A solid and creative RPG, Avalon Code is a couple of small annoyances away from being a great game.
As one of the few non-remakes of a previous title, however, I was very excited for Avalon Code, and that wait was rewarded, for the most part.
The good:
* Terrific 3d rendered visuals that look on-par with some of the PSOne JRPGs.
* Extremely creative attribute system lets you capture and alter the attributes of just about anything in the game world, from monsters to food. You can weaken monsters, strengthen power-ups and equipment, etc. by using the complex and strategic attributes.
* Well-paced main storyline doesn't get too repetitive or boring, and features very little backtracking.
* Occasional bits of spoken dialog are well done, and the music throughout is solid and epic.
* Game rewards you for exploring every screen of the game world.
* Very deep overall experience.
The bad:
* The real-time (action) combat system can be cumbersome and really is not as strategic as it could be. It descends into button-mashing in most cases.
* Characters and storyline are very generic, despite being well-told.
* The game's tutorial system is woefully inadequate, requiring the player to dive into the manual more than they should.
* For those that aren't willing to really spend time playing with the exploration and attribute system, the game can be very confusing and cumbersome.
Overall, it's definitely a very good JRPG. However, it's really intended for and best for true JRPG fans. Casual or Action-RPG fans may want to steer clear. But fans of deeper JRPGs will find a lot to like here.