Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin meets divided reviews

Since early access for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin starts today, reviews flooded in throughout yesterday. However, the general consensus is, well, mixed. To say there are vastly different opinions about the Final Fantasy spinoff game would be a drastic understatement.

Reviews for the game range from great to mixed to downright abysmal. Of the game’s divisive nature, however, the story seems to split critics the most. Depending on who you ask, the strange and often cringe-inducing moments from the trailers either give the game a unique charm or completely kill the narrative.

In fact, according to even positive reviews, the game’s story is all over the place. Many reviews cite a lack of cohesion and a complete nosedive from Final Fantasy’s tone.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin has intuitive and challenging gameplay.

However, many critics say that where the story dulls, the gameplay shines. IGN highlights Stranger of Paradise’s challenging combat and in-depth character customization as two of the game’s biggest strengths. Of all the reviews, Game Informer’s take sums up the mixed reaction to Team Ninja’s FF spinoff.

When swords are drawn and giant beasts enter frenzied states, this edgy experiment shines, as the battlefield lights up with a flurry of combos and magics against awesome monsters that pose a real threat. When the swords are holstered and the characters need to converse or explore, Stranger of Paradise hits lows rarely seen in Final Fantasy’s storied 35-year history.

Andrew Reiner, Game Informer

Developed by Team Ninja and published by Square Enix, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an action-RPG spinoff to the storied FF series. Early access begins today. It officially launches on March 18 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Have you played the early access for Stranger of Paradise yet? What do you think of the new game? Let us know below!

Via Kotaku