OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Limbus Company is a turned based RPG unlike anything you’ve experienced before. It’s a heavily story driven narrative experience akin to a visual novel that also happens to include combat encounters. The battle system is unique in that all allies and all enemies in the fight carry out their attacks simultaneously. It’s a distinct style that brings innovation and new life to the turned based genre. On top of that the narrative is a dark dystopian graphic novel like experience that is grim and intriguing. As the manager of Limbus Company, you’ll be at the forefront of this crew’s various adventures and escapades throughout the extreme capitalist world of The City.
GAMEPLAY:
Limbus Company presents the most unique and complex turned based system I’ve come across in an RPG. During a fight, you’ll first select and chain together all of your allies attacks in one go. After, you do this, the fight will play out and all attacks of all allies and enemies will resolve making it so that in 1 turn all allies and all enemies make their attacks. During the initial skill selection phase, all allies skills are listed and you can choose between 2 for each unit. You select which attacks will take place with bonuses applied for selecting specific attacks of the same affinity. To decide which attacks are successful each of your allies will need to win coin flips against the enemy. Winning these coin flips can completely negate an enemy attack making the necessity to win coin flips vital for both offense and defense. This is a very basic take on the combat. There’s a lot to learn about the system with unit’s having specific skills, passives and ultimates (EGO). Moreover, there are interesting choices and coin flips that can be made during boss encounters where you will have to select a specific ally for a task during the fight and that can lead to acquiring buffs for that battle. It’s not something I’ve seen in these type of turn based games before. It feels more like a D&D element where you roll for something to happen but even then it’s still a unique feature with nothing quite the equivalent. Overall, it’s a very unique and innovative system that allows many attacks to take place inside one turn. This can speed up turn based combat making each turn feel very impactful.
STORY & MUSIC:
The grim world of Limbus Company takes place in The City: a capitalist dystopia. It’s a world where there are those that manifest great powers and combat abilities and there are also monstrosities called Distortions. As the main protagonist Dante, you take on the role of manager for the main party of Limbus Company: a crew of rag tag sinners that imbue various types of enhanced abilities. Although there are some well used clichés, like the main protagonist not remembering who they are, the narrative is quite competent and intriguing. You also have a clock for a face. Yup, and it’s a core element for the team that is vital for their survival.
The writing overall is engaging allowing for you to get to know the members of the crew, throwing in quirky and funny moments to lighten the mood in an otherwise dramatic and dark world. Most dialogue is voice acted with still images similar to what you would see in a graphic novel. The music also matches the tone of the story and game with epic and heart stopping battle themes as well as stark and bleak soundscapes. The music and voice acting pull you into this world and the mystery and intrigue will keep you there.
ART & CHARACTER DESIGN:
Visual design is in the style of a graphic novel with characters portrayed as a professional company of mercenaries wielding a range of melee style weapons. Connecting many of the characters’ designs are elements of a formal uniform (such as ties and badges) and a color scheme of black, white or red. There are quite a few in the crew to get to know, but personalities, voices and backstories feel distinct with each character filling certain roles within the team. The art direction is distinct and matches the world and atmosphere of the narrative.
GACHA:
It’s too early to give a full impression of the gacha system. From what I’ve learned it’s less fear of missing out compared to other gacha systems. This is due to an in-game dispense system that allows characters from past banners to become available and the ability to gain enough premium resources for pulls by playing the game. Also EGO (character ultimates) once pulled are removed from the pool meaning you won’t get a dupe of them. Pull rates seem similar to other gacha systems with a pity in place at 200. In addition, it appears the main story can be completed with even the base units that are available.
CHALLENGES:
The greatest barrier in the game is understanding the combat system. The game itself doesn’t seem to be able to clearly and fully explain the system although there is a tutorial with multiple parts. This is mostly due to the fact that a lot is going on at once and to comprehend it all is daunting at first glance. Once you gain a basic understanding of what is happening and how to choose and chain skills, it’s not too difficult to grasp the core concepts. However, there is a steep learning curve upfront. To help you make combat decisions, the game does give you a predicted outcome during your skill choice selection that can help you decipher the best available options. If players can get through this challenge that comes up early in the experience, there’s quite a fun and unique combat system in place.
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
Limbus Company presents a very unique combat and narrative experience. For those that can get past the challenge of understanding the system, there’s an innovative turn based combat mechanic and story unlike what you’ve experienced in any other game. If you enjoy turned based RPGs with a darker graphic novel like world, this is worth checking out.
GAME DETAILS
PLATFORMS: PC, iOS, Android
RELEASE: 2023
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: Project Moon
GENRE/TAGS: Turned based combat, story driven, Gacha, RPG
TARGET AUDIENCE: Those that enjoy turn based combat with a twist as well as a heavy story driven dark narrative.
COVER IMAGE CREDIT: Limbus Company
THANKS:
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