Tried the recent Sonny game. Despite the outcry over it being designed as an app, it's still well thought out and shockingly addictive (I played an entire day away on my phone). The lack of animation doesn't really take away from the experience, and the mutation mechanic (where you gain temporary powers each battle, which are attached to your regular abilities) works wonderfully. It adds a whole new layer to the game, so that you're constantly out trying combinations to counter what each opponent is doing.
On the negative side, the game is poorly balanced and lacks difficulty options. I always enjoy soloing Sonny games, and this was no different - until I got to Baron Brixius, who is about five steps above all the previous bosses. I was forced to use my party members to defeat him because no amount of leveling up was going to do it. I finally ragequit in the fight against Vendara, who damages your entire party and can easily stun-lock you for three turns. I'm told the boss after Vendara is even worse.
Also, most of your stats are going to come from equipment you buy in the store (unlike the previous Sonny games, it's very rare to get loot that isn't already for sale and that loot will not even be higher quality, so it's just for selling). You're forced into linear upgrade paths, since each zone's equipment VASTLY outclasses the previous zone's. Get to the forest zone? Sell your fire resistant gear, buy the higher-stat frost resistant gear, rinse and repeat when you get to the labs. This doesn't really hurt the gameplay, it simply removes an aspect of it that was present in the other games.
Still, my strong recommendation is play it. I had stupid amounts of fun on the early and mid levels, and you can always look up the perfect builds to take down the horrendously balanced late-game bosses. The strains (ability trees) you choose are permanent choices, so I would have had to play from the beginning if I wanted to actually implement those builds - I don't think any of them use nature/shadow.
You should also play the first two Sonny games, which are online and every bit as good. I think the three games are probably the greatest turn-based RPGs ever made, because they actually place strategy over grinding.
