In a month filled with big game launches, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin needs a special X-factor to stand out from all the competition. According to reviews, this more action-packed take on the Final Fantasy universe does do just that, but for possibly all the wrong reasons.

Developed by Ninja Gaiden and Nioh studio Team Ninja, the game's Souls-inspired combat and flexible Job system make it fun to explore, said some reviewers, but it's held by a few other chaotic gameplay elements.

"Stranger of Paradise is mostly a more focused version of Final Fantasy that shows some different directions for the series from its traditional games, even if those directions take it down paths that are sometimes a bit... stranger," critic Phil Hornshaw said in his Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin review.