Finished the game. I would definitely put it in the "meh" category, though.
Well, I wouldn't.
Masterpiece:
- trolling (the game has a bonus Katz level that's übertolling, apart from that Magilou trolls everyone including herself, designers, designs, publisher and even the player themself!)
Brilliant:
- the story: this time you're roleplaying a girl who's brother got killed, the murder turns her into a deadly mistress of doom who wants her revenge by any means necessary - you won't be an usual dogooder here (imagine a setup similar to cult classic
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077713/ just not rated M)
- all characters have their stories and agenda, all are different, noone is boring and this is a rare game where I actually cared about each and every one of them
- original (japanese) voiceover is top notch
Okay:
- UI in PC port (could have been better though, but is still acceptable)
- semiopenworld (would be awsome if the world parts weren't closed based on "chapter")
- you can make quicksave anywhere (would be better if was mapped on F5 and not unnatural keycombo with Q on PC)
Bad:
- outdated graphics that look like just a bit better than now ancient Gothic 1
- maps and map system does not fit plenty of backtracking this game has
- combat does look flashy but is easy, repetitive and boring, typical mushroom rubbish
- english dub feels like if was made by a few teenagers joking around
Atrocious / unforgivable sin:
- the game is a grinder in every single bit, anything you want to do, you must grind and by that I don't mean just fighting, but also crafting, collecting "collectibles", cooking, etc
- level design is worse than amateurish
- all minigames suck, all stink and not a single one of them is fun
It's not meh to me.
This game is a mustbuy IMO just because of it's story, characters and trolling rarely seen in any game.
However, because everything else in it is mediocre or horrible,
wishlist it and buy when discounted.
This title is one of games that needs to be remade with nongrinding systems and with PC graphics/UI which would make it 10/10 material. In it's current form I can't put on it more than:
6/10
Additional note: Do not buy Tales of Zestiria which is Berseria's sequel because if I got it right, is even bigger grinder than Berseria with a mediocre story. Watch the anime series instead, it's very good (it does contain a few story changes, but nothing insulting like Tom Bombadil being exiled from movies).