Having grown up positively obsessed with the world of Pokemon, its Game Boy titles, and the trading card game, Digimon never really managed to pique my interest for whatever reason. My only notable contact with the franchise all those years ago came in the form of the anime, which still didn’t quite hold up in comparison to whatever adventure Ash Ketchum and the squad were getting up to at the time. In the years since, I’ve dabbled in other pieces of Digimon media with mixed results – and I can safely say Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a definite personal high point in the series, serving as both a gateway for those interested in diving down the digital rabbit hole for the first time or fans of JRPGs in general. Having said that, however, Time Stranger is certainly not without its fair share of flaws.



Players assume the role of an agent operating under the secretive ADAMAS organisation, tasked with investigating strange occurrences (or “anomalies”) popping up around Tokyo. After a case in Shinjuku ends in an explosive Digimon-related clash, inexplicably propelling our protagonist back in time, it becomes evident that unless the catalyst of this disastrous “Shinjuku Inferno” event is identified and dealt with there won’t be a future to return to.



The mysteries at the core of Time Stranger are decent enough plot hooks to keep you invested, sending players to both the real and Digital World during their quest. And there are certainly some surprising developments along the way – despite some questionable pacing (including a lengthy opening sequence) and frequent dips into repetitive dialogue, coming mostly from your fellow agent’s incessant requests for intel after what feels like every other cutscene.

The mysteries at the core of Time Stranger are decent enough plot hooks to keep you invested, sending players to both the real and Digital World during their quest.

On the plus side, the main cast are almost all mostly likeable (if not glorified anime tropes), featuring dubbed English performances that fluctuate between delightfully cheesy and “alright” - whether it’s the panicked squeals of occult streamer Hiroko Sagisaka, the ever-so-slightly unhinged ramblings of Public Safety scientist Monica Simmons, or the gentle assurances of faithful companion Inori Misono. Digimon performances, on the other hand, naturally exhibit a wider range of vocal types and are therefore significantly more enjoyable to listen to – from the wacky to the downright unbearably adorable (looking at you, Lunamon).



As you might expect, amassing a collection of Digimon and engaging in combat is what you’ll be spending most of your time doing throughout your journey, whether you’re sticking to the main story path or checking off any one of the numerous side quests thrown your way. The ins-and-outs of Time Stranger’s turn-based combat are pretty standard as far as JRPGs are concerned. Exploiting weaknesses for increased amounts of damage is the name of the game, with all Digimon inherently weak or resistant to varying elemental combat skills - each falling into one of multiple types (fire, water, electric etc). In addition to the base elemental strengths and weaknesses, taking advantage of a Digimon’s given attribute can also lead to even more devastating damage (Vaccine trumps Virus, Virus trumps Data, Data trumps Vaccine).

Almost every action performed during battle increases your Critical Points (or CP) total, particularly those targeting Digimon weaknesses. Gain enough CP and you’ll be able to activate a Cross Art – overwhelming attacks that come in different flavours, like dealing massive chunks of damage or healing/reviving teammates. More Cross Arts can be learned via the Agent Skills menu, purchasable with Anomaly Points earned through mission completion. This is also where permanent upgrades can be unlocked, with each Digimon personality type having its own enhancement grid (more on this in a bit).



Pure offense isn’t your only option during combat, however. Digimon can employ a healthy lineup of utility skills in battle, guard to reduce powerful incoming attacks, or be swapped out for another party member. An item from your inventory may additionally be used before finalising a Digimon’s attack – whether you require a quick SP/HP boost or need to cleanse a status ailment. Overall, Time Stranger’s battle system is easy to understand, satisfying to engage in, and RPG fans will pick up the basics almost instantly. There’s quite a bit of combat optimisation to dig into beyond the surface level if you want to truly max out your offensive capabilities, though - including taking enemy Traits into account, or turn order manipulation using the speed stat.

Exploiting weaknesses for increased amounts of damage is the name of the game, with all Digimon inherently weak or resistant to varying elemental combat skills.

Acquiring (or Converting) Digimon is crucial to expanding your attack options during these encounters. Every time a Digimon is defeated in the field, its Scan Rate percentage value slightly increases. Once the Scan Rate hits the 100% mark, you’re free to Convert the monster – although opting to Convert at 200% results in a Digimon with higher base stats. Once specified criteria are met, multiple Digivolution (and De-Digivolution) options become available for each Digimon, allowing for even stronger monster combinations. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to narrow down your Digimon pal list to a select few, additional skills can be learned using Skill Discs.



The aforementioned personality types possessed by Digimon play a larger role than I initially expected them to, prioritising specific stat increases depending on whether they fall into Valor, Amicability, Wisdom, or Philanthropy. Of course, you’re free to mould your adorable monsters’ psyches to your liking, either through training or (my preferred option) small conversations – like a more barebones version of demon negotiation from a Shin Megami Tensei title. These exchanges can be in the form of a text message sent via your device or initiated with a Digimon by your side in the overworld when a visible speech bubble appears over their head.

Speaking of the overworld, these locations are quite large and divided into smaller self-contained areas that make up the larger district or region. Unfortunately, the overall visual presentation of these zones is brought down considerably upon closer inspection thanks to the inconsistent environmental texture quality (a fate character and Digimon models are mercifully spared). In comparison to the Digital World, Tokyo somehow manages to also feel considerably more lifeless – mostly due to the large amount of static, faceless background NPCs populating its streets and stations. The Digital World is an absolute joy to experience, however, with Digimon of all shapes and sizes going about their business.



The story and quest design often results in these areas feeling disappointingly underutilised, as well. Side quests are the biggest offenders here and mostly boil down to you running from map marker to map marker before taking down a miniboss for some much-needed Anomaly Points and bonus items. In terms of exploration incentives, there are barely any to speak of – unless you count shopping for consumables/cosmetics, hunting for lootable materials and chests, or challenging NPCs to one of the most braindead card battle minigames I think I’ve ever seen.

In comparison to the Digital World, Tokyo somehow manages to also feel considerably more lifeless – mostly due to the large amount of static, faceless background NPCs populating its streets and stations.

On the technical side, Time Stranger runs at a baffling 30fps (with no quality/performance toggle in sight), which makes zero sense whatsoever considering the content of the game and the underwhelming visuals of the world. I encountered zero major bugs or grievances during my playtime, although navigating the Digivice interface was initially mildly confusing – and the micropause when opening up the device’s menu quickly becomes a source of frustration. Other than that, though, no serious complaints.



Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a bit of a mixed bag – ultimately coming away with more positives than negatives. The turn-based combat is undoubtedly the highlight here, boasting multiple levels of optional depth for those out there seeking it. It also doubles as a great first experience for Digimon newbies, competently introducing key elements of the franchise, its monstrous inhabitants, and the relationship between the Digital World and ours. Story pacing issues, uneven visuals, mixed performances, and a lack of side content to flesh out the environments unfortunately hold the game back from true excellency.

PS5 Review code provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment | Digimon Story: Time Stranger is available to purchase at Nexus Hub for R1,399