Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a big game with a small problem: it wants to please everyone, and pleasing everyone means pleasing no one fully. The PS4, PC and PS5 action RPG from Cygames and Bandai Namco Entertainment is a love letter to fans of the original Granblue Fantasy, a mobile gacha game, and a sprawling fantasy setting. It mostly succeeds, but the seams show where ambition meets execution.
Trailer, via Cygames公式チャンネル.
The Setting
The game drops players on the floating continent of Granaleth, a vast land of kingdoms, ruins and secret passages. The world is dense with detail, from the crumbling towers of the capital city to the misty forests beyond. Exploration rewards curiosity. Side quests and hidden chests fill the map, and the game encourages wandering rather than rushing through.
Combat
Combat is the heart of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and it borrows heavily from the original’s systems. Players summon allies, chain attacks together, and manage a gauge of energy called the Burst Meter. The action is fast, fluid and satisfying when it lands. Boss fights demand pattern recognition and quick reactions, and the game does a solid job of teaching players its rules through early encounters.
The Party System
The party system is where the game stumbles. Players can build a team of six characters, each with a distinct role and skill tree. Switching between party members mid-battle is smooth, but the sheer volume of options can overwhelm newcomers. Balancing a team takes time, and the game offers little guidance on what builds work best.
Graphics
The PS5 version runs at a smooth frame rate, though some textures show rough edges in motion. The PC version scales better, offering higher resolutions and faster load times. On PS4, the game looks competent but dated next to newer releases.
Sound
The soundtrack is a highlight. Composed by Masashi Hamauzu, the music matches the game’s epic scope, shifting between soaring orchestral pieces and quieter, intimate moments. Voice acting is solid across all versions, with a cast that brings the characters to life.
Story
The plot follows Granaleth’s war between the kingdom of Vellam and the Shadow Empire. It is a familiar tale of betrayal, sacrifice and redemption, told with enough twists to keep players engaged. The pacing drags in the middle, but the final act delivers a payoff that justifies the wait.
Technical Issues
Technical problems mar an otherwise polished package. Load times on PS4 are slow, and occasional crashes break immersion. The game also suffers from pop-in on PS5, where distant objects appear suddenly as the camera moves. These issues are minor on PC, where the game runs cleanly.
“The game does a solid job of teaching players its rules through early encounters.”
Comparison Table
| Feature | PS5 | PC | PS4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Rate | Smooth | Smooth | Variable |
| Texture Detail | High | Higher | Lowest |
| Load Times | Short | Short | Long |
| Performance | Solid | Good | Fair |
Final Word
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a game of contradictions. It is beautiful and broken, ambitious and frustrating, rewarding and overwhelming. The combat is excellent, the world is vast, and the story carries weight. But the party management and technical issues hold it back from greatness.
For fans of the original, this is a must-play. For newcomers, the learning curve is steep. The game demands patience, and it repays that patience with some of the best action the genre has offered.
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