FSN ended up being completely different than what I expected...

User Rating: 9 | Fate/Stay Night [Realta Nua] PS2
By antipunt1 | Review Date:
So apparently, there are a group of digital-books known as 'graphic novels' that Japanese especially pride themselves on. Essentially? A complex picture book.

And I didn't even know this as I started playing this game. Actually to characterize FSN as a 'game' is debatable. Essentially, its more like a book.

*quick note: though I am rating Realta Nua, I actually played the PC version. However, I imported all the voices from Realta Nua [thx to mirror moon], so I was able to enjoy the full FSN experience. Therefore I felt rating this version was more appropriate

Let me say the obvious: I'm sure many including myself expected this game to be utter trash that could be discarded after playing. In a nutshell, was certainly wrong.

FSN is rather enjoyable. The story is well written and meaningful. The dialogue, also, very well translated. The experience of the novel can be rather emotionally moving. I was -especially- surprised because I expected the game to be pretty 'average'. But the more I played, the more I started to understand. This was essentially a very good anime.

Which is unfortunate because the anime version is NOT that good actually. The game version stands alone in being able to communicate an authentic FSN experience (and hopefully you'll be able to play a version with VA, because it makes it a lot more enjoyable). I believe that my 9.0 rating largely depends on it, simply due to technicality.

FSN does so many things that a game should do. Emotional connection. Great story. (get ready for a -lot- of text).

But in a way...FSN is hard to rate. What about gameplay? I mean, yes the music and sound was fantastic, but what is gameplay in a 'game' like... this.

Well what I decided to do was excise that category. Essentially, FSN falls under the label of 'graphic novel'. Same as how counter-strike falls under the category of "FPS". If CS were to be rated for story, it would also receive harsher reviews.

I just couldn't give FSN less than a 9.0 for what it had accomplished. (let alone a 2.0). Many of the characters are just so well constructed. Saber/Rin (depending on taste) can sometimes appear as an 'ideal female' incarnate. Think Samus from Metroid or Jade from Beyond Good and Evil

Giving a graphic novel a 9.0 was a stretch for me internally, but really, the story/characters/music/feel was just so 'at home.' I can't help but remember a lot of games with beautiful graphics and maybe even decent gameplay that failed to establish an 'emotional connection' or an ounce of authenticity. Seeing this 'novel' make such an emotional connection puts all those other games to shame.

Obviously, FSN has its flaws. But it also has some of the most interesting characters/story out there, and since we decided to rate in the category of 'graphic novel' here, its just a hands down winner.
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