The popularity of Hiro Mashima’s Edens Zero has soared since its inception, captivating audiences with its unique blend of science fantasy, high-octane action, and a vibrant cast of characters. Following the successful runs of its manga and anime adaptations, the natural next step seemed to be a video game that would allow fans to dive even deeper into its expansive universe. An open-world RPG appeared to be the perfect fit, offering a canvas for exploration and adventure. While the Edens Zero video game certainly delivers on some of its promises, allowing players to traverse familiar worlds and relive beloved moments, it also, unfortunately, takes some missteps along the way, preventing it from truly soaring to the heights of its source material.
A faithful adaption
For fans eager to revisit the cosmic journey of Shiki Granbell and his quirky crew, the game largely delivers a faithful adaptation of the original narrative. The main storyline closely mirrors that of the manga and anime, taking players through the key arcs up until roughly halfway through the second season of the anime. There are minor deviations here and there, perhaps to better suit the interactive medium, but nothing significant enough to disrupt the established canon or noticeable unless one is scrutinizing every detail. This makes the game a surprisingly good entry point for newcomers, offering an engaging way to discover the captivating tale of Edens Zero – a delightful fusion of science fiction and fantasy, brimming with adventure, friendship, and self-discovery.
However, moving beyond the main quest, the game’s side missions present a rather mixed bag. Some are poorly written, featuring uninspired fetch quests or repetitive combat encounters that feel more like filler than meaningful additions. They often lack engaging dialogue or consequences, making it difficult to feel invested in the plights of the NPCs. While there are a few that rise above the mediocrity, offering slightly more interesting scenarios or character interactions, players are best advised not to undertake these side quests for their narrative depth. Their primary purpose often seems to be for grinding experience, gathering resources, or unlocking minor cosmetic items rather than enriching the overall lore or character arcs.
Lackluster combat but great exploration
The core combat system in Edens Zero is, regrettably, one of its significant downsides. It’s undeniably basic and quickly becomes repetitive. Attacks boil down to simple button mashing, with a few special abilities on cooldowns. While it’s never outright “bad” or broken, it also rarely evolves beyond its initial simplicity, failing to offer the depth or strategic nuance found in more polished action RPGs. This lack of complexity means that after just a few hours, battles against even diverse enemy types can feel like a monotonous cycle, making numerous encounters a chore rather than an exciting challenge.
Fortunately, there is more to the game than just its rudimentary combat. Beyond following the compelling main story, which often unfolds through linear, narrative-driven segments, Edens Zero truly shines in its exploration. The game presents players with vast worlds to explore, each teeming with secrets, hidden collectibles, and the aforementioned side quests. These expansive environments are often beautifully designed, inviting players to wander off the beaten path and uncover every nook and cranny. This exploratory aspect frequently became the highlight of my playthrough, often making me forget the combat’s shortcomings as I got lost in the joy of discovery and the allure of finding hidden goodies.
However, the enjoyment of exploration can be abruptly halted by a frustrating design choice: the inability to run away from wild boss fights. These encounters can range wildly in difficulty, with low-level and high-level bosses often appearing in remarkably close proximity to each other. Stumbling upon an overpowered foe when you’re ill-prepared can lead to swift, unavoidable defeat. Compounding this issue is the game’s autosave system, which only triggers at specific, infrequent points. This means a sudden defeat against an unexpected boss can result in a significant loss of progress, forcing players to re-traverse large sections of a map, which is a real drag and chips away at the overall enjoyment.
Looks a bit dated
The audiovisual presentation of Edens Zero is a mixed bag, with the soundtrack being a clear standout. It brilliantly incorporates beloved tracks from the anime, instantly immersing fans, while also introducing new, fitting music that perfectly complements the game’s various environments and action sequences. The voice acting is precisely what one would expect from an anime tie-in, with the original Japanese cast delivering solid performances that maintain character consistency.
Visually, however, the game feels somewhat dated. While some environments can look surprisingly pretty, showcasing vibrant colors and impressive scale, other areas, along with the character models themselves, often appear to be from an older generation of gaming. The character textures and animations, in particular, lack the polish and detail seen in similar games released recently. This inconsistency means that while certain vistas might impress, the overall graphical fidelity isn’t quite on par with contemporary titles, occasionally breaking the immersion despite the strong art direction of Mashima’s world.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Edens Zero video game is a product tailor-made for specific audiences. If fast-paced, nuanced combat and cutting-edge visuals aren’t your top priorities in a game, and you’re a devout fan of Edens Zero eager to relive the story or simply explore its captivating universe at your own pace, then this game is perfectly suited for you. Its faithful narrative adaptation and expansive, secret-filled worlds offer a delightful experience for those who prioritize immersion in the lore. However, for the broader gaming audience, especially those seeking a mechanically deep combat system, consistent graphical fidelity, or a more forgiving progression system, it’s a considerably harder title to recommend. It’s a love letter to fans, but one that perhaps only a fan can truly appreciate without reservation.
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