Why 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Had the Best Story of 2020

[@TheGamingShelf]

What game in 2020 had your favorite story? Check out my weekly JRPG Podcast: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5Szdn9ubL9reMk

[@lioncactus1906]

Yakuza like a dragon was my fav story.

[@jonate79]

Yakuza like a dragon was my favorite rpg. I got so hyped while playing through this game if yall know what I mean

[@jonate79]

I'm currently play 13 Sentinels aegis right now starting to get burnt out at 39 hours of play so I switched to Final fantasy 7 remake just to take a break. Once I'm finished with 13 Sentinels I'll move on to Sakura Wars and finish FF7 remake as well

[@yougottowinsometime7470]

I freaking love this game the story and the battling it was a breath of fresh air I still couldn't believe the guys behind dragon crown made rhis its crazy

[@henrybarney3202]

I just finished this game and want to play it all over again because I don’t want it to be really over. This was my favorite game of the year.

[@TheGamingShelf]

I know what you mean. It's a pretty special game.

[@BigScrumbo]

Thanks for boosting this game, this is easily my favorite game of the year and it really needs more recognition. I’ve never seen a game try to do a story ambitiously and uniquely!!! We need more games like this!

[@TheGamingShelf]

Agreed! It’s almost like a AAA visual novel. Here’s hoping Vanillaware does more games like this.

[@heerotomoe]

I’m so glad you ended up playing this!! 13 Sentinels was definitely the best story of 2020 for me as well and will stick with me for a long time.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Awesome to hear! Did you have a favorite character?

[@Raichana]

I agree, This game easily has one of the best stories of this past year. It manages to be so off the wall crazy and yet make perfect sense by the end. I will admit the battles never hooked me and any time the game told me I had to fight to progress I had a little pout because I really was just there for the plot but still I hope less people sleep on this lovely title.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Yeah I felt the same way with the battles. I slogged through them just so I could get to the next story beat.

[@yougottowinsometime7470]

I freaking love this game the story and the battling it was a breath of fresh air I still couldn't believe the guys behind dragon crown made this its crazy honestly deserves more attention

[@peterk822]

It,s so nice to see the ensemble cast idea being used again. It,s something I really liked narratively in sonic adventure 1+2.

[@Pdubbyaa]

100% agree. This was an amazing game. From Vanillaware’s beautiful art style to the rollercoaster of a story they knocked it out of the park.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Absolutely 🙌

[@نونيم-ي4ح]

Thank you so much for recommending this game bro I was on the fence but I watched this video ,I bought it thanks to your recommendation and it became one of my favorite games of the last decade ,the writing ,storytelling ,artstyle ,enviros and characters are top tier for me ,I even enjoyed the gameplay and man that ending is just phenomenal

[@TheGamingShelf]

Awesome! I’m so glad my video could help you out 😄 Who were your favorite characters?

[@نونيم-ي4ح]

@@TheGamingShelf this is a little bit hard for me its probably juro and fluffy what about you?

[@redstratus97]

I was completely won over when I finally saw this game in action and got some questions answered. It’s on my buy list now. My only concern is keeping track of all 13 characters in my head as to what each one is doing and me remembering where we left off with them when I switch characters. 13 is a lot. I hope I can keep up.

[@TheGamingShelf]

I can see how it would be overwhelming but they pace it out so well and there’s also some pretty seamless “recap” dialogue when you come back to a character after a long gap. As complicated as it seems it’s remarkably coherent.

[@dtpberserka4018]

I was a bit hesitant with the visual novel style and tower defence gameplay as i have never been into it. As a big jrp fan and great stories more than anything the battles make sense the further into the story you get. Pick this game up story was incredible and gameplay very fun. First game in a longtime i 100%.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Nice! I’m glad to hear you have it a chance and you enjoyed it.

[@PredictableEnigma]

It's kinda point&click adventure like more than vn like for some of the characters and I think that helps

[@andysauruss]

I was really skeptical about this game but also picked it up half off during the Black Friday sale. It was definitely robbed best narrative at the Game Awards. I found myself binging this like a Netflix show. A lot of twists and turns. I wasn’t expecting it to be this good. I agree though about the prologue. It does take a few hours before you get into the game.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Netflix binging is a great example! I felt the same way.

[@failedatmakingasandwich423]

I felt a strong compulsion to read The War of The Worlds and watch Godzilla after I beat this game. That scene in Natsuno Minami's story with the burning city was incredible.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Huge or homages to both for sure!

[@miguelcuartero2282]

I got the game and I'm still sitting on it, this only gets me more excited to play it! The game only sounds more and more amazing, thanks for the video!

