"I am Setsuna" is a narrative-driven, emotional role-playing game that takes place in a land gripped by perpetual winter. Players follow the story of Setsuna, a young woman chosen to become a sacrifice to appease the monsters threatening the world. The game features a strategic battle system inspired by classic RPGs, as well as a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.
Beautiful art style and graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic JRPGs.
Engaging soundtrack composed entirely of piano music that complements the game's atmosphere.
Simple yet enjoyable turn-based combat system with interesting mechanics like Momentum and Flux.
Linear story progression with little to no impact from player choices, making the narrative feel shallow.
Repetitive environments and enemy designs, leading to a lack of variety throughout the game.
Limited save points and no autosave feature, resulting in potential frustration for players.
story
1,147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The story of *I Am Setsuna* is often described as a heartfelt yet predictable narrative that draws heavily from classic JRPGs, particularly *Final Fantasy X*. While it features themes of sacrifice and emotional depth, many reviewers note its linearity and lack of character development, leading to a sense of missed potential. The game is praised for its nostalgic charm and beautiful soundtrack, but criticisms arise regarding its derivative plot and shallow character arcs, making it feel less impactful compared to its inspirations.
“I am Setsuna is a beautifully made RPG that captures the nostalgia of classic JRPGs while introducing a heartfelt story (the story kind of gives off a Final Fantasy X vibe).”
“The story is simple but still detailed enough so far to read every line.”
“The story is nothing new and is very similar to other JRPGs' stories.”
“The story is linear and your choices have no consequences.”
“The story, while familiar, moves along steadily, though the characters didn't forge strong connections.”
music
736 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The music in *I Am Setsuna*, composed by Tomoki Miyoshi, is predominantly a beautiful piano soundtrack that enhances the game's emotional atmosphere and complements its snowy setting. While many players appreciate the haunting and nostalgic quality of the music, some find it repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact on the gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, though opinions vary on its effectiveness over extended play sessions.
“The music is beautiful, composed by Tomoki Miyoshi, and complements the emotional journey of the characters and what they go through.”
“This consistency shines brightest through its outstanding piano soundtrack, which not only enhances the game's atmosphere but elevates the entire experience.”
“The music serves as the perfect companion to your journey, compelling you to see the story through to its conclusion.”
“The music seemed to be thoughtless and grated on my senses.”
“The entire game is snow themed and all of the music is solo piano.”
“The music is dull and fails to set any kind of emotional connection with the game.”
gameplay
378 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay of "I Am Setsuna" draws heavily from classic JRPGs like "Chrono Trigger," featuring an active time battle (ATB) system and various mechanics such as momentum and spritnite customization. However, many players find the mechanics poorly explained and overly simplistic, leading to a lack of depth and challenge, with some battles feeling trivial. While the nostalgic elements and beautiful presentation are appreciated, the gameplay often suffers from convoluted systems and a lack of engaging complexity, making it a mixed experience for fans of the genre.
“The gameplay is fun, with many skills and combos that make the combat interesting and dynamic, lacking a deeper customization, but good.”
“The game wears its inspiration on its sleeve, playing much like Chrono Trigger from yesteryear, utilizing many of the same mechanics such as combo attacks and the ATB gauge popularized in early Square JRPGs.”
“The gameplay strikes a balance between simplicity and depth, though it stumbles in explaining crucial mechanics.”
“The game over-explains everything that's not relevant and spends zero time explaining almost all of the core mechanics, and the item and gear system that goes with it is incredibly messy and unintuitive.”
“The gameplay is a sterling example of 'breadth, not depth': while each character may have a slew of skills, the multitude of skills brings no depth to the gameplay.”
graphics
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The graphics of "I Am Setsuna" are characterized by a charming, nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic SNES-era RPGs, featuring beautifully rendered snowy landscapes and a melancholic atmosphere that enhances the narrative. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and attention to detail, some criticize the lack of variety in environments and character models, leading to a repetitive visual experience. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their artistic quality, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge graphics.
“The game's art style, inspired by the SNES era, is stunning, with snow-covered landscapes and a melancholic atmosphere that adds depth to the narrative.”
“So let me elaborate, this game looks great utilizing white space brilliantly with the cold snowy aesthetic, beautiful attention to detail with trees dropping snow as you walk past, the snowy tracks you leave behind slowly filling with the wind-blown snow and the stark contrast of the orange trees spotted amongst the whites and muted colors of the landscape.”
