In normal Summon Night games, you can have some pairings that get really meaningful. The superficiality extends to the depth of the relationships you form. Combine that with voice acting where the delivery is monotone or doesn’t capture the emotion at that moment, and it can almost be painful to sit through such segments.
Considering some talks can get a bit serious, it keeps them from leaving an impact or being memorable for the right reasons. I feel like the quality is on par with games like Tales of Phantasia or Thousand Arms. This is also the place where Summon Night 6: Lost Border’s localization and voice acting issues come up. Especially for some characters who only have a few conversations. While you do connect with these people, it is not like a regular dating sim where people really come together and bond. The visual novel segments attempt to focus on a few important elements of personalities, but we do not see the same sort of growth as we do in other entries. There isn’t the same character development here as in previous games, because of the number of people thrown together. As I mentioned before, Summon Night 6: Lost Borders can generalize a bit. The issue here is, these segments really feel geared toward people who are familiar with previous Summon Night games. The characters tell you something about themselves, you have an opportunity to response, and you can learn more about them. The events are typical visual novel fare. There is an animation after choosing responses, so you can tell what they thought. It is possible to save just before these special moments, so you can see different outcomes and change your mind about bonding with certain people. Though, there are some characters who only have two late night chats due to when they join the party. And each one usually has about five hearts to fill and gets about four events. Different people may or may not show up as an option. Now, you won’t always have everyone there. At the end of a chapter, you will automatically head up on the roof and have one of the other iconic Summon Night heroes or heroines join Raj or Amu.
The good news is, people don’t need to go out of their way to get to these personal interludes. But, there are ways in which it feels a little different and, in some ways, less fulfilling. As you go from one chapter to the next, you’ll have chances to talk it out with people. Summon Night 6: Lost Borders is no different. This can lead to increased relationship values and endings. As you go about your way, you’ll be able to spend your nights talking with different characters. The game has always been part strategic-RPG, part visual novel, and part dating sim. One of the hallmarks of a Summon Night game is the ability to form bonds with the other characters.