Digimon Digital Monsters, this game is the champion!
The battle between Digimon and Pokémon feels like it has been going on since the 90s. Charizard vs Greymon, Ash vs Tai, the Pokeball vs The Digivice. However, when it comes to video games Pokémon has dominated the battle... or has it?
The general population would say Pokémon has defeated Digimon in terms of the video games, however don't dismiss this game so easily. Although this game by no stretch of the imagination is perfect, it does have some great merit especially if you are a Digimon fan.
Digimon Cyber Sleuth and Digimon Hackers Memory do feel very similar to Pokémon in some ways, but also vastly different. The biggest aspect is the evolution. In the Pokémon games, aside from a few exceptions, most Pokémon will only evolve to one other Pokémon. For example, Charmander will only evolve into Charmeleon. However, if we take Agumon from this game he can evolve not only to Greymon, but also Meramon, Tyranomon, and some others. Then the digivolution, following Agumon will also have several other possibilities which give you so many possible outcomes from one Digimon. If I had to make a comparison it would be like the Eeveelutions. It’s like how Eevee has 5 separate pathways, but then if each of those evolutions had another 5 pathways and so on. This is the main entertainment value in this experience, while in the Pokémon games it seems more tedious to complete the Pokedex, in this game I genuinely wanted to find out every possible outcome.
This also leads into the benefit of the switch version. The switch version contains both Digimon Cyber Sleuth and Digimon Hackers Memory. However, once you finish one game you can start the next game on the same save file. What this allows you to do is the carry over of the field guide. Every single Digimon you had recorded in the first game will be shown as found in the second game should you choose to play on the same file. What this means you will only have to fill in the Digimon you had missed in the first play-through. This is a brilliant feature as you can simply fill in the blanks with the new game instead of having to simply grind to complete the field guide in a super mundane way, you will be able to experience the story. In addition, once you beat both games you get the option to transport Digimon from one game to the other.
In terms of the Digimon this game is gorgeous. The Digimon look amazing, just like you seen them in the show and all the attack animations look amazing. Each Digimon has a signature move that is unique to that Digimon and the animations for those look amazing. If you were a fan of the show you will gleam with excitement when you see War Greymons Terra Force or Angemons Hand of Fate.
Each Digimon as mentioned above has a signature move, but they also have inherited moves. What this means is that for example if Agumon learned a move and then digivolved into Greymon, Greymon would also inherit this move. What this does is adds to the experimentation of who and what to digivolve to. For example, if your end goal is War Greymon, maybe instead of digivolving straight into War Greymon you may want to digivolve into Rust Tyrannomon to learn an electric move to get rid of those pesky water types. This makes the combat so involved and gives you so much strategy options.
Another aspect of the Digimon that I really enjoyed that some may not really care about is when you are in the Digital space the Digimon follow around, the Pokémon games have only done this in a few games, but there is something amazing with having Omnimon, Magna Angemon, and Beelzemon follow you around.
As I said before this game is far from perfect. The biggest problem with this game is the level design. The best part of the Digimon show was how gorgeous the world was, it truly made you want to go into the Digi-world as a kid. This game ignores all of that. The majority of the game you are spent in this dull blue background, luckily the game-play is enough to keep you interested, however it is a very big missed opportunity. I would like to see more creative level design instead of something that looks so lazily produced.
When it comes to the story both of these games are kind of a mixed bag. The second half of the story of both games are amazing, the story gets super intriguing and you can’t wait to find out how it ends. However, that in itself is just the problem. The first half of the story is very dull and you don’t really have any idea on what is going on. Luckily the story eventually picks up, but it would be nice to be more entertained throughout the entirety.
In addition to the story, the side missions are incredibly lackluster. I am aware that this is sort of a common staple of JRPG’s but these side missions are bad even for that standard. Some of them are moderately entertaining, however eventually they start to get super repetitive and the ending is the same. The other side quests are even worse. A certain Digimon will say they lost their “special item” and you simply traverse the area for glowing icon and you return it to them. These side quests need a lot of work if they ever create a sequel.
This other problem with the game is far more minor than the rest, but it is based on preference. I grew up watching the English dub for Digimon so it would have been nice to have had the dub voices for the Digimon at least so we can hear the attacks they scream out. It is very minor, but would have been an appreciated addition.
My final concern with the game is how similar Hackers Memory and Cyber Sleuth are. The game has different story and characters; however, the entire game takes place in the same areas! I have already mentioned how much I disliked the level design and now I have to experience it a second time. I had waited a couple months before starting Hackers memory and I still ended up getting burnt out because of how the game was similar. I eventually did finish the game, but it was a case of me grinding it out just so I could say that I finished the game. If I could compare it to anything, it felt more like a 70-hour DLC over a new game. If I had to make any suggestions, I would say wait at least a year before starting the second game.
CONS
Level Design
Slow Start to Story
Tedious Side Missions
Cyber Sleuth and Hackers Memory too similar
No English Dub options
PROS
Combat
Attack Animations
Digimon Follow you around
Digivolution
Story Picks up
Switch Version allows carry over of Field Guide
CONSENSUS
Overall, I think this game was amazing. Even though I had some concerns with the story and level design, the amount I enjoyed the game-play easily covered for those issues. Hopefully if we ever get a sequel, they can remedy this. Overall, it was an absolute joy to play this game and was the Digimon game I've always waited for.
RATING
9/10: EXCELLENT
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