Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark

Overall Impression: A Love Letter to Tactical RPGs

Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is more than a game; it's a big hug for anyone who's ever found themselves lost in the complex combat of Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre, or even Disgaea. It takes the absolute best of what those games offered, refines them, and adds its own special seasoning. This game is a shining example of what one can do when a small group of people puts their heart into something and deeply understands the genre.

Gameplay: 9.5/10 - Tactical Nirvana

• The Core: You command a party of up to six characters in turn-based, grid-based battle. You move, you attack, you cast abilities, you plan – the fundamentals are well-known, but the complexity is staggering. It's not simply about smacking things; it's about where you put yourself, about sneaking around, about taking advantage of weaknesses, and about thinking ahead to your opponent's next action.
• Job System: Forget your entry-level classes. Fell Seal has an extremely customizable job system. You begin with the fundamentals (Fighter, Mercenary, Mage, etc.), but as you advance, you open up new jobs and sub-jobs. This is where things get really fun. You can combine abilities from various classes, making extremely off-the-wall builds. Want a Paladin that can also deal massive fire magic? You do it! A sneaky Ninja who heals? No problem! The potential is truly endless.
• Difficulty & Customization: The game has a strong difficulty system. You can adjust enemy stats, the power of your healing, and even turn permadeath on or off for characters. This means you can adjust the experience to suit your taste, whether you'd prefer a tough tactical puzzle or a less punishing power fantasy. I found the "Normal" setting to be perfectly balanced for a good challenge myself.
• Combat Flow: The combat encounters are also well-designed and varied. You'll have everything from massive battles with lots of different types of enemies to smaller, more personal battles with difficult, elite enemies. The game is always introducing new mechanics and enemy powers and challenging you to change your approach. Some battles can be very long, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste.
• What Holds it Back (Slightly): The amount of customization is a bit daunting at first. There is so much to understand about the job system, the equipment, and skills. But the game makes sure to introduce these systems incrementally and explains them well. Every now and then, there will be decisions by the AI that don't make much sense, but it is not a significant concern.

Story & World: 8/10 - Mature and Engaging

• The Setup: You play as Kyrie, an Arbiter, tasked with maintaining order and upholding the laws of the land. The world is a vibrant place with political intrigue, ancient mysteries, and a looming threat.
• The Narrative: The writing is solid, mature, and explores some deep subjects. Action, intrigue, and character building are nicely balanced. It doesn't innovate, but it's an interesting tale that had me hooked for my playthrough. Shades of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics are definitely present, but it's distinct in its own right.
• Characters: The characters are typically well-written, with clear motivations and personalities. Kyrie, in specific, is a compelling protagonist. The supporting cast is also interesting, and their conversations are frequently enjoyable. The dialogue is well-crafted and the voice acting (which is brief but good) enhances the experience.
• Worldbuilding: The world of Fell Seal is richly detailed, with a unique history and lore. The game encourages you to explore the world map and read descriptions of places and characters, further immersing you in the setting.
• The Downside: The story, good though it is, isn't original. Nothing's wrong with it, but it doesn't live up to the standards of some of the better stories within the genre. In addition, the world map feels somewhat elementary, although it works.

Visuals & Audio: 8.5/10 - Charming and Atmospheric

• Visual Style: The game features pixel art style, which is quite beautiful. The landscapes are wonderfully colorful and varied, and the character sprites are emotive and detailed. The animations throughout the combat are fluid and engaging.
• Music: It has an amazing soundtrack. With tunes of epic battles, gloomy world map melodies, and more, it flawlessly blends in with the mood of the game. One of the game's best features is the music.
• Sound Design: The sound effects are solid, although not particularly outstanding. They do their job of adding to the immersion of combat.
• Minor Quibbles: The game is not a visual powerhouse. While the pixel art is beautiful, it's not going to impress anyone looking for cutting-edge graphics.

Replayability & Value: 9/10 - A Tactical Time Sink

• Hours Upon Hours: Fell Seal is a ridiculously long game. My initial playthrough took me way over 60 hours, and that's without attempting to min-max everything or finish every side quest. There's tons of content to take in.
• New Game+: The game has a solid New Game+ mode, where you can bring over your characters, equipment, and levels and replay the story. This is ideal for testing out various builds and perfecting your team.
• Customization and Experimentation: The depth of the job system and the possibility of creating your own characters invite experimentation and replay value. You'll want to experiment with various class combinations and find new ways of playing.
• Potential Cons: The game is a bit front-loaded. Although it begins well, the middle portion may be somewhat repetitive to some players.

Comparisons & Considerations:

• Final Fantasy Tactics: Fell Seal wears its influences on its sleeve. It shares the same grid-based battle system, job system, and mature themes. But Fell Seal also possesses its own original world, story, and characters. It even addresses some of it's shortcomings, like having more members in combat and a more nuanced class customization.
• Tactics Ogre: Just like FFT, this game also has the strategic complexity and political maneuvering. Fell Seal offers superior combat and a more player-friendly interface.
• Other Tactical RPGs: If you like other tactical RPGs such as Disgaea, Fire Emblem, or XCOM, you will probably like Fell Seal. It is between the more hardcore tactical gameplay of XCOM and the more accessible but equally complex gameplay of Fire Emblem.

Final Verdict: 9/10 - A Must-Play for Tactical RPG Fans

Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is a fantastic tactical RPG. The complex and detailed job system, good storyline, beautiful pixel art style, and atmospheric soundtrack make it a must play for genre fans. It's evidence that dedication and ability can lead to the creation of something great. Yes, it's got some little flaws, but they're easily overlooked in the light of so soundly good an experience. Get out there and purchase it. Now. You won't regret it.