I've been gaming for long enough that very little surprises me anymore. This game did it. Do yourself a favor, don't look anything up, and jump in feet first. If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs, you won't regret it.

Art, Environment, Music:
Art and music come together to create stunning ambiance.
Gorgeous environments utilized UE5 quite well to create a dreamy atmosphere. The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, but absolutely willing to change it up into electronic, jazz, etc. Truly stellar job by the composer for a first game.

Script, Voice acting:
A veteran cast reading from a deftly-written script.
Killed it, as expected of the cast. Characters will talk over each other or stumble on their words in realistic ways during cutscenes. Ordinary dialogue does have the typical clunky RPG pacing, but the lines are still delivered well.

Combat:
Innovative twist on a traditional turn-based formula.
I was initially skeptical about the qte/reaction-based parry system, but it changes up what might otherwise be fairly run of the mill turn-based combat into something truly unique. As cliched as it is, it's not inaccurate to compare the dodging/parrying system to traditional soulslike combat.

Story, Characterization:
Weird concept utilized fantastically. [i/]
Every year a number counts down, and everyone of that age dies, with the count currently at 34.
Once I wrapped my head around it I got really into it. The game actually comes off as pretty adult compared to your traditional jrpg. Characters are sufficiently nuanced and act and react realistically to the trauma they're suffering through. Deals with pretty heavy themes of grief and loss. If you're vulnerable to such things, expect to cry.

Overall opinion
A must try if you're a fan of turn-based/jrpgs.
Hard to overstate how much I'm enjoying this game. Top tier in every facet: art direction, music, characterization, story, script, voice acting, combat; realistically the most fun I've had gaming since 2017, with bar-none the best initial hook of any video game I've ever played taking place in its first hour. Don't watch streamers play it. Don't look it up. Just play.

I've been gaming for long enough that very little surprises me anymore. This game did it. Do yourself a favor, don't look anything up, and jump in feet first. If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs, you won't regret it. Art, Environment, Music: [i] Art and music come together to create stunning ambiance. [/i] Gorgeous environments utilized UE5 quite well to create a dreamy atmosphere. The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, but absolutely willing to change it up into electronic, jazz, etc. Truly stellar job by the composer for a first game. Script, Voice acting: [i] A veteran cast reading from a deftly-written script. [/i] Killed it, as expected of the cast. Characters will talk over each other or stumble on their words in realistic ways during cutscenes. Ordinary dialogue does have the typical clunky RPG pacing, but the lines are still delivered well. Combat: [i] Innovative twist on a traditional turn-based formula. [/i] I was initially skeptical about the qte/reaction-based parry system, but it changes up what might otherwise be fairly run of the mill turn-based combat into something truly unique. As cliched as it is, it's not inaccurate to compare the dodging/parrying system to traditional soulslike combat. Story, Characterization: [i] Weird concept utilized fantastically. [i/] Every year a number counts down, and everyone of that age dies, with the count currently at 34. Once I wrapped my head around it I got really into it. The game actually comes off as pretty adult compared to your traditional jrpg. Characters are sufficiently nuanced and act and react realistically to the trauma they're suffering through. Deals with pretty heavy themes of grief and loss. If you're vulnerable to such things, expect to cry. Overall opinion [i] A must try if you're a fan of turn-based/jrpgs. [/i] Hard to overstate how much I'm enjoying this game. Top tier in every facet: art direction, music, characterization, story, script, voice acting, combat; realistically the most fun I've had gaming since 2017, with bar-none the best initial hook of any video game I've ever played taking place in its first hour. Don't watch streamers play it. Don't look it up. Just play.