Even non-fans of Digimon will appreciate the creativity of this engaging role-play game!
(-) the music in the game can cause an aneurysm if you play for extended periods
Most of us already know that Digimon was only created as an answer to Poke'mon, raising creatures with attacks of different types and forms to battle against one another. And it's easy to see why some people will blissfully stay away from these offerings because they seem like little more than a fad. But even those who have no clue what Digimon is should take the time to see just how well this role-play game is executed.
The object of the game is to raise a Digimon that follows you around, and find other Digimon scattered across the map with their memory wiped clean. They need to come back to your city called File City because they used to have formed a city together, with a market shop, restaurant, battle arena, clinic, and more. As you progress into the game more and more of this becomes available and you can use anything there is to offer any time you like.
As far as raising your Digimon is concerned, the system of how you're supposed to do it is very dynamic. They have basic needs that must be answered. For example, when they're hungry you feed them. When they're sleepy you let them sleep. When they have to poop (what?), you take them to the toilet. Your Digimon even has a happiness and discipline level depending on how well you take care of them. You train them in the training area of their HP, MP, attack, defense, speed, and brain. And as you train them more, they evolve into stronger Digimon, depending on how you trained them as well as treated them. But the kicker is you Digimon actually has a set life span, depending on how well you take care of them mostly. Time goes by fast, and you can see day and night pass. After then, your Digimon passes away and you start over with a new egg. Then you repeat the process all over again.
There's a large set of special attacks you can learn throughout the game of all types, and depending on what Digimon you have, you can give them three of any of those attacks. Addition to those, at times you also get to charge your controller's shoulder buttons and use the Digimon's signature attack.
Throughout the game you'll also get the chance to collect training cards, fish, battle in tournaments, and so many other different things to do. This game delivers like very few games in its generation can.
The graphics however aren't quite as over the mark as the gameplay. Not that it's a bad thing, but most of the people and Digimon are easily seen through their basic polygon forms. However, that doesn't count for much. Also, after playing the game for extended sessions, it's easy to get the music pieces stuck in your head at the point of ridiculousness. As addictive as the game can get, this can be a problem after a while and some people may do better playing the game with the audio turned off.
Digimon World is one of the most rewarding experiences to be had with the Playstation, and it is much better than the overhauled successors that come up ahead of it. Such flexible and realistic and dynamic role play doesn't come very often, not even with the giant that is Poke'mon, so this game is definitely worth getting for Digimon fans and worth checking out by most other people. Take it from me, I by no means consider myself or anyone else in my family a Digimon fan but we all came together to play this game, then that has to be a good thing.