I love jRPG's and can do nothing about it.
1. Characters
Yes, I want to mention a great role - play in this point, because gamers will meat some really interesting and funny characters. Each of them has it's own strong personality, which also reveals more during the side - quests.
the combat style of each of them is also different due tto their special abilities, for example, Ricardo is more a supporter, while Natan is an attacker with air affinity and so on. Gamers will enjoy a lot of crazy adventures with these guys.
2. Battles
This is my favourite thing in all RPG's. You will meet not only standard parameters, like HP, MP, Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom and so on, but also some interesting parameters (SP, Stock, Speed, Luck). As regards magic, there are 12 Zodiac stellar charts in the game. Each of them has a certain number of nodes, where you can put your magic stellars, which you obtain through the game. You can also upgrade your magic, but you need cash to do so. magic is divided into 3 categories:healing, support, attack.
attack magic is divided into 7 affinities: dark, light, water, earth, fire, air and non - elemental. Besides each of the attack spells are divided into 3 damage height zones: air, mid - range and ground. It sounds complicated, but it requires more strategical thinking. Oh, yes, almost forgot. If you liked boss battles in FF series, then you will enjoy them in SH: FtNW, because bosses are large, fierce and ugly (some of them).
3. Fusions
Almost the half of the game's scenario is about these thingies. They are extremely important. You can't get a good ending without obtaining them all.
Fusions remind me GF from FFVIII, only you don't summon them, but a girl, named Shania, transforms into one of the fusions. You have to obtain 4 statues for total of 4 fusions and soul charge these.Then fusions become more powerful.
4. Monsters
The main character Johnny can snap every monster in the battle and collect these snap cards. Designers have done a great job by creating a large diversity of monsters. They have interesting names too. There are more than 100 different monsters in the game, each with it's strong and weak sides. As you progress through the game, so do the monsters and they become fiercer by casting devastating spells and co - operating with each other. I can say that it is alright with the AI in this game.
5. Adventures
You can expect a serious travelling in this game - your journey begins in New York and ends somewhere in the Honduras or so (if we look in the world map). You will visit real places, like Grand Canyon, Chicago, Las Vegas, Machu Pichu and other places.
6. Conclusion
Maybe the game's story is not so deep and complex, but still you can spend 100 and more hours by developing your characters, collecting all the snap cards and ultimate weapons/armor. After completing the game, you can save the file and start a New Game+ with some of the abilities, magic and all snap cards you got. This game is not only highly recommended for all tacticians and strategists to beat bosses with minimum losses, minimum turns and so, but also for jRPG fans like myself.