[@TheGamingShelf]

You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy the game.

[@ElkaPME]

Man, if only the awards was not so biased, this game has what it takes to earn that best story award

[@lennester_]

woah a soon as it goes on sale im gonna get it

[@TheGamingShelf]

It’ll be worth it!

[@oyoyoyo7624]

I bought a new copy from GameStop for $30

[@GoodNormals]

Maybe one of the best video game stories ever

[@TheGamingShelf]

Definitely in the conversation.

[@Zangelin]

Is it even a maybe? Id say its the best original story in decades in any medium.

[@GoodNormals]

@@Zangelin There are WAY too many stories in WAY too many media for me to make a claim like that.

[@نونيم-ي4ح]

@@Zangelin Not only is the story soo good the best part about it is HOW it’s told it really shows how powerful gaming as a medium is when it comes to story telling

[@lillybareham1257]

Ooooo Aegis Rim! I really need to get this game at Christmas!

[@TheGamingShelf]

It’s really cozy too. Perfect for the holiday ☺️

[@jogymogy3691]

This game is a miracle. Might be one of the greatest games ever made. I am totally in love with this piece of art. Can't wait for the next Vanillaware-Game (even though I am aware 13 Sentinels might be their magnum opus).

[@Terron29]

Took a chance on this bad boy day 1. Frickin loved it. Its the art style and beautiful 2D work that drew me to it but everything else was a delightful surprise. I even enjoyed the strategy lite gameplay parts :D. This and black mesa are my games of the year.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Glad to hear! It can definitely look odd from the outside but it’s so easy to love it once you dive in.

[@blong1986]

This game is an absolute gem

[@imthebossthere]

the one thing people seem not to mention about the game, but that is in my estimation quite revolutionary, is the way memory and a character's thoughts were implemented as an actual game mechanic. this should be standard in many RPGs as well as other character driven games from now on and it should be improved and further deveoloped by vanillaware & other devs.

[@PaKeTeMaTe18]

I was interested but now I might get this, thanks.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Happy to help 😃

[@Jebbtube]

If this game is anything like Odin Sphere, seeing the story from multiple perspectives makes it even more intriguing.

[@TheGamingShelf]

That’s kind of the whole concept. You’ll see a story beat from one character and then see it in a totally new way from another character.

[@dunglifemovement]

I just downloaded this one - it was at full price $59.99 when Soul Hackers first dropped. But I checked again this week and it was on sale for only $23.99 Yes sirrrrrrrr can't wait to play it!

[@Zangelin]

more like best story in any medium in decades.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Facts!

[@michaelcoffey1991]

Fun watch, currently 65+$ new on Amazon hoping for a price drop as Vanillaware is a top 5 studio for amazing jrpg's but yes, usually not known for story lol.

[@TheGamingShelf]

It was half off on Black Friday but yeah here’s hoping it gets another price drop some time soon.

[@Lucky-dw2cu]

I just finished the game and i was really impressed by the story. Twist after twist. It's just crazy. Does other vannilaware game have story this good?

[@TheGamingShelf]

Not really no. Most of them are more action focused. This is a huge surprise from them.

[@SiFarid]

Odin Sphere I guess...

[@zackang4731]

A little late here, but Vanillaware also made Odin Sphere, which also has a pretty compelling story with 5 main characters. Similarly, the world and each character is slowly revealed in layers and mysteries keep popping up. Ultimately, the game requires the player to piece together some parts of the story to solve a riddle to get the true ending

[@tcoolnezzful]

this game is 30 dollars in the PS store RN grab it if you can !

[@TheGamingShelf]

Listen to this man 👆

[@distractedgaming4526]

Thirteen Sentinels Aegis Rim would have been my game of the year 2020... If it weren't for Trails of Cold Steel IV.

[@Crator1000]

Are the RTS segments difficult? I'm really really bad at RTSes. Its the thing keeping me from this despite loving Vanillaware. I'd hate to get stuck on one of the RTS parts to continue the story.

[@TheGamingShelf]

I’ll just say this: I hate RTS games too and I’ve got an S rank on every battle on normal. In some fights I even purposely went in with less troops. If it’s still too hard you can set it on easy. I looks really weird for sure but I wouldn’t let that deter you. They teach you the mechanics slowly and you’ll get the hang of it no problem.

[@Crator1000]

@@TheGamingShelf Sounds like I can handle it then. Thanks for the reply. Will be one of my next plays.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Have fun!

[@kurisu3000]

I'm glad I preordered it.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Nice! Did you have a favorite character?

