Fairy Bloom Freesia is a nice, surprisingly good game that is more than worth it, despite its short length.
+ Fast, addictive gameplay
+ Fun boss battles
+ Good visual quality
Negative
- Heavily repetitive combat with obtuse controls
- Enemy design is always recycled again and again
Fairy Bloom Freesia is a nice little game. If the idea of a kawaii~ little girl beating golems in a beautiful forest is your idea of 'nice little game', you've come to the right place. Freesia is a short and surprisingly entertaining closed arena beat-'em-up that offers some good fun despite its obviously repetitive combat and enemies.
The story takes place in a forest where little but strong Freesia lives. Strange enemies attack Freesia, golems, sent by humans searching for the Amal Stone which can only be obtained from the Jolem Tree, Freesia's master. In order to protect her master, Freesia must prevent these humans from getting there. As simplistic as it sounds, it is actually a nice, short tale, despite the characters being simple themselves. The story is carried out through motionless and voiceless dialogue although there is the occasional cutscene before bosses where some action happens. Apart from the story mode, the Guardian mode offers a lengthy survival-like mode that runs longer than the good 2 hour story.
Fairy Bloom Freesia is a beat-'em-up, taking place in a very small, closed area. Your objective is to defeat each bland looking enemy, and occasionally defend a Vortex (magical area). Despite the combat's simplicity, it remains enjoyable and fast paced. Freesia use quick movements, and can easily send enemies flying, which can in turn bump into enemies and send them flying. This system allows you to clear a line of enemy since this is a 2D game. You can perform combos as well. Attacks will differ depending on the direction you move in. The combos are the best of the gameplay, allowing you to chain attacks and later even special attacks as you throw chunks of enemies into each other, and that's a real pleasure.
There are a few RPG elements. Freesia levels up and with the EXP earned (which vary on number of combos and time), you can buy new skills and magic attacks, and even optional upgrades to improve your chances. Special skills offer deeper combat and possibilities. The first playthrough is only divided between easy and normal, and it is mainly the awkward control system (which the game immediately prompts you to change the controls) that makes combat difficulty. The commands are buttoned as Z for attack, X for magic, C for jump and V for guarding on the keyboard. It can make for unnecessary troubles when fighting hordes of enemies until you get used to it. There are some boss fights after each 5 stages in the story mode. These bosses are probably the more entertaining half since you can focus on a single target, even though there might be smaller enemies lurking. There are some moments where the AI just simply take hits pointless and then moves. Even regular AI shows some dumb spots.
Fairy Bloom Freesia is pretty easy on the eyes. The anime-like visuals are simple but well drawn. The problem is the immensely repetitive and dull common enemy designs that mainly vary into three types, and the occasional stronger enemy. Bosses are distinct though since you are actually fighting different enemies. The second most repetitive thing is the stages. There are only 5 stages in the story mode, varying from spring till winter, and a different stage at the end. There are some short, minor cutscenes which show that this game wasn't made to have cutscenes. The music is pleasant, and it makes up for the minimal voice acting which the game could have done without. While Freesia's voice is passable, the other's voices are flat and stereotypical voices of Japanese character that give them no personality.
Looking at Freesia won't show an entertaining game. It is once you get in the action and toss in a few combos and special attacks that the game truly delights. It is a cheap game and a few short hours of slashing and slamming ugly and forgettable common enemies over and over again that are quite fun. Any anime fan might enjoy little Freesia's lovely adventure.
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Graphics = 7.5
Simple and eye-catching. Enemy needed much more variety.
Sound = 7.3
Good, but mostly pleasant music. The minimal voice acting could have been better.
Presentation = 7.0
Nothing much. Runs well, challenge is fair but the AI sometime lacks.
Gameplay = 8.1
A fast action game of combos and fast hitting. Knocking enemies into each other is fun and effective.
Story = 7.8
The story is surprisingly good if you didn't expect anything out of it. It lasts around 2 hours, and the Guardian mode which is unlocked afterwards, offers a good challenge. There are 50 Steam Achievements
OVERALL = 75 / 100