“The visuals and aesthetic pair extremely well with the music and fit great into the running theme of winter, sorrow, and snow.”
“Graphics seem like something meant for the Nintendo DS, when this was released during the PS4 era.”
“As much as I like the visuals, the world design is disappointing as pretty much every town/building looks the same.”
“The only good thing was the music and art style, but even those were lacking in variety and got old pretty quickly.”
grinding
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
4%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it tedious and frustrating due to the reliance on specific monster drops and the need for extensive farming to progress. While some enjoy the peaceful nature of grinding and find satisfaction in collecting materials, others criticize the unbalanced difficulty spikes that necessitate grinding, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging part of the gameplay. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on player preferences, with casual players potentially enjoying the grind while others may find it overly repetitive and detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Not grindy (unless you want it to be).”
“On a positive note, there is almost no grinding necessary when you know what you're doing, and when you do have to grind, there are prime farming points that bring this to a minimum.”
“Overall, I think this game is for casual JRPG players and not for newbies because there's really no grinding for side quests involved.”
“This game is mostly grinding for material items & praying to the RNG gods.”
“The amount of grinding required to merely obtain the next move on the list is stunning.”
“The design allows you to take the game at your own pace; either farming for XP and materials for food and spiritnite or just blitzing from town to town solving problems.”
emotional
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
1%
4%
"I Am Setsuna" is praised for its emotional storytelling, exploring themes of sacrifice and resilience, and is often compared to classic JRPGs like "Final Fantasy X." The game's beautiful soundtrack enhances the emotional journey, although some players feel that character development and emotional depth could be improved. Overall, it offers a touching experience with moments of melancholy, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and character engagement.
“The music is beautiful, composed by Tomoki Miyoshi, and complements the emotional journey of the characters and what they go through.”
“I am Setsuna is a beautifully made RPG that captures the nostalgia of classic JRPGs while introducing a heartfelt story.”
“A beautifully emotional story underlines a solid battle system that is equal parts familiar as it is unique.”
“Very simplistic, very linear, very short, visually uninteresting with a boring story and characters.”
“Boring story.”
“Boring story.”
atmosphere
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style, reminiscent of the SNES era, and its melancholic, immersive tone, enhanced by a beautiful piano soundtrack. Players appreciate the combination of snowy landscapes and emotional depth, which creates a cozy yet somber experience that resonates throughout the gameplay. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in locations and a basic story, the overall ambiance and music are consistently highlighted as standout features that elevate the game's charm.
“The game's art style, inspired by the SNES era, is stunning, with snow-covered landscapes and a melancholic atmosphere that adds depth to the narrative.”
“The soundtrack is also fantastic, adding to the game's extremely poignant atmosphere and themes, that coupled with its sublime writing provide a memorable and brisk 20-hour experience.”
“You could visit the empty groves or the abandoned villages, but there is nothing there for you besides the atmosphere and the tone.”
“The game is simple, it can make you emotional, it has a somber atmosphere throughout the whole journey.”
“Combined with the muted snowy landscapes and understated but excellent piano score, I Am Setsuna is a game oozing with the sort of melancholy and morose atmosphere I hoped for: this is the sort of world that’s harsh and unforgiving, filled with inhabitants struggling to make do as best they can, and it’s this same comfortably sad mood that kept me anticipating where the game would go next.”
character development
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
45%
17%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the distinct backgrounds of party members and the depth of villains, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and emotional growth for the main characters. Many reviews highlight that attempts at character development through sidequests are short and unsatisfying, leading to a perception of blandness in character arcs. Despite beautiful character designs and engaging art, the narrative often feels predictable and fails to deliver a cohesive and immersive character experience.
“However, the character development ends up being very good, with each of your party members coming from a distinct background and history.”
“This JRPG is amazing as the character development is intimate as you get to see how each character grows.”
“Character development is fantastic; the characters are adorable, and they each have their own unique personality, with their own perspectives of the world.”
“The characters have minimal character development.”
“Character development is incredibly poor; the character you play as has no depth or emotion.”
