I am Setsuna

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,102 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
I am Setsuna Game Cover
With a dark yet optimistic story and old school JRPG gameplay, Tokyo RPG Factory’s first title feels like a classic in the modern day.
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,102 reviews
story253 positive mentions
grinding90 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and soundtrack that evoke nostalgia for classic JRPGs.
  • Engaging combat system with unique mechanics like Momentum and Fluxation.
  • Simple yet touching story that resonates with themes of sacrifice and companionship.
  • Linear gameplay with little room for exploration or meaningful choices.
  • Repetitive environments and enemy designs that lack variety.
  • Short playtime that may leave players wanting more content for the price.
  • story935 mentions

    The story of "I Am Setsuna" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its strong similarities to classic JRPGs like "Final Fantasy X" and "Chrono Trigger." While some appreciate its emotional depth and nostalgic elements, others criticize it for being predictable, linear, and lacking meaningful choices that affect the narrative. Overall, the game is seen as a heartfelt homage to the genre, but it struggles with originality and character development, leaving some players feeling underwhelmed by its execution.

    • “The story is captivating, the cast plays off each other well, and the soundtrack is phenomenally minimal.”
    • “A beautiful story, with memorable characters, typical Final Fantasy/Chrono Trigger style gameplay, incredible music, and decent graphics.”
    • “The story is simple but effective, and the themes are relatable.”
    • “The story is nothing new and is very similar to other JRPGs' stories.”
    • “I regret purchasing this game because with unfun combat there's also a boring, predictable story (I kept waiting for a plot twist but none ever came that I didn't predict, and I'm usually pretty bad at such things).”
    • “The story is very linear with next to no exploration (even the dialogue choices have no consequence on game progression).”
  • music595 mentions

    The music in *I Am Setsuna* is predominantly a beautiful piano soundtrack that effectively complements the game's melancholic atmosphere and snowy setting. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and nostalgic quality of the music, some find it repetitive and lacking in variety, as it relies solely on piano compositions throughout the game. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as one of the game's standout features, though opinions vary on its long-term appeal.

    • “The music makes it special and is quite good.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, good story.”
    • “The music is beautiful, and really makes the game.”
    • “The music is dull and fails to set any kind of emotional connection with the game.”
    • “As if it wasn't bad enough that every environment looks the same, every song in the soundtrack is played by a single piano, making for a very monotonous score.”
    • “The music is heavily influenced by the final fantasy series, but it does not do a good job compared to those classic soundtracks.”
  • gameplay317 mentions

    The gameplay of "I Am Setsuna" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its nostalgic homage to classic JRPGs like "Chrono Trigger" through its active time battle system and various mechanics. While some appreciate the innovative elements like the momentum mechanic, others criticize the lack of depth, poor explanations of game mechanics, and overall simplicity that can lead to repetitive gameplay. Despite its charming aesthetics and music, many feel that the gameplay does not fully realize its potential, often resulting in a frustrating experience due to convoluted systems and difficulty spikes.

    • “The gameplay is fun, with many skills and combos that make the combat interesting and dynamic, lacking a deeper customization, but good.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics, great soundtrack, super-fun turn-based combat with innovative mechanics, cool boss fights... I've heard it described as a love letter to JRPGs of old, and I can definitely see that.”
    • “I am Setsuna is a great homage to earlier JRPGs, that does a very good job of capturing a lot of the core gameplay of those games.”
    • “The gameplay is a sterling example of 'breadth, not depth': while each character may have a slew of skills, and each of them can be combined with one or two party members for flashy combination moves, the multitude of skills brings no depth to the gameplay.”
    • “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 convoluted combat and character management mechanics and the heavy research involved almost turn this game into a job.”
  • graphics230 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful art style and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with a charming snowy aesthetic that enhances the atmosphere. However, some players noted issues like graphical artifacts, repetitive environments, and character models that feel outdated. Overall, while the visuals are not groundbreaking, they effectively complement the game's themes and evoke a sense of nostalgia for fans of the genre.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and fairly simplistic.”
    • “The artwork is beautifully executed in a classic style reminiscent of everything I loved about games growing up.”
    • “A beautifully crafted game with simple mechanics and incredibly well-painted visuals.”
    • “I personally experienced graphical artifacts on my screen, such as screen tearing, for instance.”
    • “The character models were my least favorite aspect of the graphics, resembling something from a couple of generations ago.”
    • “Graphics seem like something meant for the Nintendo DS, when this was released during the PS4 era.”
  • grinding96 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while some grinding is necessary for skill acquisition and boss battles, it can often feel tedious and overly reliant on RNG for item drops. Some players appreciate the option to focus on story progression with minimal grinding, while others find the need for extensive farming to be frustrating and time-consuming, particularly when facing tougher bosses. Overall, the game may appeal to completionists and those who enjoy grinding, but it can be a significant barrier for players seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “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.”
    • “I was in Setsuna for the story rather than the collectibles, so I was generally killing things en route to the next goal, but not grinding.”
    • “I'm glad there was no tedious grind to the game, but that left it too short.”
    • “Not bad on its own, except the system of unlocking new skills is tied to monster drops, and if you miss the wrong drop at the wrong time, it can take a while until that drop becomes available again - grinding can bring progression to a halt.”
    • “The amount of grinding required to merely obtain the next move on the list is stunning.”
    • “This part of the game is so ridiculously grindy that I have to admit I cheated my way through some of it.”
  • emotional69 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "I Am Setsuna" is characterized by its heartfelt storytelling that delves into themes of sacrifice, resilience, and self-discovery, often evoking a poignant sense of melancholy. While the game features touching moments and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience, some players feel that character development is lacking, leading to a disconnect in forming emotional attachments. Overall, it is described as an emotional roller coaster that, despite its flaws, leaves a lasting impression on players seeking a captivating RPG adventure.

