Brief Summary
The video discusses the lack of a definitive Digimon game that captures both the gameplay and the essence of the anime. It compares Digimon games to Pokémon games, highlighting the synergy between Pokémon anime and games. The video then examines three modern Digimon game entries: Cyber Sleuth, Digimon Survive, and Digimon World: Next Order, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the Digimon anime.
- Pokémon games have a synergy with the anime, which Digimon games lack.
- Cyber Sleuth has great gameplay but lacks the Digimon feel.
- Digimon Survive nails the Digimon feel but has poor gameplay.
- Digimon World: Next Order is a middle ground but has an ungratifying gameplay loop.
Intro
The video introduces the topic of the absence of a definitive Digimon game experience, despite the franchise's popularity and the nostalgia associated with it. The author expresses his fondness for Digimon and notes that the games have lagged behind compared to other aspects of the franchise due to infrequent and experimental releases.
Obligatory Pokemon Comparison
The video compares Digimon to Pokémon, noting that Pokémon has successfully created synergy between its anime and games. This synergy immerses players in the world portrayed in the show, with consistent rules, combat, evolution, and regional Pokémon varieties. Digimon games, even the best ones, have not achieved this level of consistency with the anime.
The Big Three
The video introduces the "Big Three" Digimon game franchises: Digimon World: Next Order, Digimon Survive, and the Cyber Sleuth duology. These are the most recent and modern entries released in all regions. While the author still appreciates older titles like the DS-era Digimon story games and the original Digimon World, the Big Three are considered the most accessible and feature-rich for modern players.
Cyber Sleuth
The video discusses the Cyber Sleuth duology, often cited as the best Digimon gaming experience. While the author agrees it's a great game with solid turn-based JRPG mechanics and impressive Digimon models and animations, it doesn't capture the essence of Digimon. The game lacks exploration of the digital world, and the story only feels like Digimon in the final acts. Digimon are portrayed as mere programs, lacking the personalities and bonds seen in the anime. The digivolution and degeneration mechanics also differ significantly from the anime.
Digimon Survive
The video analyzes Digimon Survive, which the author considers a tragic case. On paper, it could have been the definitive Digimon experience, feeling like a spiritual successor to the original Digimon Adventure. It features a small core cast of human kids with singular Digimon partners, a darker take on the digital world, and digivolution/degeneration mechanics faithful to the anime. However, as a game, it falls short, being primarily a visual novel with underbaked tactical RPG combat and poor performance on the Nintendo Switch.
Next Order
The video examines Digimon World: Next Order, which the author sees as a middle ground between Cyber Sleuth and Survive. It draws inspiration from Digimon's origins as a virtual pet. The game is set in a digital world resembling the anime, with a small core cast of human characters and Digimon partners with personalities. The gameplay loop involves training Digimon, exploring the digital world, and recruiting Digimon to the town. However, the Digimon raising mechanics, with limited lifespans and reincarnation, create an ungratifying gameplay loop.
Conclusion
The video concludes by reiterating the lack of a definitive Digimon game that nails both gameplay and story, capturing the feel and mechanical lore of the anime. The author hopes that future entries, such as the upcoming Digimon story game, will improve in the story department. He expresses a desire for another attempt at something like Digimon Survive with more priority given to gameplay or a traditional RPG with Digimon bonded to human companions.
