Epic Battle Fantasy 5
- November 30, 2018
- Matt "Kupo" Roszak
- 75h median play time
Get on SteamA turn-based RPG adventure, full of video game references, juvenile dialogue, and anime fanservice... and also strategic combat, monster catching, and tons of treasure hunting!
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Reviews
- Incredible combat system with a lot of depth and strategic options.
- Charming characters and humorous dialogue that enhance the overall experience.
- Tons of content, including optional dungeons, collectibles, and a robust customization system.
- Some players may find the humor dated or offensive.
- The capture system can be tedious and may require backtracking to recapture enemies.
- Performance issues on lower-end PCs, especially during intense battles.
- story408 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Epic Battle Fantasy 5" is generally described as lighthearted and humorous, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a deep narrative. While it features quirky characters and entertaining dialogue, many reviewers note that the plot lacks complexity and depth, often relying on parody and comedic elements. Overall, the story is enjoyable and engaging, especially for fans of the series, but it may not satisfy those seeking a serious or intricate storyline.
“Gotta say this game is freaking amazing, from the story to the love and care put into every single bit of detail and all the references, I'm amazed.”
“The story is simple but entertaining, the gameplay allows for so much strategy, the art style is very charming and it has one of my favorite OSTs of all time.”
“The story is funny, the combat is great, and the difficulty curve makes it challenging if you're into that.”
“The story flows nicely despite lacking any real depth, and the game's writing highlights that throughout the playthrough.”
“The story is passable but halfway through the game, I stopped reading it since it was just jokes and memes.”
“The main story is pretty basic and flimsy.”
- gameplay406 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Epic Battle Fantasy 5* is widely praised for its depth and strategic complexity, featuring a turn-based combat system that replaces traditional mana with cooldowns, encouraging players to think critically about their actions. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics, including a new capture system for monsters, which adds layers of strategy and replayability, while the humor and charming art style enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding certain mechanics and pacing, the game is celebrated as a culmination of the series' strengths, offering a satisfying blend of nostalgia and innovation for RPG fans.
“Beautiful visuals, impeccable soundtrack, tons of gags, solid and engaging gameplay.”
“The turn-based battle system is deep and rewards a good understanding of mechanics, especially on higher difficulties, and the game really focuses on making experimentation and individual battle encounters the center of strategy.”
“The gameplay is where Epic Battle Fantasy 5 truly shines.”
“Well for one, EBF5 is still at the end of the day a turn-based JRPG with all of the oddities and slow gameplay that comes with it.”
“The capture mechanic took a bit of getting used to and sometimes was mildly frustrating, made a few playstyles a little less viable and at some point it feels like progression mechanics are just thrown at you.”
“My only complaints are that it's very long, and that it's very similar to previous iterations, with only a few new mechanics to make the game feel unique from other EBF games as well as itself.”
- humor322 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of nostalgic, early 2000s internet style, featuring a mix of silly, dark, and self-aware jokes that resonate well with fans of JRPGs and classic gaming culture. While some may find the humor dated or off-putting, many players appreciate its charm, clever references, and the engaging banter between characters, making it a highlight of the overall experience. The game successfully balances its comedic elements with solid gameplay, ensuring that both humor and mechanics contribute to an enjoyable adventure.
“This game is hilarious, and the way your team interacts with each other and the world is fun to watch.”
“The humor is dark, and it's absolutely entertaining getting medals.”
“The game is just unabashedly silly, with plenty of humor, but it also knows when to dial things back so it doesn't feel too obnoxious.”
- music314 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its emotional depth, catchy melodies, and the talent of composer Phyrnna. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gaming experience, with memorable battle themes and atmospheric tracks that resonate long after playing. However, some critiques mention that certain tracks can be repetitive or less impactful compared to previous installments, yet overall, the music remains a standout feature of the game.
“The music tracks are some of the best in any game I've ever played, and I still listen to them on a regular basis. I even got friends to at least listen to those, even if they didn't want to play.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely incredible, thanks to the talent of Phyrnna. It consistently adds to the atmosphere, switching between various styles while remaining catchy and fun to listen to.”
“The music perfectly sets the mood for each area and battle, and I found myself humming along to the catchy tunes long after playing.”
“The music is worse in this game.”
“There's a music track that plays in some battles (mostly the first few, though it plays quite often from then on through the grassy plains area) that is truly awful, with ear-splitting bass that's way too loud.”
“While this game looks and plays like a natural evolution of the series, its music took a huge leap backward with no memorable music and the fact that the theme of the final boss is recycled, which is completely outrageous in my opinion.”
- graphics144 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style and fluid animations, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed designs and vibrant visuals that contribute to the nostalgic feel of the game, reminiscent of earlier titles in the series. While some note minor performance issues due to the Flash engine, the overall aesthetic and quality of the graphics are considered a significant strength, complementing the engaging gameplay and humorous writing.
“The hand-drawn art style is incredibly detailed, and each area in the game feels unique and full of life.”
“The graphics are phenomenal, everything just comes to life on your screen.”
“The art style is amazing as are the variety of outstanding animations.”
“The flash graphics are probably a bit of a turn off for some of you, but I mean, I dunno, I love the art style myself.”
“Graphically, the game is not breaking visual standards, though should it really at the expense of a good story and gameplay?”
“My computer is very strong, but the game lags when on max graphics.”
- grinding64 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the lack of mandatory grinding and the ability to progress through skill and strategy, others find certain optional content and achievements can lead to a grindy experience. The game is generally praised for its balance, allowing players to engage with grinding at their discretion without it feeling tedious or necessary for progression.
