As I booted up PG-Geisha's Revenge for the first time, I'll admit I had my reservations about yet another action-RPG claiming to revolutionize the genre. Having spent roughly 18 hours completing the main storyline on standard difficulty, I can confidently say this game delivers something special while understanding exactly what it wants to be. The developers clearly recognized that not every game needs to reinvent the wheel to provide an exceptional experience, and this wisdom shines through in how they've structured the adventure.
What struck me immediately was how PG-Geisha's Revenge manages to feel substantial without overstaying its welcome. In an era where many RPGs demand 60-plus hour commitments, this 15-20 hour journey feels almost refreshingly concise. I completed my first playthrough in about 17 hours, and honestly, I appreciated the tighter narrative focus. The game understands pacing in a way that many larger titles seem to forget—it knows when to introduce new mechanics, when to ramp up difficulty, and most importantly, when to deliver those memorable moments that make you sit up straight in your chair.
The core narrative follows a familiar path—you're essentially trying to rescue a kidnapped girl from her oppressors—but where PG-Geisha's Revenge excels is in its execution and willingness to subvert expectations at key moments. About six hours into my playthrough, there was this brilliant sequence where my party solved what appeared to be a standard treasure hunt puzzle, only to be confronted by this massive automaton that immediately reminded me of Shadow of the Colossus. The scale was breathtaking, and the shift from puzzle-solving to this epic confrontation completely caught me off guard in the best way possible. It's these carefully crafted moments that elevate what could have been generic fantasy fare into something much more engaging.
I particularly want to highlight how the game handles its difficulty settings. If you choose the easier modes, you can probably blast through the main story in closer to 12-15 hours, but I'd recommend against rushing. The standard difficulty provides just enough challenge to make combat encounters feel meaningful without becoming frustrating. There were three specific boss fights around the 10-hour mark that had me adjusting my strategy multiple times, and that sense of accomplishment when I finally prevailed was exactly what I look for in action-RPGs.
Where the narrative truly won me over was in its final act. The game sets up what appears to be a predictable conclusion, but then delivers not one, but two significant twists that genuinely surprised me. The first twist I somewhat anticipated—there were enough subtle clues scattered throughout earlier chapters—but the second completely blindsided me in a way that felt earned rather than cheap. It's rare these days for a game to genuinely surprise me with its storytelling, but PG-Geisha's Revenge managed exactly that. The emotional payoff in the final hours felt satisfying precisely because the game hadn't dragged the story out unnecessarily.
From a gameplay perspective, what impressed me most was how the combat system evolves throughout the experience. The first five hours introduce mechanics at a measured pace, but around the halfway point, the game really opens up and trusts players to master more complex combinations and strategies. I found myself constantly tweaking my approach, especially during those automaton encounters that require both quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The balance between action and RPG elements feels just right—there's enough depth in character customization to satisfy theory-crafters without overwhelming more casual players.
If I have one criticism, it's that the side content doesn't always match the quality of the main storyline. Some of the optional quests feel a bit repetitive, though they do provide valuable resources for upgrading your gear. I probably spent an additional 5-6 hours on side activities, bringing my total playtime to around 23 hours, but your mileage may vary depending on how much of a completionist you are.
What makes PG-Geisha's Revenge stand out in a crowded genre is its understanding of player time and its willingness to deliver concentrated quality rather than bloated quantity. The developers have created an experience that respects both the genre's traditions and the player's schedule. It's the kind of game I'd recommend to someone who loves action-RPGs but doesn't have hundreds of hours to invest in a single title. The memorable moments—that automaton encounter, the narrative twists, the satisfying combat—stick with you precisely because they're not diluted across an unnecessarily lengthy campaign.
Having now completed the game and reflecting on my experience, I find myself appreciating PG-Geisha's Revenge more than many larger, more ambitious RPGs I've played recently. It knows its strengths and plays to them beautifully, delivering a polished, engaging experience that left me satisfied rather than exhausted. In an industry often obsessed with scale and runtime, there's something genuinely refreshing about a game that understands exactly how long its story needs to be and executes it with such confidence and style.