Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy
- March 27, 2017
- 5pb.
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy is a first-person dungeon crawler RPG set in a near future Tokyo. When monsters called Variants begin to appear in the city, a secret organization called the Xth Squad is formed to investigate. As a member of the Xth Squad, players will explore randomly generated labyrinths, battle Variants, and uncover the truth behind their appearance. The game features deep customization, challenging battles, and a unique narrative.
Reviews
- The game offers solid dungeon crawling mechanics with a variety of character customization options.
- The crafting system allows for interesting item development and upgrades, providing depth to gameplay.
- The combat can be engaging, with a mix of strategy and fast-paced encounters that keep players on their toes.
- The user interface is clunky and confusing, making navigation and understanding game mechanics frustrating.
- There is a lack of clear direction and guidance, leading to tedious backtracking and aimless exploration.
- The story and character development are weak, often feeling generic and unengaging.
- story56 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and consistent, while others criticize it as boring or nonsensical. Many note its typical anime high-school setting, which may not appeal to everyone, and some appreciate the comedic and serious moments it offers. Overall, while the narrative has its unique elements and twists, it often takes a backseat to gameplay, leading to a varied reception among players.
“The story is super fun, with lots of comedy and serious moments, as expected of an anime.”
“Amazingly, the story makes sense and is very consistent (something very rare in most games).”
“This game was pretty unique in a lot of ways, the story was fantastic with lots of interesting twists and turns, the characters were some of my favorites that I'd ever gotten to know in video games.”
“The story is absolutely trash tier and even the ending says outright, 'Wow, we don't understand much at all yet.'”
“The story is awful and weirdly nationalistic, but it doesn't get in the way too much.”
“There is a story, but it's boring and gets in the way of actually trying to play the game.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of solid dungeon crawling and old-school mechanics, which can be both engaging and frustrating due to poorly explained systems and a cumbersome UI. While some players appreciate the challenge and depth, particularly with features like the warning meter and networked notes, others find the mechanics outdated and the character progression slow, leading to a grind-heavy experience. Overall, the game offers an interesting experience for those familiar with the genre, but newcomers may struggle with its complexities and lack of clarity.
“Solid wizardry-style gameplay, good dungeon design, encounter design, unit and class design.”
“The artwork is beautiful and the gameplay is challenging but charismatic.”
“Good music, gameplay is strangely addicting.”
“This game really feels like a bad RPG Maker style game when it comes to the gameplay and animations.”
“A lot of the issue is that many of the mechanics of the game are horribly explained or don't make sense, and the game's version of a guidebook doesn't do a very good job of explaining everything either.”
“The most notable possible drawback of this game is that some basic information, e.g. abbreviations for the character classes and the way some game mechanics work, isn't readily explained in the game.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the beautiful artwork and anime style, while others criticize the outdated visuals and lack of aesthetic diversity in environments. Although the character customization options are praised, the overall graphical presentation is seen as lacking for a game released in 2017, with some users experiencing performance issues and clunky menus. Overall, while the game captures a nostalgic feel, it falls short of modern graphical standards.
“The artwork is beautiful and the gameplay is challenging but charismatic.”
“Nice 1080p graphics and art at 60fps.”
“Writing isn't bad, atmosphere and artwork is good.”
“Graphics could have been better for a 2017 game.”
“The menus are clunky, non-intuitive, and the graphics are a bit old (although I love anime-style).”
“It wouldn’t be so bad if each of these dungeons weren’t so featureless, but while the tile-set will vary from dungeon to dungeon, the only sort of props or aesthetic features you will ever run into are walls and doors.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game; while some players find it enjoyable and manageable, others criticize the difficulty spikes and cumbersome user interface that complicate the grinding process. The auto-move feature is seen as problematic, and while the game can be fun for those who appreciate grinding, it may not appeal to everyone due to its tedious elements. Overall, it caters well to fans of dungeon crawlers but may frustrate those less inclined to grind.
“Not too hard, not too grindy; dungeons make sense; it's hard to screw up a character—perfect for a beginner's first dungeon crawler.”
“The grinding feels rewarding, as each level up brings a noticeable improvement to my character's abilities.”
“I appreciate how the grind is balanced; it encourages exploration and strategy without feeling tedious.”