“The plot should have been drawn out a little more to make it cohesive; as it stands, the character development happens at the pace of a six-year-old changing their mind about what kind of ice cream they want, and with as much logic behind it.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
52%
35%
Overall, "I Am Setsuna" has been criticized for its low replayability, with many players noting its linear story, short length, and lack of meaningful choices or difficulty. While some mention that there are a few side quests and customization options that could provide limited replay value after completing the game, the consensus is that it does not offer enough content or incentive for players to return once the main story is finished.
“After you beat the game, it has replay value and I think most people will enjoy it.”
“The game also has some replay value as you can't collect everything in one playthrough; certain side quests and items unlock once the game is beaten.”
“The ability to custom tailor each of your abilities and support skills provides added hours of replay value on top of additional side quest content provided.”
“The length of the game also leaves a lot to be desired. It is a staple of the JRPG genre to provide a gaming experience replete with hidden locations, extra side quests, and replayability; however, I Am Setsuna lacks heavily in these areas. There are a few side quests, but they are not available until near the end of the game. There is little chance of deviation from the next objective for the first 14 hours of a game that takes less than 20. For the first 5 hours, the scope of any choice seems quite small in terms of character customization.”
“I will finish by saying it looks nice, the music is atmospheric, and the time I spent playing I do not begrudge. However, for the price point it retails at currently (£29.99 at the time of review), I do not believe this warrants a 20-hour, linear JRPG experience that uses its inspirations as a selling point while not quite living up to them in terms of innovation or length/replayability.”
“The game is pretty easy when you understand how flux and spiritnites work, and it has no replayability.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of significant bugs or glitches, while others encounter frequent crashes and freezing issues, particularly on certain platforms. While some users appreciate the game's performance on specific hardware, others express frustration with its inconsistency and occasional technical problems.
“Runs great on my Razer 2016 laptop, constant 60 fps.”
“It's not even that the game is incompetent: it runs fine, it's not buggy, the difficulty runs all over the place but the spikes can be beaten by understanding the tools the game gives you.”
“To that end, my take on Setsuna is that it’s competent: not buggy.”
“Just the glitches are there in some places.”
“It loads to the settings screen and when I try to go beyond the settings screen, it freezes.”
“I've never paid $40 for a game that immediately crashed, doesn't give loot drops, and freezes as soon as I open the first treasure chest.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the witty dialogue options and find the character interactions amusing, others criticize the overall lack of genuine comedic moments and coherence in the story. The silent protagonist's absurd motivations and the fleeting character revelations add a layer of humor for some, but many feel the humor falls flat, resulting in a disjointed experience. Overall, the game's comedic elements are hit-or-miss, with some finding it entertaining and others deeming it almost entirely humorless.
“The protagonists' dialogue options are pretty funny.”
“I really liked the dialogue choices and thought they were hilarious; the outcome doesn't change, but the dialogue is well done.”
“I’m not even talking about the silent protagonist (who, hilariously, starts the game planning to assassinate Setsuna and then decides to escort her across the world for literally no reason); every individual character gets the spotlight for their token five-minute shocking revelation, only to recede in the background as if nothing had happened.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and good frame rates, others criticize it for poor optimization and issues related to the Unity engine. The crafting mechanics are seen as excessive and unnecessary, with no impact on combat performance, which may detract from the overall experience.
“Combat is straightforward and fairly simple, with the ability for optimization coming in how you allocate your techs/skills and your equipment.”
“No lag, no stuttering, and smooth FPS.”
“The game is very well optimized and has a very good frame rate.”
“Can't recommend due to the use of the Unity engine and poor optimization.”
“Can't recommend in the current state due to poor performance of this port.”
“I also believe there were way too many different crafting type mechanics, most of which seemed like fluff and a few I ignored completely with no penalty to my combat performance.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, particularly for its $40 price tag, which many feel is unjustified given the game's lack of depth and failure to deliver on its promise as a spiritual successor to classic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger. Reviewers express disappointment that the game does not live up to its advertising, describing it as bland and not reflective of the quality associated with its inspirations.
“For a $40 game, this game is a cash grab feeding on fans of classic JRPGs that offers much too little to be desired.”
“For a developer to advertise their game as a spiritual successor to a game like Chrono Trigger, and then have it be practically nothing like Chrono Trigger other than being a turn-based JRPG, is just an unethical cash grab opportunity.”
“I was in anticipation of this title, with advertising depicting it as being 'like Chrono Trigger', one of the best titles of the golden JRPG age I so sorely miss.”