Digimon Story Time Stranger preview: Digimon is actually good now

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I have completed every Digimon game released in the English language, and while I found each one enjoyable, it’s hard for me to categorize them as truly “good.” They have interesting concepts and generally solid execution, but they often fall short when it comes to polish. The Cyber Sleuth games came close to being great, but they still had several flaws. For instance, the localization was poor, the English releases had presentation issues, and the balancing problems made them quite frustrating to play.

Based on my brief experience with Digimon Story: Time Stranger, it appears this game could potentially lift the curse. During my three-hour playthrough, I found it to be not just entertaining, but also meticulously refined, finely balanced, and overall of high quality.

My playtime was divided into two main sections: the initial phase of the game which included the opening sequence, and a story-driven mission roughly halfway through. The start was thoroughly enjoyable and established an engaging atmosphere for the entire game. Notably, it moved at a brisk pace, launching into action significantly quicker than most Digimon games thus far.

In this tale, you’ll find yourself assuming the identity of a member within ADAMAS, a covert group tasked with probing unusual occurrences – from crime to the supernatural. ADAMAS is known for being swift to respond in these situations. Given the clandestine nature of the organization, maintaining discretion has become crucial due to increasing public awareness. However, this becomes challenging when mysterious digital beings surface during investigations, but that’s a challenge future ADAMAS agents will have to face.

To put it simply, our hero encounters an unexpected incident involving a colossal robot which somehow transports him back to the past. The details of this strange occurrence remain unknown since that’s where I stopped playing during the game’s initial segments. Overall, I found the premise intriguing and believe it serves as a strong foundation for such a storyline.

The unanticipated emergence of Digimon in the world is a recurring theme in the series, but if it proves effective, there’s no need to tinker with what already works, and in this case, it most certainly does.

In the continuation of my gaming experience, events transpired roughly halfway through. It’s tricky to pinpoint exactly how much time elapsed since the initial session, but there were numerous fresh characters introduced without explanation, and I found myself in the Digital World, the realm of all Digimon. My adventure also included a versatile group of Digimon companions for interaction.

In the digital realm, I found myself assigned a mission to administer medicine to a supposedly ill creature known as a Digimon. However, it turned out this Digimon wasn’t genuinely sick; instead, they were hiding the fact that they were secretly assisting a malevolent Digimon named Titan in its recovery following a grueling fight. Contrary to its menacing reputation, the Titan didn’t wish to cause harm, and its unanticipated caregiver recognized the goodness within it and aspired to make a positive impact. Although this narrative may evoke memories of a classic Saturday morning cartoon, it possesses a complexity not commonly found in Digimon games.

As a dedicated gamer, I recently found myself face-to-face with one of my all-time favorite Digimon, the swift Submarimon, in the heat of battle. His help proved invaluable as we navigated those rapid currents. But little did I know that this encounter would lead me straight into a showdown with the Titan’s boss! It was during this intense fight that I got to truly appreciate the depth of Digimon Story: Time Stranger’s combat system.

Much like other games in the turn-based RPG genre, Time Stranger employs a classic rock-paper-scissors mechanic for determining strengths and vulnerabilities. However, it’s not just one system – it’s two! Layered on top of each other, these systems create a rich and strategic combat experience that keeps me coming back for more.

In this unique triangular setup – Virus, Vaccine, and Data – each element has its own distinct characteristics, similar to elements such as water, fire, light, and dark. Each element possesses its own strengths and weaknesses. Targeting a vulnerability within one aspect of the system will inflict additional damage, regardless of any restrictions on the other parts. However, striking two weaknesses, with each one being from different aspects of the system, can cause catastrophic damage. This encourages constructing diverse teams across various dimensions, and considering the vast array of Digimon available, the number of possible combinations is virtually limitless.

In both previous Cyber Sleuth games, the same fighting system was utilized. However, in the new version, there’s an innovative feature: in-battle form changes. This allows you to switch between different forms based on which moves you employ during combat. For instance, a physical attacker could transform into a special attacker by using a specific move. Some Digimon even fuse when certain moves are executed. I’m eagerly anticipating exploring the depth of this battle system change, as it appears it might revolutionize the gameplay experience.

In addition, there’s a novel X-Arts system that allows you to merge the forces of your three Digimon for a unique attack during battles. This move can either heal, deal area-of-effect damage, boost your own abilities, or weaken those of your opponents. Frankly, I’m not entirely clear on how this works and what determines its effect, but since X-Arts doesn’t require a turn, I’ll grab it. In essence, a free attack is always a good thing.

In my presentation, every dialogue line appeared well-translated without any noticeable errors. The menus were smooth and clean, graphics ran smoothly, and the battles weren’t excessively challenging. Remarkably, the game was dual-language, featuring impressive performances in both English and Japanese. On PS5, it looked visually appealing, even if the frame rate dipped occasionally during some parts. However, this was an early version of the game, so I didn’t find any issues that affected my overall experience.

It’s undeniable that Digimon Story: Time Stranger boasts the largest budget of any Digimon game yet. This is evident in every detail, from its innovative concepts to its meticulously polished implementation. Bandai Namco has spared no effort, and it seems their investment is truly paying off. For years, the Digimon series has been on the brink of mainstream success, but I believe this could be its moment. After three decades, it looks like Digimon is finally poised for stardom.

The upcoming Digimon Story: Time Stranger game will be available for play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and personal computers starting October 3, 2025.

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2025-09-10 19:17