Platinum Games' first foray into the live services market was truly ironic. The once great and revered Babylonian Empire is now in ruins, a fitting metaphor for the game itself. Far from the consistently exhilarating high-octane combat, unique characters, and engaging worldview synonymous with the studio, "Babylon's Fall" crumbles under the weight of bland design, repetitive gameplay, and a paywall that prioritizes the player over the

Players are not the only ones who have been affected by the game.

Players play as sentinels.

Players play as sentinels, prisoners forced by their Neo-Babylonian masters to climb a ziggurat, a mythical tower of Babel. Equipped with a mysterious artifact called the Gideon Coffin, he climbs the multi-story structure while fighting blue-colored enemies called Garou. Once you make it to the top floor, you are freed from the oddly named device that is forcibly inserted between your shoulder blades. It's not an exciting story by any means, but it serves as a mildly amusing diversion that leads you from one area to the next, even if you may feel utterly inconsequential to the events unfolding with the mute protagonist.

Most of these events are told in oil painting-style stills, and while undoubtedly beautiful, this approach feels more like a time-saving maneuver than an ingenious way to weave the game's plot. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, given that the rest of the game is not like winning a beauty pageant. Not only is the aesthetic bare-bones, but the detail, especially in the character models, is so woefully lacking that "Babylon's Fall" would have been considered outdated had it been released a decade ago.

Sentinel Force HQ, the starting point of the game, is a hub for the usual live service shenanigans, such as tallying daily logins, scouting party members to go on quests with, and grinding to get slightly better equipment It serves as an area. And let's not forget the obligation to run around in mismatched, messy clothes unless you're willing to fork out actual real-world cash to buy trendy clothes that don't make you look like a comedian's partner.

One would think that there would be a wide variety of activities to keep you away from the main objective, but Babylon's Fall offers no side quests until you ascend a few floors of ziggurat. Thus, if one wants better loot, one is forced to replay the same main quest. However, the lack of variation in equipment means that unlocking is limited and unrewarding. [Very polished "Bayonetta" and "Nier:" While every other aspect of the game feels like a departure from "Automata," the combat still has Platinum's flair. Gideon Coffin is not just an enslaving device; he can wield four weapons at once. One weapon is for physical attacks, one for light attacks, one for heavy attacks, and two for magic. Magic weapons can be used simultaneously with physical attacks, making battles a multi-tasking affair. When magic damage is dealt, the Spirit Meter is depleted. This meter is also depleted when dodging, so the player must balance his attack and defense capabilities. Battles are fast-paced and satisfying, with a mix of physical hacking, slashing, magical attacks, and well-timed dodges. The boss battles are particularly impressive, with gorgeously designed enemy attacks that are intense.

A considerable degree of difficulty is provided throughout, and while it is possible to tackle Babylon's Fall solo, it is not recommended. The level consists of a large wave of formidable enemies, and the sheer number of them alone makes a single sentinel a problem. If you team up, you can complete the level with relative ease. However, if your party is not ready, the quietness of the server makes it difficult to find potential companions, especially later in the game. If a suitable party member cannot be found quickly, the game will throw you into the mission alone and make you start the matchmaking process all over again. However, if you can team up with another player, you will have a perfect experience, at least from a technical standpoint.

Each floor of the tower is obviously different from the previous one in terms of style, but not in substance, and the game becomes repetitive surprisingly quickly. One of the problems with Babylon's Fall is that there is no element that I don't like. It's just not enough. The game's three class options simply determine your starting weapon, and similarly, character customization options are scant. As fun as the combat is, the lack of variety in customizing your play style is disappointing. While you can use many weapons at once, your options are limited to swords, shields, hammers, rods, and bows. When it comes to individual weapons, most are merely different-colored variations of the same basic blueprint, sometimes with different elemental types or enhancements such as an increased chance of critical hits. In fact, efforts to include variety through weapon crafting, Gideon Coffin customization, and side missions were too little, too late.

Live service elements such as battle passes and premium accessories take precedence over variety, meaningful progression, and ultimately player enjoyment, giving the impression of an unfinished game. Remove these aspects and you are left with a solid combat system that lacks the depth necessary to go the distance and a game that stands out only for its blandness.