“Quite strategically challenging on epic difficulty — with basically no grinding (optional areas scale to your level).”
“Charming art style and characters, fun and strategic gameplay, and not grindy!”
“The game itself is not grindy, at least not that much.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The only critique I would have is that it got a bit tedious to explore every nook and cranny by the end, especially when all your good skills were maxed out, as mob encounters stopped being rewarding and started feeling like a chore.”
“The fights get very drawn out and grindy at the end, but the first 30 hours I had a blast playing it.”
- replayability40 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, enhanced by extensive customization options, varied enemy behaviors, and numerous gameplay modes, including New Game+ and randomizers. Players appreciate the strategic depth and the abundance of content, such as hidden treasures and side quests, which encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, the combination of engaging mechanics and frequent updates contributes to a highly replayable experience that keeps players coming back for more.
“An incredible turn-based RPG with great combat, a world that's interesting and fun to explore, is filled with a great amount of equally great content, and has tons of replay value.”
“Add in the easter egg/hidden treasure hunting and the elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, the challenge options and the remix modes, even the base game has nearly unlimited replayability.”
“It's absurd the amount of content this game has, and I'm not talking only about replayability, I'm talking about pure content (areas, monsters, equipment, and so on).”
“It's absurd the amount of content this game has, and I'm not talking only about replayability; I'm talking about pure content (areas, monsters, equipment, and so on).”
“Since release, the creator has added lots of new content and replayability into the mix, and they've also been hard at work to port the game and the rest of the franchise to various platforms.”
“Replayability guaranteed, because it's a completionist's nightmare fuel.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic and heartwarming storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, especially those who grew up with the series. The music, particularly a standout "secret" song, evokes strong feelings, while the characters, despite their flaws, create a lasting emotional connection. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with touching moments, making it a memorable and wholesome experience.
“Not only has the series been a substantial part of my childhood, but the OST is very good; one particular 'secret' song has made me cry. It's just... I don't know, man.”
“But most of all, the story, while simple and goofy, feels very wholesome, especially for those of us who grew up with the series.”
“Somehow I'm emotionally attached to these characters, even though half of them are dirtbags.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting performance issues, particularly due to its use of the Flash engine, which can lead to lag and slowdowns, especially on higher settings. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, others express a desire for further optimization in future updates. Despite the performance drawbacks, many still regard the game as a significant improvement over its predecessor.
“When the biggest problem I have with the game is its engine (Flash, which *is* a problem due to its performance, not its functionality), you know you've got something worthwhile.”
“The performance of EBF5 is leagues better than 4 for me, even when running on 'high' anti-aliasing at 800p window size, rarely dipping into 'running noticeably slow' territory.”
“Gameplay has been optimized in such a way that you can have your kids breeze through the game in under ten hours on the lowest difficulty, or spend 70 or more hours completing every achievement and medal on epic difficulty.”
“The only complaint I have is that sometimes the game can feel unoptimized on max settings.”
“On the other hand, the performance is suboptimal and some areas can get repetitive after a while.”
“Only bad thing about the game is the performance.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and engaging art style, complemented by a diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While it offers a fun and lighthearted vibe, some players feel that it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessors, particularly in key moments like the final boss fight. Overall, the atmosphere is enjoyable but may lack depth in storytelling compared to earlier installments.
“Old school turn-based RPG with enough fresh modern updates to make it interesting, and a good sense of humor that keeps the atmosphere fun!”
“The art style fits really well with the music and the overall atmosphere.”
“Overall, fantastic gameplay, which is the main aspect of a game, but the story and atmosphere lack.”
“Especially the final boss fight, EBF 3 and 4 outclass the atmosphere of the final boss of EBF 5.”
“It's a game that doesn't take itself seriously, and that lends well to the atmosphere it tries to promote.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, with some users appreciating the absence of oppressive microtransactions, while others note that optional purchases can enhance gameplay. However, there are mixed feelings about the necessity of microtransactions for enjoyment, with some players feeling they diminish the overall experience.
“No microtransactions.”
“The mobile publication makes it one of the few great mobile games that aren't cash grabs filled with gambling!”
“Microtransactions make the game easier.”
“Microtransactions.”
- stability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game has some stability issues, particularly when played in fullscreen mode, leading to occasional glitches and lower framerates compared to previous titles. However, many users express confidence in the developer's commitment to addressing these bugs, with some even describing the game as "bug free" aside from these minor issues.
“I dare say that this game is bug free.”
“The game is bug free.”
“A few glitches had me lose some of my summons (such as pink slime) after reaching pixel-world and capturing a few.”
“Aside from being a great big love letter to a lot of things that more or less add up to my childhood, it's a fun JRPG with a huge amount of content, and the dev is a really nice guy who's going above and beyond in terms of bug support and troubleshooting.”
“Yes, the fullscreen at the time that I'm writing this is a bit buggy, and yes the framerate I'm getting is lower than the previous games (I own all of the ones on Steam and they run perfectly fine), but I'm sure it will get fixed, so that's not something to really worry about.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its natural progression and meaningful moments that enhance the storyline, contributing to various endings. Reviewers highlight the blend of humor and emotional depth, showcasing the developer's growth and dedication to refining every aspect of the game, including character design and narrative. Overall, the characters are described as lovable and well-crafted, adding to the nostalgic experience for returning players.
“The character development feels natural, and the progression along the storyline feels sensible.”
“Combine with the classic return of humor, Matt's signature style, and even small character development moments that occur during combat and contribute to different endings, and the game shines as the peak of Matt's work so far, and a symbol of how far he's come as a game developer.”
“Wonderful character design and story.”
“The character development feels forced and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling disconnected from the story and its characters.”