    • “I am Setsuna offers a heartfelt journey through a world filled with melancholy and magic.”
    • “The best part of the game is the genuine emotional weight that comes with a lot of the characters and their internal conflicts, the interactions between Setsuna and Endir being the best of the bunch in my opinion, but a lot of the other characters get impactful story arcs of their own.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere52 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its melancholic and immersive qualities, enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack and charming visuals. Players appreciate the cozy yet somber tone, which evokes strong emotions and nostalgia reminiscent of classic RPGs. Despite some criticisms of the gameplay and story depth, the overall aesthetic and mood create a memorable experience that resonates with many.

    • “The atmosphere, the feeling when playing this game is just exquisite.”
    • “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.”
    • “The entire game has a very gloomy atmosphere, and the ice-covered scenario with piano music in the background really helps to capture it.”
  • character development45 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and meaningful growth for the characters, despite their appealing designs. While some players appreciated the distinct backgrounds of party members and the attempt at development through side quests, others found these efforts unsatisfying and shallow. Overall, the consensus leans towards character development being underwhelming, with many feeling disconnected from the characters despite the game's beautiful art and engaging music.

    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay doesn't really matter because the characters just fall completely flat and get hardly any character development.”
    • “Character development... it was just a splash here and a splash there but nothing really to grasp on how to feel for these guys growing up.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    Overall, "I Am Setsuna" has mixed reviews regarding its replayability. While some players appreciate the potential for replay value through post-game content and side quests, many criticize the game's short length, linear story, and low difficulty, leading to a consensus that it lacks significant replayability. Ultimately, the game may appeal to those who enjoy exploring different aspects after completion, but many players feel it does not warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “After you beat the game though, 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.”
    • “+has a decent replay value.”
    • “Replayability: I Am Setsuna is not very long, and most players can expect to finish the game in about 15 hours.”
    • “The game is pretty easy when you understand how flux and spiritnites work, and it has no replayability.”
    • “I would not replay the game as I think there is no replay value and the story did not catch me.”
  • stability12 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of major bugs, while others encounter frequent crashes and glitches, particularly on certain platforms. While some users appreciate the game's performance on specific devices, others express frustration with freezing issues and inconsistent stability, indicating a lack of thorough testing.

    • “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, boringly pretty, superficially good combat system.”
    • “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.”
    • “Very buggy.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and good frame rates, others criticize it for poor optimization, particularly in the Unity engine port, leading to lag and stuttering issues. Additionally, the crafting mechanics are seen as excessive and unnecessary, impacting 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.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    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 promises as a spiritual successor to classic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger. Reviewers express disappointment that the game does not live up to its advertising, leading to feelings of exploitation among fans.

    • “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.”
    • “On the surface, with its advertising and screenshots, it might look appealing, but in its depth, it is quite bland in every shape and form.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent and often lacking, with moments that could be comedic overshadowed by a serious tone. While some characters have brief, humorous revelations, they quickly fade into the background, leaving the overall experience feeling almost entirely humorless.

    • “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.”
    • “So funny!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

22hMedian play time
28hAverage play time
16-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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