[@Pike27]

I am definitely interested in this game, and will most likely play it sometime in the future. My main reason to wait is due to all the Mecha/Sentinels part. I am generally not a fan of giant robots fighting and stuff like that. How much are the robots themselves part of the story? Are they there mainly for gameplay reasons? Great video, as always!

[@TheGamingShelf]

I would say 70% of the game is the adventure story segments with about 30% being the RTS-style battles. For the story the Sentinels are more plot points than in your face all the time.

[@bificommander7472]

Honestly, the prologues don't start all that slow. Even among the starting characters, you get opening scenes of Judgement Day, or waking up without memories, a gun in hand and the dead body of a character you met with previous characters next to you. I played Unicorn Overlord before this, and I'm even more disappointed now that UO had such a vanilla (pun intended) story. UO almost certainly has more effort into the gameplay side, but despite also featuring a sprawling cast, 13 Sentinel's writing absolutely dunks on UO's.

[@vividpaulus]

Odin sphere and Oboromuramasa both have very good stories.

[@nicholasjude4338]

Hard agree

[@TheGamingShelf]

👊😎

[@Ebell899]

The story sounds so good but I don y'know if I can get past my distain for rts gameplay.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Understandable. It’s a very different kind of combat compared to most JRPGs.

[@faidou9954]

Sure wish this game was on the Switch...

[@TheGamingShelf]

Right? Would be perfect as a handheld game

[@pbyn153]

Welp, time to buy this game~! 👍

[@TheGamingShelf]

It’s great! You won’t regret it.

[@Enigmalake]

Yakuza 7 for me ☺️

[@TheGamingShelf]

That was a good one too!

[@mrdarkstar3756]

Now is a good time for you to check out Tales Of Berseria buddy it's like 12 dollars on PSN a real steal.

[@TheGamingShelf]

I actually own it and have played like 5-6 hours. It's okay. Wasn't really grabbing me. Might go back some day.

[@mrdarkstar3756]

@@TheGamingShelf I hope you do buddy it's the best since Grace's. A good podcast topic for you guys may "what is the most important part of the jrpg?" Is it the combat? The story? The characters? Tbe pacing? The world? I find now that I'm older working full time it's really tough to just destroy jrpgs like I used to.

[@MrKlimcio]

I want it on the Switch... Or PC.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Atlus has been pretty active about PC ports lately. I could see that happening.

[@MJ-oi6ul]

Is the gameplay fun though because it is the biggest turn off for me trying this game :(

[@dontmindmefangirling3123]

I can't believe this game lost against "Average American zombie movie made videogame" aka The last of us

[@shadowmaksim]

I don't know, I feel like such an oddity when it comes to talking about the story of "13 Sentinels". For as much praise of complexity and intriguity it gets, I found it to be rather simple for the most part. It was just told in a very disjointed and often misleading fashion. Not to say I don't think it deserves praise since it was definitely ambitious nonetheless, having several characters with interconnecting stories (each following their own themes and even genre styles), all while tackling some rather high conceptual stuff. But I just don't know if I'd go that far. To be honest, I think I had issues with the structure of how you could (mostly) choose the order of which characters to follow. It made keeping steady build up and resolutions pretty wonky and all over the place. That's probably why the devs still decided to have some form of player guidance by locking character progression until you saw certain scenes but even that implementation wasn't the best. I still recall one particular situation where I was given the major resolution to a question I didn't know was raised for a character I technically hadn't even met yet. It kind of ruined the entire mystery surrounding them unfortuantely. In the end, I still enjoyed the game and would recommend it to anyone interested, just not as much as everyone else it seems.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Thanks for sharing! Not everyone will enjoy it the same amount and that’s okay.

[@romeoduque7297]

I just hope they port it to the switch

[@TheGamingShelf]

Seems tailor-made for a handheld. What a shame we never got the Vita port.

[@romeoduque7297]

@@TheGamingShelf totally

[@CryCrow]

There are multiple characters and all their stories intertwine. Octopath traveler: Am I a joke to you?

[@TheGamingShelf]

Except they don’t intertwine in Octopath Traveler? In fact that was most people’s biggest complaint with the game.

[@jeviesinc9451]

Why the battle looks so boring? But it has a good review

[@watafau_lover]

If only it was on switch 😔

[@TheGamingShelf]

One day, hopefully.

[@emilianoargentero3598]

Second

[@TheGamingShelf]

👍

[@WorldBurningTime]

I’ve seen endless praise for this game but I still am not convinced haha. Everything I see just looks so generic. Maybe I’ll just have to try it anyways to see what I’m missing.

[@TheGamingShelf]

Generic? Interesting...what seems generic about it?

[@LordlyWeeb]

Most of the pop offs are gonna be through text. Although the game looks goddamn amazing