Release Date: July 26, 2016
A science fiction action-adventure game by Bandai Namco, based on the manga and anime series known outside Japan as The Asterisk Wars. A.W. Phoenix Festa takes place on an island, the surface of which is mostly occupied by a modern metropolis and the campuses of six rival magic schools. You can play as either the series' protagonist, Ayato Amagiri, or an anonymous Seidoukan school student.
A.W. Phoenix Festa is a PSV action-adventure game that takes place in a technologically advanced world using many forms of magic. The title was developed by the Japanese company Bandai Namco, as well as a small studio APLUS from Osaka, which so far has been mainly engaged in cooperation with more experienced developers. A.W. Phoenix Festa is an adaptation of a two-part anime series Gakusen Toshi Asterisk (also known as The Asterisk Wars) from 2015, which in turn was based on a series of books of the same title.
The action of the game takes place on an island, most of which is occupied by a modern metropolis, as well as extensive campuses of six schools training magic users. Their pupils regularly participate in tournaments called Fests. These competitions determine which academy is the best and the winners are rewarded generously. The story campaign of A.W. Phoenix Festa offers the players two options. We can play the role of an anonymous Seidoukan student, or Ayato Amagiri, the main character of the anime and books. The first option enables us to play more flexibly and achieve several different endings, the second one is more linear and plays out some of the events from the TV series. The story is presented in a classic form known from visual novel games.
A.W. Phoenix Festa is divided into two main segments. The first is combat in closed arenas, where we use our magical weapons. The gameplay is presented in TPP and resembles classic beat'em up and hack and slash games. We use special attacks and combos to defeat our opponents. The second segment of the game presents everyday life in the academy. Each day, players schedule training session to improve their character stats and deciding which of the five heroines to take on a date. You can also choose one of the available temporary jobs, and the money earned in this way can be used, for example, for gifts for friends or items useful in combat.
A.W. Phoenix Festa offers above-average audiovisuals - if we take into account what other Japanese games based on licenses of well-known anime series offer. During the game we will also hear original voices of actors known from the TV series.
Platforms:
PlayStation Vita
Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Age restrictions: 12+
Game Ratings for A.W. Phoenix Festa Video Game.
Cubed3: 5 / 10
A.W. Phoenix Festa isn't bad, as some elements are mildly amusing. The building up of the character to compete in the final tournament is a cool element, but the game lacks depth on so many levels while punishing mistakes so hard that the whole thing becomes a grind. There is not much to see, not much to do, and how often scenes repeat is grating. What is seen in the first 15 minutes is in general what the next 5 hours are going to be like, and those first 15 were not that good to begin with. The elements in here have the potential to be a really cool game, but this is more like a framework than an actual game worth buying.
PlayStation LifeStyle: 6 / 10 by Jowi Meli
Unfortunately, it’s way too light on narrative to leave much of an impact; for a game about a tournament, it lacks the sort of excitement and tension you’d expect, and even the dating sim elements pay off in thin dividends. Still, there’s enough here for a bit of breezy entertainment, and sometimes that’s all you’re looking for.
DualShockers: 6 / 10 by Kenneth Richardson
If you are someone who loves the source material or just generally can dig the quirky, light, and very Japanese appeal of this kind of title, Phoenix Fiesta is worth a shot. If, however, you came for a deep JRPG or a sophisticated action game or a thrilling, edge of your seat visual novel, be aware that you will most likely come away feeling disappointed.
