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- Konami
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- Konami
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- Konami
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- Konami
Ephemeral Fantasia
PlayStation 2
Released On: Jul 9, 2001
48
5.2
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
48
6% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
44% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
48
6% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
44% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
A throwback to the way RPGs used to be made before polygons. With anime-style characters and a firm story and gameplay, this game should be enjoyable for anyone who can get past the graphical weaknesses.
The few folks with the patience needed to understand the game's design goals and unusual approach will find a game with a lot of depth and a truly offbeat adventure. Those who abhor repetition and like their quests spelled out for them should stay away.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 18 User Ratings
5.2
33% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
28% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
39% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 18 User Ratings
5.2
33% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
28% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
39% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Ephemeral Fantasia is practically my test for whether someone has good taste in games or not.
First of all, I'll be straight with one thing - this game is not for the faint of heart. You will get out of it what you put into it. It doesn't hold your hand, and it expects you to make a little effort. Engage with the game world, pay attention, and get invested, or it will leave you behind.
If you do get invested, though? You'll find a complex story full of twists and surprises waiting for you. You'll find an engaging battle system that shapes itself to your play style through evolving skills and a "catch up" mechanic for less leveled characters that I've never seen in any other game. You'll find secrets, interwoven stories, and a world where your investment in it is rewarded.
You can't just coast by in Ephemeral Fantasia. It is 100% true that it won't just tell you what to do next. That's because the game is open-ended. Over the repeating "Groundhog's Day" week of the story, you can do things in whatever way you want. Want to take a week to grind? You can do that. Want to spend a week learning the map? You can do that. Want to learn a particular NPC's schedule, so you know what they'll be doing at any given time on each day? You can and you should. Each additional party member you can recruit has to first be broken out of the cycle, made to remember what happened on previous loops, and the only way to do that is by learning about them, then using that knowledge to open their eyes.
On top of all that, the game has multiple endings and characters you can miss completely depending on what you do. Despite the looping nature of time, it's a game where your actions have consequences and your choices matter.
Of course, it's not a game without faults. Which begs the question, why am I rating it a 10? Simply put, for every fault I can list, there is a counterpoint for why I wouldn't let it affect my rating. It was originally made for the Dreamcast, and it has Dreamcast graphics. I don't hold that against it, because I love the Dreamcast and would never fault a port for being a port, even if the original was unreleased. The navigation and knowing what to do when can be confusing, but I don't consider those faults because it's an intended part of the game - as I've stated throughout this review, the game wants you to learn things by investigating, and make decisions for yourself. The last thing I could bring up is the songs you'll have to play throughout the game. On a regular Playstation 2 controller, some of these can be quite difficult to play. However, there are a few saving graces here. First, that the game lets you practice songs whenever you like. Second, that missing a song will rarely keep you from progressing the game. Third, the game supports a guitar controller in the second port, which will make things easier (I'm not sure if it HAS to be a Konami guitar controller or not). Lastly, and most importantly, if you really struggle with the minigame, there are some cheat codes available online that can make the difficulty trivial (as well as some for more of a challenge).
All in all, Ephemeral Fantasia is a great game, but it's cute anime style can keep people from realizing that it's also a game that expects you to "git gut".
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PlayStation 2
This is one of those games you either love it or you don't. There's not really in between. I for one love this game.
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PlayStation 2
Despite the possibilty of too much repetition or worklike feeling, EF brings the first true traditional RPG to the PS2. The story is interesting, the mini-games unique, the characters vivid and the locations fascinating.
Despite a unique story concept, it sounds better on paper than in practice. While far from embarrassing, EF is embarrassingly average.
There are bad games that anger me, and then there are bad games that just confuse me. Ephemeral Fantasia belongs in the latter column...I'll slide this one in the drawer and forget about it, while most of you shouldn't even give it that much attention.
There are no surprise plot twists, no mysteries to unravel - nothing to keep you hooked at all. [Oct 2001, p.134]
Reaching into new depths of crappiness that few developers have dared explore, Konami has tried to hide a poorly-made PSone RPG in PS2 packaging.
I loved the crap out of this game. Nobody ever talks about it and its understandable. The worst thing about the game is its progression, and that's easily fixed by a walk-through, which I understand wasn't around back in the day.
But this is the future. I wanted to write this review for so long, and I hope the modern audience can appreciate a game that has so many well executed features that most modern rpg's fail to pull off.
Its a guitar element that I sometimes go back to just to play the melodies. The sweet, crisp melodies.
Its got an active battle style with multiple ways to fight. To elaborate further, you can level up specific attacks and moves with different characters. Heck, Mouse can become a one man army if you train up his sword skills enough!
its got a story I got so invested in that even back in the day with no walk-through I was motivated to high hell to finish. That sad princess activated the hero in me and I said I would save her no matter the cost!
The characters are not placeholders, they all have stories. Opinions, they even chip in dialogue wise!
I could go on and on about the pet features, the unlocking characters features, the many mini games you can play, the heartwarming cut-scenes, the tragic ones also, and one of the best villains I've ever matched blades with.
This game is not for the faint of heart. If you're looking for a quick junk food RPG, this is not for you. It will keep you busy for weeks, maybe even months if you love grinding for stuff. (I am a Weekend warrior.) But if you want an RPG that leaves you with a deep sense of fulfillment when finished, a tear in your eye, this rare and underrated gem is for you. Don't rush it, you won't want it to end once you fall in love with the game.
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PlayStation 2
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PlayStation 2
Fun, but confusing, the story is a great one, but to recruit other party members, it takes a lot of time and searching. Wasn't the most explained game, but still a great play.
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PlayStation 2
If you like time loops and doing the same thing over and over with backgrounds that don't really seem to change, you might like this game. Where to go in the huge town is non-intuitive, the textures are bland and repetitive, and the game just feels long because the time system gives it artificial length that is more filler than anything. If you like RPG games don't get it.
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PlayStation 2
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PlayStation 2
Summary Originally known in Japan as "Reiselied," this musical RPG focuses on a young musician-thief named Mouse and his lute who are invited to play at an island wedding where they become mired in a time-repeating adventure.
Rated T
for Teen
Platforms:
- PlayStation 2
Initial Release Date: Jul 9, 2001
Developer:
- KCEJ
Publisher: Konami
Genres:
