Video Game Review: Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited

Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited

Developer / Publisher: NIS America

Genres: Dungeon Crawler, JRPG

Nintendo Switch

We don’t get too many dungeon crawling games nowadays, mostly because it’s a niche genre that’s known for its brutal difficulty. For fans of dungeon crawlers, they usually have to resort to picking up crumbs, with only a release or two a year. Fortunately, NIS America is bringing two dungeon crawlers in one package with Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited.

Saviors of Sapphire Wings is the big part of this bundle as the brand new game. While it is a brand new game, fans of the genre may be delighted to find out that it plays like a classic dungeon crawler. While the gameplay is known for its high difficulty, the idea of Saviors of Sapphire Wings is at least simple enough. Players and their parties will navigate through dungeons at a pace of one space at a time. The movement isn’t really a highlight of the game or genre, but it does have a certain thrill to it. Every step could result in the player encountering an enemy or even stepping on a trap. Players can also set traps of their own in certain spaces, allowing them to manipulate the dungeon in favorable ways.

When players do encounter enemies, the game transitions to a turn-based battle. Anyone who has played a turn-based RPG will be comfortable with the way Saviors of Sapphire Wings works. Players can attack, cast spells, and use items to succeed in battle. While the battle system is pretty simple, it rarely gets stale. Encounters that are too easy can even be played at a faster speed thanks to an auto button. Players can also have their characters repeat previous actions, reducing the slog significantly.

Outside of dungeon crawling is a simple but enjoyable bonding mechanic. Players can build friendships and even romantic relationships with the party members. Bonding with other characters allows for the party members to grow stronger and develop their skills. The story itself is simple but more fleshed out than most games in the genre, making the game pretty engaging.

Stranger of Sword City Revisited is a port of Stranger of Sword City, a game that was released in 2016. There aren’t as many quality of life additions, but it is still an enjoyable game. A few new classes were added but this is mostly the same game that some have played 5 years ago. The biggest difference is the option to make the game a bit easier for those who aren’t used to hardcore dungeon crawlers.

While it’s not as polished as the newer Saviors of Sapphire Wings, Stranger of Sword City Revisited is still a rewarding experience. There is a significant grind in it, but overcoming obstacles always feels satisfying. There are a few frustrations that usually come with the genre, but fans of dungeon-crawlers will be able to overlook these.

One of the highlights of this package is the presentation. Both games, especially Saviors of Sapphire Wings look fantastic. The worlds are engaging, with stellar art that fleshes out environments. The character designs are a little bland, but the beautiful art makes up for this. Saviors of Sapphire Wings has a more colorful and lighthearted aesthetic. Stranger of Sword City Revisited looks a bit edgier. Both have anime-style character portraits that will appeal to a specific demographic.

Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited is a fantastic package for fans of dungeon crawlers. There are multiple quality of life upgrades that aren’t typically found in this genre. Both games are fairly accessible, with Saviors of Sapphire Wings being the most beginner-friendly game in the genre. Anyone who is remotely interested in dungeon-crawlers should consider starting here. For fans, this is a must-play.