Fate/EXTELLA

The gameplay of Fate/Extella has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and similarities to the Dynasty Warriors series. While some enjoy the fast-paced, hack-and-slash mechanics and find them fun and stress-relieving, others criticize the lack of depth and variety, leading to a monotonous experience over time. Overall, the gameplay serves primarily as a vehicle for the story, which is often highlighted as the game's stronger aspect.

The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear dated, reminiscent of older consoles like the PSP or PS Vita. While some praise the character designs and artwork as stunning, others criticize the overall visual quality as subpar for a 2017 release, with issues like blocky models and a lack of graphical settings. Despite these criticisms, some players find the visuals acceptable and well-optimized for various hardware configurations.

The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the gaming experience through fitting and immersive soundtracks that align well with the game's themes and action. While some tracks are noted as recycled from previous titles in the Fate series, the overall composition is described as beautiful and engaging, contributing significantly to the atmosphere and enjoyment of gameplay. However, a few reviews mention that certain battle themes are less memorable and that the music can become repetitive over time.

Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to boredom as they repeatedly tackle the same levels and battles. While some appreciate the core gameplay and story, many express frustration with the grind required for achievements and leveling up, suggesting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite the grind, the engaging music and combat mechanics provide some motivation to push through the repetitive tasks.

Players find the game emotionally engaging, with a beautiful story that evolves into a touching experience, often eliciting strong feelings such as love and heartbreak. The combination of stunning art and music enhances the emotional depth, while the well-crafted narratives and character arcs keep players invested. Despite some initial confusion, many reviewers appreciate the emotional rollercoaster and the wholesome elements woven throughout the plot.

Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the standout character design and voice acting, particularly for characters like Nero and Jeanne. However, critics argue that the writing lacks depth, with characters often feeling like one-dimensional stereotypes and interactions being minimal, leading to a perception of missed opportunities for meaningful development. Overall, while the visuals and character aesthetics are strong, they do not compensate for the shortcomings in narrative and character growth.

The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance even on older PCs, such as those with i3 processors, and consistently high frame rates on more powerful setups. The PC port is well-optimized, allowing for a range of graphics settings while maintaining excellent performance, often exceeding 60fps on max settings. Overall, it delivers a comparable experience to the original PS4 release, with full controller support enhancing gameplay.

The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the witty banter between characters like Nero and Tamamo, as well as the overall comedic tone that enhances the gameplay experience. While the story may not reach the heights of other entries in the franchise, the funny and unique character interactions contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the hack-and-slash mechanics, making it a fun experience for players.

The game offers significant replayability through multiple difficulty levels, a variety of equipment and passives, and diverse characters, although the narrative focus limits the depth of some characters. Players appreciate the free play modes and express excitement for future installments that promise enhanced features and more content.

Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while the port runs well with a standalone launcher for configuration and supports high resolutions, users have reported bugs, particularly with name input and enemy interactions that can disrupt gameplay.

The monetization of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, especially when compared to other titles like Saber Venus, CCC, and Foxtail. Reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the game feels poorly executed and primarily designed to extract money from players.

The atmosphere of the game is heavily influenced by its music, which can enhance the experience for players who appreciate the style. Overall, the right musical choices contribute significantly to creating an immersive environment.