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I am Setsuna

I am Setsuna

Tokyo RPG Factory · released Jul 19, 2016

RPGPCPlayStation 4, PlayStation VitaNintendo Switch

Inspired by the timeless classic Chrono Trigger, I am Setsuna is a great homage to the JRPG masterpieces of yesteryear. Journey with Setsuna as she prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice and save the people of her land.

69
VGC Score
Decliningmedium confidence
71%
At launch
72%
Steam all-time
75%
Press
76%
Player sentiment
57%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7530
Creator reviews (2 tracked)731
All-time Steam reviews72%68858
Metacritic user ratings7613
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)57%572
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 2.6 up / 2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (129)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 65
    trust 84CreatorJul 26, 2016

    It could have, and should have, been far better than it is. Held back by a lack of ambition and never daring to crawl from the shadow of better games, I Am Setsuna stops itself being something special.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 78Apr 24, 2017

    I Am Setsuna for Nintendo Switch is disappointing with its uninspired story, a useless choice system and a primitive gameplay. Beautiful snow effects and lovingly drawn landscapes with atmospheric music, despite the duplication, feels great. But even that, most likely, will not be enough to get you through the game until the final credits.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 76Mar 5, 2017

    As an ode to the RPGs of the past, I Am Setsuna succeeds in recreating the sort of adventure you experienced on older Nintendo hardware. Its combat system is the main supplier of this nostalgia, with the deep active time battle system, the number of weapons and moves you can perform, and the time management aspect.But those not looking to take a trip down memory lane may be left wanting more, though in pure gameplay hours this offers a reasonable return on investment. The no-thrills plotline and gameplay outside of combat could have been fleshed out, leaving this one short of its full potential. I Am Setsuna could be the perfect complement to your Nintendo Switch, but if you're not foaming at the mouth with nostalgia it's certainly an optional purchase.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 74Sep 19, 2016

    In short bursts of play, I Am Setsuna ticks all the boxes one could want from a modern JRPG designed as a callback to the classics: a seemingly emotionally involving story, stirring music, pretty visuals, and a battle system that offers up nuggets of nostalgia like "ATB" and "tech combos".

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    trust 74Aug 11, 2016

    Yet I’m met with the same response, from the many church-goers who don’t want that. They want the same thing they’ve heard before, slightly repackaged, but wholly recognizable and safe. It’s that hushed reverence that creates games like I Am Setsuna, and ultimately holds them back from being anything more than last week’s sermon.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 72Jul 19, 2016

    I am Setsuna is a beautiful, snow-filled love letter to former JRPGs. While the lack of variety may strike some players as boring, it sticks to its aesthetic and presents us with bits and pieces of what we loved from older JRPGs years ago.

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  • 75
    trust 72Jul 20, 2016

    Sometimes an old school game presents risks. I am Setsuna is beautiful, melancholic and magical, but it also is very archaic and predictable. Square Enix knows what we want, but it has given us that with conformism and too fast. These characters deserve better attention.

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  • 80
    trust 70Jun 16, 2018

    There are better JRPGs that could be played portably on the GBA, DS, and Vita, but I Am Setsuna is the best JRPG that can currently be played on Nintendo Switch. The game isn't without its faults, though - namely the repetitive nature of environments, enemies, and bland NPCs. However, it has a powerful narrative that is driven by its backdrop and score; elements that should be greatly appreciated by all fans of the genre.

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  • 70
    trust 69Jul 19, 2016

    I Am Setsuna capably fulfils its role as an echo of past Japanese adventures, but in doing so, it seems unwilling to take risks and forge its own legacy. Its story is predictable and its battle system struggles to define itself, but its traditional charm and fantastic atmosphere do more than enough to ensure that this an inviting and thoroughly pleasant journey. It may not measure up to the genre's best, but Tokyo RPG Factory's first outing is a warm and well crafted reminder that the classic formula still works.

    read full review ↗
  • 82
    trust 69Jul 19, 2016

    I Am Setsuna was created as an RPG from the 16-bit era. It does not have beautiful settings or long cut-scenes, but instead it brings back the old-school narrative and traits that 90s games used to stand out for: power of choice, solid gameplay, a nice soundtrack and unforgettable moments the player will always remember. I Am Setsuna is a title that gamers who played Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI will forever love due to the nostalgia factor behind it.

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  • 65
    trust 69Mar 8, 2017

    A strong base game is at the core of I Am Setsuna, but it’s surrounded by some very depressing environments that make getting the best of the battle system difficult. Bundle up and get ready for a short story with a lot of snow.

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  • 70
    trust 69Jul 19, 2016

    Setsuna is a good game and that’s really the problem, it’s just good. The games intention of being a love letter the to JRPG’s of yesteryear have kept the game void of any originality and spark. The game is stuck in the shadow of those games, playing it far too safe to rear a head of its own.

    read full review ↗

…and 117 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

No patch announcements found on Steam yet.