I remember the first time I fired up Grand Ace, that initial rush of excitement as the title screen appeared. The promise of an epic adventure filled my mind, and honestly, the opening hours delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The combat system felt decent enough at first - satisfying impact when my sword connected with enemies, flashy special effects lighting up the screen. But as I pushed past those initial hours, something started feeling off. There's this slight rigidity when transitioning between animations that prevents your movements during combat from flowing smoothly. It's like dancing in shoes that are just a bit too tight - you can still move, but there's always this subtle resistance that keeps you from truly losing yourself in the rhythm.
By my fifth hour with the game, I noticed I was developing what I'd call "button-mash syndrome." In most encounters, I found I could simply spam the attack button and emerge victorious. That strategic element I'd been hoping for? It gradually evaporated like morning mist. I'd face groups of three or four enemies and just hammer away at the controller, watching them fall without much thought. Don't get me wrong - there were moments of genuine satisfaction, like when I perfectly timed a dodge against a boss enemy around the 8-hour mark. But those moments felt increasingly rare as I progressed.
The game does try to address this with what the developers call a "modest skill tree" - and they're not wrong about the modest part. You can enhance existing abilities with various buffs, like increasing your critical hit chance by 15% or reducing cooldown times by about 2 seconds. I spent probably 45 minutes carefully allocating my skill points around hour 10, hoping this would be the turning point. The upgrades help, sure, but combat never really evolves enough to stave off repetition in the game's latter half. It's like putting premium fuel in a car that fundamentally has engine problems - you might get slightly better performance, but the core issues remain.
I started keeping track around my 12th hour, and I'd estimate I was encountering combat sequences every 3-4 minutes of gameplay. The problem compounds when you realize the enemy variety begins drying up. Early on, you face maybe 8-10 distinct enemy types, each requiring slightly different approaches. But by hour 15, I was seeing the same 4-5 enemy types recycled with different color palettes. I remember one particular session where I fought through what felt like the same group of bandits six times within 30 minutes. That's when it hit me - I could've done with significantly fewer skirmishes.
What's frustrating is that between these combat sequences, there are glimpses of something truly special. The world-building is genuinely interesting, with rich environmental storytelling in the ancient ruins you explore. There's one temple area around the 7-hour mark that had me completely captivated - the atmosphere was thick with mystery, the architecture breathtaking. But just as I'd start to lose myself in exploration, another group of generic enemies would spawn, and I'd be back to my button-mashing routine.
I've played about 28 hours total now, and my save file shows I've engaged in roughly 420 combat encounters. The math speaks for itself - that's a lot of repetition. The combat isn't bad by any means, but it never propels itself to be amongst the genre's best. When I compare it to games that truly master combat flow - where every dodge, parry, and attack feels like part of an elegant dance - Grand Ace falls short. It's the gaming equivalent of a fast-food burger: satisfying in the moment, but ultimately forgettable compared to a properly cooked steak.
Still, I find myself returning to Grand Ace, though my approach has changed. I've started avoiding unnecessary fights, focusing instead on the main story beats and exploration. There's a solid 12-15 hour experience here if you're selective about which battles you engage in. The heart of Grand Ace beats strongest when it lets you simply exist in its world, rather than constantly reminding you of its combat limitations. It's a game with tremendous potential that never quite realizes it, held back by a combat system that prioritizes quantity over quality. If you approach it with adjusted expectations, focusing on the world rather than the warfare, you might just find yourself enjoying the journey despite its flaws.
Share
