What the Sonic the Hedgehog series was to the SEGA Genesis, this game (and franchise) should be to the Vita: a Must-Own. If you own a Vita, get this game. This game has a little bit of everything. It's best to avoid spoilers and experience the plot blind the first time through.
The characters are heavily interesting (though we lose someone of them a bit too soon to really to get to know them.) The gameplay and story is seamlessly integrated. (More so than in the second game.) The soundtrack is a must-own.
My one issue is the lack of expansion of the free-time events. At certain points in the game, you will have the opportunity to spend time with your classmates. Not only are there far too few in-between trials, but aside from occasionally asking some questions, they really aren't that interactive beyond reading.
I bring this up because there is something a 'RE:ACT' system. (That was unfortunately removed from the 2nd Game) The 'RE:ACT' system allows you as the player character to respond to select phrases of dialogue by other characters. Often times, there are many several phrases and you can choose which order you 'RE:ACT'.
The main strength of the 'RE:ACT' system is that it allows the dialogue to flow more naturally, and it keeps the player involved in the game, and it means that they aren't just going to skip the text to just get to the next trial.
I would have loved to see this system integrated into the free-time events. And I would have loved to see 'RE:ACT's within 'RE:ACT's. With confirmation that another game is in the works, I sincerely hope that they bring back the 'RE:ACT' system and expand it greatly. This is a character-driven franchise. Let the player character interact with the other characters as naturally as possible.
Also note, I love the first person perspective. You really feel like you're in the shoes of Makoto as he wanders around the school, and it certainly beats the side-scrolling nature of the 2nd game.
Little Bit of Everything.
What the Sonic the Hedgehog series was to the SEGA Genesis, this game (and franchise) should be to the Vita: a Must-Own. If you own a Vita, get this game. This game has a little bit of everything. It's best to avoid spoilers and experience the plot blind the first time through.
The characters are heavily interesting (though we lose someone of them a bit too soon to really to get to know them.) The gameplay and story is seamlessly integrated. (More so than in the second game.) The soundtrack is a must-own.
My one issue is the lack of expansion of the free-time events. At certain points in the game, you will have the opportunity to spend time with your classmates. Not only are there far too few in-between trials, but aside from occasionally asking some questions, they really aren't that interactive beyond reading.
I bring this up because there is something a 'RE:ACT' system. (That was unfortunately removed from the 2nd Game) The 'RE:ACT' system allows you as the player character to respond to select phrases of dialogue by other characters. Often times, there are many several phrases and you can choose which order you 'RE:ACT'.
The main strength of the 'RE:ACT' system is that it allows the dialogue to flow more naturally, and it keeps the player involved in the game, and it means that they aren't just going to skip the text to just get to the next trial.
I would have loved to see this system integrated into the free-time events. And I would have loved to see 'RE:ACT's within 'RE:ACT's. With confirmation that another game is in the works, I sincerely hope that they bring back the 'RE:ACT' system and expand it greatly. This is a character-driven franchise. Let the player character interact with the other characters as naturally as possible.
Also note, I love the first person perspective. You really feel like you're in the shoes of Makoto as he wanders around the school, and it certainly beats the side-scrolling nature of the 2nd game.
I'll give this a 9.1/10.