Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time TGS 2024 Hands-on Preview for Switch

Even though I didn’t purchase the original Fantasy Life for the 3DS when it was released, I did test out the game at Tokyo Game Show 2012. Reflecting on my experiences with the game (and revisiting my thoughts on Nintendo World Report), I found pleasure in the brief moments I spent playing it. In 2024, Level-5 has returned with a new installment, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. We got the opportunity to test the game at the event and are here to give you all the details. Let’s dive in.

Level-5 consistently impresses with their booth at TGS, and this year is no exception. The booth’s Fantasy Life area is vibrant and filled with “greenery,” which complements the game’s visual style perfectly. The tables holding the demo units were designed to look like tree stumps, giving them a charming appearance. There were several demonstration units available on the floor as well.

Players were given a 10-minute window during the demo to engage in activities such as exploring, fighting, fishing, and more. Make sure to watch our live gameplay of the full demo below if you haven’t already to witness the game in action firsthand.

Playing experience

If you’re not well-acquainted with Fantasy Life, the best way to explain it would be as a blend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. The demonstration showcased that flawlessly. Beginning in a desert region, you have the opportunity to battle creatures, engage with the surroundings, and much more.

Mastering the controls was quite simple. Y managed normal attacks, X triggered a powerful attack, B facilitated jumping and dodging, L summoned and rode the horse, while ZR and the joystick enabled dashing. The “Tension Technique” can be activated by pressing L and X together. A gauge in the lower right corner of the screen shows when this move is available. When activated, this unleashes a strong offensive move that inflicts a significant amount of harm. Aside from the fighting, the demo also included opportunities for logging, mining, and fishing. In general, the controls in this place felt excellent. During the limited time available, I managed to reach the final boss as shown in the demo. Regrettably, I ran out of time and couldn’t overcome it. In any case, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

Images & Display

Fantasy Life’s vibrant, colorful aesthetics exude a warm and inviting feel. The character models move well and have a good level of detail. Although I appreciate the art direction, I do find the game to be somewhat blurry in appearance. I’m uncertain if that was simply the overall appearance of this design or not, but it didn’t detract from the gameplay at all. When it came to frame rate, the game operated seamlessly without any issues.

In summary

I enjoyed Fantasy Life I even more than I expected to. The battle was enjoyable, the game overall appears fantastic and operates seamlessly. Based on the feedback we received on our live gameplay video, it’s clear that many of you are eagerly anticipating this release, and with good cause. My interest has been sparked by this initial glimpse of the game. A release date has been set for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time on the Nintendo Switch in April 2025.

However, now we’ll hand things off to you. Do you like the original version of the Nintendo 3DS? Will you be purchasing this game? Make sure to leave a comment down below. We would be delighted to receive communication from you.