![]() The narrative heightens this experience with a memorable cast and plenty of mysteries to uncover. Monark puts a spin on the high school JRPG design by offering unique gameplay and combat systems for fans of the genre. Vanitas speaks in Archaic Japanese, so I’m really amused by the translators’ choice of making his dialogue be in rhymes. This wasn’t an issue in the first few dungeons, but the further I got, the more annoyed I became about this lack of clarity, which resulted in me searching through a guide. For instance, in one of the dungeons, the game has you backtrack to previous locations you’ve visited, without any hint or indication of what or where you’re supposed to go. I found this out after my party was wiped even though I was three levels higher than the enemy.įurthermore, some dungeon puzzles are vague about what you need to do. It’s almost like Casual Mode is the intended Normal difficulty. Even if you knock down the difficulty by using Casual Mode, it doesn’t really do any favors. For one, you’re more than likely to encounter a difficulty spike without any prior warning, making grinding almost a necessity if you wish to progress. That being said, not everything in Monark is smooth sailing. …I wouldn’t fight in there if I were you… In case anyone was curious, this is the dungeon that appears when you dial 696-969-696. Once you dial a dungeon number, you cannot go back to the main menu to prepare, with your only option being to either accept your fate or reset the game. There’s no stopping you from dialing random numbers, but please don’t unless you want to fight LV 90 enemies in the game’s early stages. If you stand close to Vanitas, the bunny plushie that tags you along in your journey, you can use the Phone, which is used to dial in numbers you find in the notes. However, I enjoyed the flexibility of the opening chapters, and after the Dungeon of Pride, the game just let me choose the dungeon I deemed suitable to continue with. From locker combination hints to even password-protected computers, you’ll have to read attentively. Notes are scattered around dungeons that need to be read if you want to progress. This just meant I was more interested in leveling up permanent party members. They can use various valuable skills, which is good because some characters leave your party following the end of a chapter. ![]() However, as you progress, it is recommended to give special care to the Legions, which are mannequin-like spirits that can tag along in combat. I put my resources in the protagonist because its Game Over if he dies, so I felt the need to make him a powerhouse. By spending SPIRITs on the Skill Tree, you’ll not only open your desired skill, but you will also level up, which means you can allocate who you think needs to be stronger than the rest. Instead, at the end of combat, you’ll receive SPIRIT currency utilized to unlock new skills or upgrade existing ones, depending on your grade. You don’t gain a shred of EXP from combat. Monark’s way of leveling up is truly unique. Madness is another stat that makes you lose control of the character, and if three turns pass, they’re automatically killed. And while there are items you can use to cure it, that’s still a turn wasted. ![]() I wouldn’t say I liked the one that causes Charm since a Charmed character attacks teammates, which can be a pain to deal with if your DPS dealer gets affected by this. Several hazards can cause status effects found on the battlefield. Sometimes I found that the enemies got too crowded together, and it was impossible to target them, even within range. The only gripe I had with the combat system was how movement worked. The descriptions for each skill are self-explanatory, with comprehensive symbols assisting you with the consequences of each action. There’s also the “Defer” option, which grants the character an extra turn by “passing the baton.” Of course, if you do it too much, you risk the character going mad. Actions such as skills are usable but require a minor HP sacrifice while attacks offer buffs. You’re put onto a map with limited movement range per turn during combat, but you have a free directional movement inside said range. Further, plenty of cast members are introduced that offer drips of lore about your current mission. Still, I appreciated this methodical role out as there are a handful of unique systems to understand. The opening comes off as slow-paced, especially during the first chapter, as you’re going through the tutorials and learning basic mechanics.
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