‘Digimon Story: Time Stranger’, the latest in the Digimon Story series, offers a fresh entry point for newcomers with a standalone story. Developed by Media Vision and published by BANDAI NAMCO, this story-based RPG focuses on turn-based battles and stat-driven Digivolution.

As someone introduced to Digimon through the original Tamagotchi devices and with fond memories of Digimon World, I was excited to experience Time Stranger after recently playing titles like ‘Digimon World Next Order’ and ‘Digimon Survive’. While some nods to other Digimon media and BANDAI NAMCO properties may be missed by new players, these references are non-essential for a fun time.

In Digimon Story: Time Stranger, you play as an agent of ADAMAS, a secret investigative organisation tasked with probing anomalous phenomena in modern Tokyo. Your latest investigation leads you to the other side of a walled-off part of Shinjuku. After some run-ins with some Digimon, you come across a girl who seemingly knows you, whom you must protect. After exploring the walled-off and crumbling section of the city, you encounter a mysterious Digimon and are caught in a devastating explosion.

You awaken eight years in the past. From here, you must unravel how events in both the real world and the digital world called Iliad are intertwined and uncover the truth behind the catastrophe that threatens the stability of both worlds. Throughout your journey, you collect, train, and battle Digimon, forming bonds that are central to the story and the growth of your Digimon.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger builds on the turn-based battle system that fans expect. In these battles, players take turns commanding Digimon to use attacks or skills based on their stats and current bonds. Later in the story, time-based mechanics are introduced, affecting turn order and strategic choices, but to avoid spoilers, I won’t elaborate further.

Digivolution gets an upgrade; instead of a fixed evolution path, you unlock new forms by meeting certain parameters, such as reaching specific stats or developing your Digimon’s bond with you. When your Digimon meets these criteria, you can choose which form it will Digivolve into, adding flexibility and strategy.

Time Stranger also features ‘Era Branching,’ a game mechanic that alters story progression and available Digivolutions based on your choices in different time periods. You can revisit earlier Digivolutions by “devolving” your Digimon, which allows for further experimentation. This approachable system rewards trying different options and replaying with different Digimon builds.

Exploration has also been enhanced in the digital world, which is divided into distinct zones, each with its own environmental hazards, puzzles, and unique Digimon to encounter. Players can travel freely between the zones, which become even more different once you unlock the ability to move between different times.

This allows for different items, characters, and Digimon to be accessible, and adds a non-linear structure, which helps with replayability and depth. As with previous titles, team management and training remain central, building a balanced party, optimising move sets, and nurturing bonds with your Digimon all contribute to success both in and out of battle.

A couple of helpful tips to get you started: The first is to grind. Take your time after every battle. You will collect Digimon Data. Collecting 100% of the Digimon’s Data allows you to claim that Digimon 200% get you that Digimon with better stats, and the more Digimon you have, the better trust me, and the wild Digimon will respawn.

The second piece of advice is to use the R2 trigger on PlayStation, which is Digimon Strike, which destroys some barricades to gain access to areas and is used to pre-emptively strike wild Digimon. You can also destroy certain objects that drop helpful items. That’s all I’m giving you, though the rest you can discover yourself, and there is a lot to discover, plus you can always turn to the tutorial list in the start menu if you need any clarification.

Time Stranger is a visual feast, pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from a Digimon story. Gang characters and digital models are detailed and expressive with fluid animations that bring battles and cuttings to life. The environment design excels particularly in the depiction of various time zones from prehistoric jungles to futuristic cityscapes.

Each area is distinct and packed with visual cues that enhance storytelling. The only gripe I had was with some of the models of people in the real world. You will find that most people don’t have faces; they’re just like mannequins that you run past, which sort of broke the immersion and weirded me out a little bit, but not enough to ruin the game for me.

The game’s user interface is sleek and intuitive, making it easy to manage complex party setups and navigate the intricacies of the time travel aspects later in the game. Load times are minimal, and the transitions between the different areas are handled seamlessly, contributing to an immersive experience.

Audio design deserves special mention; the soundtrack combines orchestral scores with electronic motifs, reflecting both the timelessness and digital nature of the worlds. Battle themes are suitably intense, while ambient tracks help ground players in the mood of each era and location. Voice acting is available in both Japanese and English, with performances that are amazing, however, some parts aren’t voiced at all, which is a little disappointing.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger masterfully blends nostalgia and innovation, offering a narrative and gameplay experience that honours the franchise’s roots while appealing to new audiences. Despite a few flaws, its strengths make it a standout RPG worth experiencing for both longtime fans and newcomers. Whether drawn by the story, strategy, or your favourite Digimon, this game delivers a memorable adventure through time

Written by: Adam Brasher