An Honest Review Of Digimon Survive: One Year Later

Summary

In this one-year reflection on *Digimon Survive*, the speaker reveals their deep appreciation for the game, highlighting its emotional storytelling, unexpected character deaths, and memorable Digivolution moments. Despite the game’s somewhat flawed tactics gameplay, its narrative and world-building stood out, with the game blending tradition and modernity in a unique Digimon origin story. The speaker shares a personal connection to the game, revealing it as their favorite Digimon title. They also express hopes for a sequel, while acknowledging the game’s strengths and flaws. *Digimon Survive* is ultimately described as the best Digimon anime experience they've ever had.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer thoroughly enjoyed *Digimon Survive*, making it their favorite *Digimon* game and one of their top three or four *Digimon* stories across all mediums.
• 😀 The reason the reviewer didn’t post a follow-up after completing the game was because they wanted to keep the experience for themselves, not due to disliking it.
• 😀 *Digimon Survive* is primarily a visual novel with some tactical gameplay, which suited the reviewer’s preferences for story-driven games.
• 😀 The game’s narrative, where a group of kids gets trapped in an unfamiliar world, drew strong comparisons to *Digimon Adventure* but with much darker themes and higher stakes.
• 😀 Death is a significant part of the game, with some characters potentially dying depending on the player's choices, which gives weight to every decision made.
• 😀 New Game Plus unlocks after the first playthrough, allowing players to save characters who died, making the second run more rewarding and providing additional context.
• 😀 The Digivolution sequences in *Survive* are emotional and tied to character growth, creating more meaningful moments than in other *Digimon* games.
• 😀 The lack of spoilers in pre-release marketing kept the Digivolution forms a surprise, enhancing the sense of wonder during gameplay.
• 😀 Although the tactical gameplay was fun, the reviewer felt it lacked variety and thoughtfulness in scenario design, especially in the second playthrough.
• 😀 The game presents a unique interpretation of *Digimon* lore, where Digimon are seen as mythical creatures tied to ancient Japanese traditions, with a modern twist involving the internet and digital media.
• 😀 Despite some technical issues, like menu navigation frustrations and the absence of a promised multiplayer mode, *Digimon Survive* turned out to be a highly satisfying experience for the reviewer.
• 😀 The reviewer feels that *Digimon Survive* is the best *Digimon* anime season they've experienced, due to its strong storytelling, world-building, and thematic depth.

Q & A

Why did the creator not post a follow-up video after beating Digimon Survive?

The creator enjoyed Digimon Survive so much that they chose to keep it as a personal experience and did not feel the need to turn it into content, after previously discussing Digimon Adventure 2020 and Ghost Game publicly.

What makes Digimon Survive the creator's favorite Digimon game?

Digimon Survive is the creator's favorite because it combines elements of a visual novel and tactics gameplay, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, which aligns with the creator's personal interests.

How does Digimon Survive compare to other Digimon games in terms of gameplay?

While many fans of the Digimon franchise prefer games like Digimon World or Digimon Cyber Sleuth, the creator appreciates Survive for its blend of visual novel elements, tactical combat, and its compelling story.

How does the evolution of Digimon in Survive differ from other Digimon games?

In Digimon Survive, evolution is tied to emotional and narrative growth, making it feel like a more personal and impactful event compared to other games where evolution is more mechanical or menu-driven.

What role does the concept of death play in Digimon Survive?

Death is a significant theme in Digimon Survive, as many characters can be killed off depending on the player's choices. This adds a sense of weight and urgency to the game's narrative, especially since character deaths are graphically depicted.

What is the main theme of the story in Digimon Survive?

The main theme revolves around modernity versus tradition, with the story exploring how human belief and curiosity, spread through technology and the internet, shape the world of Digimon.

What is the significance of the word 'Digimon' in the game?

The word 'Digimon' is only spoken in the final moments of the game, symbolizing the transition from traditional beliefs about the creatures to their digital form in the modern, internet-driven world.

What was the creator's experience with the game's second playthrough?

The creator found the second playthrough incredibly rewarding, as they were able to save characters who died in the first run, providing more context, character growth, and new Digivolutions.

How does the digital world in Digimon Survive relate to real-world technology?

The digital world in Digimon Survive is sustained by human belief, with the internet, rumors, and imagination playing a role in its continued existence, showing how digital data and curiosity are now the driving forces behind ancient traditions.

What are the key issues with the gameplay that the creator mentions?

The creator notes issues with menu navigation, where they often pressed the wrong buttons, and the lack of variety and thoughtfulness in the tactics battles. They also express disappointment over the absence of the multiplayer PvP component that was hinted at before release.