INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road
" Extensive RPG sports game with 5,400+ characters and tactical football but slow early pacing "
INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road Review
INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road is widely praised as a masterful fusion of sports, RPG, and anime elements, delivering an expansive experience with over 5,400 characters and multiple game modes including story, chronicle, and online PvP. Players appreciate the deep team-building mechanics, smooth and responsive gameplay, and the inclusion of both English and Japanese dubs with name options, reflecting the developers' attention to fan preferences. The game features an engaging, well-animated storyline with cutscenes by MAPPA, complemented by a nostalgic and fitting soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
The title also includes unique minigames and a town-building aspect, broadening its appeal beyond traditional sports games. Although the game is complex and may overwhelm newcomers, it is highly recommended for both fans and new players. Some criticisms include pacing issues early in the story, UI and menu navigation frustrations, and grind-heavy progression in certain modes. Minor bugs exist but do not significantly detract from the overall experience. The game is considered worth its price, with ongoing updates anticipated.
Highlights
Players laud the gameplay mechanics for being intuitive yet deep, blending tactical RPG elements with dynamic football action and exciting special moves. The graphics and animation receive high praise for their quality and faithful representation of the anime, including smooth animations and detailed character designs. The storyline is celebrated for its emotional depth, character development, and engaging narrative, with cutscenes animated by MAPPA adding cinematic flair. The soundtrack perfectly complements the game’s tone, mixing energetic and emotional tracks that resonate with fans. Crossplay, cross-save, and extensive character customization further enhance the gameplay experience.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the early pacing of the story, which some find slow before the football matches become frequent. The UI and menu navigation can be cumbersome and occasionally unresponsive, leading to player frustration. The chronicle mode progression requires replaying matches multiple times on different difficulties, which some players view as repetitive and time-consuming. The grind for resources such as bond stars is considered excessive, particularly due to the reliance on PvP for currency. Minor bugs and occasional crashes have been reported, though they rarely impact gameplay significantly. Some players desire more postgame content and variety in recruitment minigames.
Pros
- • Extensive roster with over 5,400 recruitable characters from the entire series.
- • Deep and engaging tactical RPG football gameplay with unique special moves.
- • Multiple game modes including story, chronicle, online PvP, and town building.
- • High-quality animations and graphics faithful to the anime style.
- • Fully voiced story with English and Japanese dub options.
- • Nostalgic and fitting soundtrack featuring classic and new tracks.
- • Crossplay and cross-save functionality between platforms.
Cons
- • Early story pacing is slow with limited football matches initially.
- • UI and menu navigation can be unintuitive and occasionally unresponsive.
- • Chronicle mode requires replaying matches multiple times, causing repetition.
- • Progression grind is heavy, especially for bond stars and resources.
- • Minor bugs and occasional crashes reported by some players.
- • Lack of postgame content and taisen routes at launch.
- • Some players find the difficulty balance skewed due to level disparities.
Rating Criteria
The latest entry in the character collection and football simulation RPG series, "Inazuma Eleven!" With an original story featuring new main characters, over 5,400 players from across the series' history to collect and train, as well as exciting online tournaments, you can play the game your way!