“Insane difficulty spikes late on; not recommended unless you really like grinding.”
“The auto-move farming feature is also bad since you cannot do battles automatically, and the confirm button is mixed with the search button. So when you're holding the confirm button while auto-moving, the auto-move will be canceled.”
“In short, it's pretty fun, but definitely has some very tedious factors that drive me crazy.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many users praising it as fantastic and enjoyable, contributing to an addictive gameplay experience. However, there are some mixed opinions, with a few describing the music as merely "meh." Overall, it enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its creative elements.
“As others have mentioned, the music is fantastic in the game.”
“Good music; the gameplay is strangely addicting.”
“Disclosure: I bought this game in its 'digital limited edition' (note: not actually limited) that included its art book and partial soundtrack while it was on sale on Steam.”
“Music - meh”
“Not only improved the virtual effects and added music and sounds, voices, but also added more fresh and creative classes and skills.”
- character development5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is heavily influenced by class-changing mechanics, which are essential for maintaining depth and engagement in both combat and character progression. However, some users feel that the overall character design and RPG systems are lacking, particularly in Asian games, leading to a less satisfying experience in terms of character development and itemization.
“Anyone who is very familiar with the wizardry series will know that up until the 8th title (and really games like this are styled after the first 5 sans the 4th), class-changing is a core mechanic of the game and adds a lot of depth to the character development.”
“Without it, both the combat and the character development become stale very quickly.”
“I am not a big fan of Asian games as they are usually lacking in the RPG systems department with very poor character development and worse itemization.”
“The character designs and art direction are just passable, and the battle system is about as senseless as anything else.”
- humor3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by characters like the African-American English teacher, who provides comic relief through cultural references that resonate with players. While some jokes, such as those about incorrect tool tips, may fall flat, the overall tone encourages players to infuse their own creativity and humor into the experience.
“For example, you have the African-American English teacher in the school who always provides comic relief due to cultural reasons, leaving you laughing on the floor.”
“It's up to you whether you want detailed preset art or to add a bit more personal creativity and humor to your game.”
“You could make a joke that incorrect tooltips are correct for the era they wanted, but it's not funny.”
“The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making the game more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected clever writing, but the jokes are stale and lack any real wit.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for its poor performance, especially given its origins as a 2014 PS Vita title, with keyboard controls also receiving negative feedback. While some veteran players acknowledge the issues, others believe the game's overall quality is still commendable.
“The performance is relatively poor considering it was ported from the PS Vita in 2014, and the controls when using a keyboard are quite bad.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, with its cute visuals and solid artwork appealing to new players. However, fans of the original titles may find it challenging to embrace the updated aesthetic. Overall, the writing complements the atmosphere effectively.
“The atmosphere and artwork are good.”
“Even though I can see new players liking the game and its atmosphere, for those who played the originals, it will be pretty hard to accept the new look.”
“Even though I can see new players liking the game and its atmosphere (I mean, it sure looks cute and all), for those who played the originals, it will be pretty hard to accept the new look.”
“The atmosphere feels shallow and lacks the depth that made the original game so immersive.”
“While the visuals are appealing, the overall atmosphere fails to capture the essence of what made the previous titles memorable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find certain moments in the game to be deeply touching, evoking strong emotional responses.
“Some parts are incredibly touching.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me.”
“I found myself deeply moved by the storyline and its heartfelt moments.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is reported to run smoothly without any significant issues, indicating a high level of stability.
“Runs great.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
Critic Reviews
Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy Review
NIS fans will enjoy it, as well as those into first-person dungeon crawler RPGs. An incoherent UI and story will cause issues for those without a lot of patience, but there is an interesting and funny narrative to reward those who persevere through it.
65%Old school dungeon diving in New Tokyo - Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy review
It’s been a while since I played a sci-fi RPG like this, and it reminded me of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. I appreciated the colorful characters and unique enemies, but the level design leaves something to be desired. Worse options could be chosen these days, and while it’s not for everyone, fans of the genre looking for something new on their Vita should check it out.
75%Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy Review
"Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy is a member of the all too uncommon first-person dungeon crawler club, and while it may be very complicated, it also offers an addictive experience for on-the-go that is bound to be enjoyable for fans of the genre."
70%