listener Reviews are (surprise!) game reviews submitted by our listeners. We don’t always have time to read every review we receive so we’re happy to finally be able to share them. Please note the views expressed within are not those of the PS Nation hosts or staff. Reviews are normally posted as submitted, but may be slightly edited for readability. We are not responsible for your bad grammar. ^__-

Does this review look familiar? It can also be heard as a Text to François Review in Episode 117 of the podcast!

“Cross Edge is an unprecedented collaboration between five major game publishers from Japan. Nippon Ichi Software, Capcom, Namco Bandai, Gust, and Idea Factory have joined forces to create a Strategy RPG unlike any other. Cross Edge features characters and storylines from popular franchises including: Darkstalkers, Disgaea, Mana Khemia, and Spectral Souls. Cross Edge is action-packed with memorable characters, amazing items, and over-thetop battles to deliver an once-in-a-lifetime gaming experience.” (http://ps3.ign.com/objects/142/14252543.html)

Based off of what IGN.com said, I will chirp in with my own thoughts on the game. The basis of Cross Edge is that 5 worlds have come together. You start off with the characters York and Miko, who find a character May who says that she was waiting for you and explains more of the game. There is a large cast of characters, which is great, but it causes you to overlook many good characters. Also, some events call for the use of certain characters, and this will make you realize that outside of your main group, it is very difficult to keep a good balance. There are Party Points, which can be used to upgrade stats. You get these points by leveling up and by fighting bosses, obtaining titles, etc. My biggest problem with this system is that the points each character gets by leveling are theirs only, but the points for other events are up for grabs, which leads to more stat imbalances. If I have 88 Party Points, and I use them to power up on characters stats, then they are used and everyone else only has the points from leveling. Cross Edge has a semi-complex battle system that when mastered, becomes quick and easy. However, there is a good deal of clutter, so it is not the most newbie-friendly game. Also, there is a good deal of lag at the start of battles, that paired with frame rate lag, makes you wonder why there is such a large install. The combat system will take too long to explain is detail, so here is a simplified explanation. Battles take place on a 3×4 grid, and you place characters accordingly. Enemies are set up in a similar fashion. You have a certain amount of AP and time, the AP is what determines how many attacks you can do, as all attacks have an AP cost. The time is just how much time in between attacks you have to keep a chain going. Also, you have an EX gauge, that allows you to use an EX attack. The EX attacks are more powerful than regular attacks, but they also use about 3 times more AP. There are different types of breaks you can do to cause more damage as well. Also if you do a certain amount of damage past taking an opponents health to 0, then you cause an overkill. Killing enemies by overkilling them causes them to drop rare items that are important with augmenting your weapons and with synthesis. Also, as a bit of advice, it is near impossible to play the game by just going the all out assault route. I tried this for a while, and it would take too many hours of grinding.

The game is mainly going around using a search function to find souls that are scattered amongst the map. Searching does get tedious, also you have to go back to older zones to find all the souls in the game. Souls give you items, initiate side events or main story events. Although this may not be a good thing for all, I really loved the fact that the game takes place on an over world map. This may just be due to the fact that I am a HUGE Final Fantasy nerd… Anyway, You have a little hexagon that changes from blue to red, when it turns red, you initiate a battle. Also, searching will speed up the process. After each fight, you health and status returns to fill, unless you were killed in a battle, then you have to use a revive item in a battle or do it in one of the huts. The huts are what you enter to buy and sell items, synthesize weapons armor and items, upgrade weapons and armor, and revive your fallen party members. The synthesis system is decent, but if you want a platinum, have fun grinding endlessly for all the materials that you need to make every item. Synthesis plans can be bought or found using the search function, performing an event, or in a dungeon. The upgrade system is very simple, you use TP which is gained by fighting battles and getting titles. After fully upgrading an item you can turn it into a material for synthesis or an item to put in an armor or accessory slot. The resurrection system is not good, but after a while you get so much money, buying items and reviving in battle is easier than forking over the exorbitant amount of money that resing can cost as you level up. If I recall right, it is your level times either 100 or 1000 gold. Titles work like the titles in Phantasy Star Portable, except they take a TON of time to get. Alternate costumes for the characters are also available. They are acquired by finding mass amount of souls. The costumes change the characters stats as well as change the female characters look in the cut scenes. The costume change is done in a way to make jaws drop, well, if you are an Asian business man in a suit. For the men, the costumes do not change their appearance, so there is no worries about suggestive costume change cut scenes. The characters in the cut scenes look sharp and crisp. The voice acting is a bit awkward because of how the conversations all sound fragmented. The biggest graphical upset is the fact that the character sprites look so low resolution, Disgaea 3 anyone? Also, sometimes after dying, when I try to load up my save, I get an error and have to turn off the game, turn it back on, then load it up. This is pretty damn annoying…

So far, I have put about 50 hours into Cross Edge, and I look forward to many more. I think the game is a ton of fun. It has its shortcomings, but I feel that other reviews shouldn’t keep you from buying the game or at the very least, giving it a rental. I would have to say this game receives a 7 out of 10. Actually 7.5 because of the inclusion of Prinny. He has to be one of the best video game characters EVAR! I mean honestly, a demon penguin that can’t put a foot in his mouth, has the best walk animation in all of Cross Edge, can die many many many times, and that complains about equal rights for workers. So, go play this game now Dood!

Love,
tomarcus on PSN and VGEVO