Disc Creatures (PC) Review

The development team behind Picorinne Soft is comprised entirely of two brothers. One of the siblings has taken the nickname RYO, and he specializes in shmups. Perhaps you've heard of Infinos Gaiden, which was released on Steam last year. SATTO, the other half of this indie studio, prefers to work on RPGs. The fruit of his labour is called Disc Creatures. It's a retro throwback designed in the spirit of classic monster-collectors. At first glance, you'd be hard-pressed to tell that this wasn't originally released on the Game Boy Colour. However, this is no mere clone. Though it evokes the spirit of an era many gamers are nostalgic for, it also features modern advances found in the genre today. For all of the hotshot collectors out there, you're sure to get your money's worth trying to collect all 200 creatures.

In order to better explain your quest, it's prudent to start from the beginning. After naming the hero, the first order of business is to obtain the starter creatures. Much like similar titles, these cutesy beasts all have their own elemental alignment. This means that they have strengths and weaknesses. A fire-type such as Flamorb can easily fry plant-types like Tomatees, but its best that they don't pick a fight with a Clawdaddy, or any other water-based creatures. A party can be formed with up to three members. Unless the Disc Ranger knows exactly what they're up against, they should stick to balanced parties that deal with multiple elements. PCs are conveniently set up all over the world. They allow you to swap creatures around and heal the wounded.

Now, how exactly does a DiscR obtain creatures? Rather than throw poke-balls or present compelling arguments for recruitment, the DiscKid attempts to obtain the beast's data. After a fight, there's a small chance that the enemy's data will be burned to a disc. In other words, think of it like winning a rare drop. Anyway, taking the disc to a PC will allow you to generate a clone. Once added to the party, these clones can fight and earn experience. Be mindful of their wellbeing, because they can be hurt and knocked out, just like normal creatures. Upon levelling up, they tend to learn new moves. Only four can be equipped at a time. Thankfully, you can swap them out in-between battles with the handy "move-changer." Nobody forgets moves in this world.

Whether or not you master the turn-based battles depends on a number of factors. Naturally, you want to have a party that can strike the enemy's weaknesses. You'll also want to properly manage your SP. Each move carries an SP cost. Once the creature is exhausted, they'll have to e-charge. Not only does this cost a turn, but it also leaves them vulnerable to a devastating attack. The opposition also has to e-charge, so use this to your advantage. Healing items and skills are available. Keep in mind though that they can't be used over consecutive rounds. Don't expect to abuse curatives to survive. Numerous other techniques such as debuffs are also available, so try to work them into your overall strategy. Altogether, the battle-system is clever and well-designed.

While knowledge and strategy will get players far, they're no substitution for high stats. In Disc Creatures, overwhelming rivals with sheer numbers is just a fact of life. Expect to spend an inordinate amount of time grinding for experience. You'll be walking back and forth, or forth and back, all the while pounding on weak foes. Fights are lightning fast, especially once you discover the key-item that increases battle speed. Still, the constant grind can become a little mind-numbing. Most areas have some sort of theme, such as magma-filled caverns, or a haunted forest. You may find yourself rebuilding the party, just to ensure they're capable of countering whatever they're about to face. On one hand, it's great not relying on the same creatures to handle everything. On the other hand, a grind is still a grind.

If the type of player who enjoys collecting everything, then you're sure to develop an addiction to this. Plenty of creatures can be found just by wandering the world. However, quite a few can only be acquired through specific circumstances. Follow the advice of anyone you bump into, because it may lead to a special encounter. Just plain dumb luck also helps. When visiting town, keep an eye out for a raffle. You might end up winning a super rare creature. Others are created through fusion, so check out suspicious areas for recipes. Exceptionally thorough explorers will be treated to frequent rewards.

The episodic structure of this adventure works wonderfully. Though the protagonist is mute and capable of only a few mannerisms, the effective story-telling and decent secondary characters help carry every scene. The villains are appropriately evil, and there is some satisfaction when justice is finally served. All of the creatures have a charming look to them. Their designs aren't wholly original, but they're a nice blend of weird and cute. Aesthetically, this hits all of the right notes. Speaking of notes, the soundtrack is also quite superb.

While it would've been nice to see some sort of multiplayer functionality, perhaps this is better off without it. During your play-through, there won't be any concerns about optimal creature builds, or anything else of that nature. You're essentially free to approach situations in a way that works for you. Granted, trying to complete the entire adventure with three Tomatees is a bad idea, but there's enough variety to create all sorts of unique party combinations. While it does mean more grinding, don't be afraid to swap creatures around and experiment. There are a lot of neat abilities to play around with.