Though it got a decent amount of attention in 2021, part of me still feels like Scarlet Nexus was underestimated. Bandai Namco makes a lot of stuff that immediately appeals to me, and Scarlet Nexus is perhaps one of the best examples. A flashy as heck "Brainpunk" world with intense action RPG combat that takes a few notes from character action games (or whatever you wanna call them), likeable characters, intricate (albeit imperfect) storytelling, and a soundtrack that vibes like few others have recently makes for a game that I knew I'd love. A lot of people seem to write their stuff off as "too anime" or whatever nonsense, but ignore those claims: Scarlet Nexus is an excellent game that deserves to stand tall with the best 2021 has to offer.
The game starts off with a relatively straightforward premise not unlike something like Neon Genesis Evangelion (teens with special abilities are enlisted to fight against an otherworldly threat) that quickly escalates into something broader. Within the first few chapters, important characters are killed, the main antagonist makes (some of) his intentions strangely obvious, tons of exposition and worldbuilding is done, time travel becomes a factor, and plenty of conflicts are stirred up. It's a really exciting, fast-paced intro in a genre that isn't necessarily known for them, though such breakneck pacing can make it hard to keep up. This extends throughout the game and the main story never really slows down. Later exposition dumps can be overwhelming and the game doesn't always space them out so well, but the emotion is there and the ideas presented are strong enough that you'll likely walk away with a good impression overall. Special mention goes out to one particular use of time travel in the game that I don't know I've seen before - I won't spoil it, but damn if it isn't a wildly elaborate way to get what you want!
The story is also reliant upon the perspective of its two protagonists, Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall. You can select one of them as your main character and that'll determine the viewpoint of certain cutscenes, the team that'll accompany you for most of the game, and a bit of unique content here and there. It's a really cool idea and I was excited to see how different the two playthroughs would feel, but it only really succeeds in the gameplay department. Having to practice with two wildly different fighting styles gives you an appreciation for what they can do - Kasane can keep foes stunlocked and at bay with her range from the start, whereas Yuito is more of a late bloomer, starting off a bit hard to use but becoming a veritable human blender by the end. Having to fight with different teammates is an educational experience that teaches you how to best use their powers. Kasane's team generally has powers that make it easy to press the advantage and ensnare enemies in her attacks, whereas Yuito's team is best suited to helping him actually approach foes to make use of his already dominant offense. However, the story changes between routes are disappointingly minor. All of the major content is shared between characters, so you'll be repeating most of the game just to see the occasional different morsel, and these differences dry up entirely once you approach the endgame. Considering that these unique bits really don't add a ton to the story, it's hard to justify a second playthrough (at least right away) specifically for the story content. At the very least, it's worth it for the segments where the two teams fight - the sheer emotion of both sides coming through, the intensity of the mechanics hitting a high, and the amazing track that plays culminate in moments that are masterstroke boss fights.
Combat in Scarlet Nexus is some of the most thrilling I've seen in a while. Using a combination of melee attacks and psychokinetic abilities, you can do flashy combos, powerful charge attacks, and manipulate the environment to your advantage. Your weapon does the most damage in most cases once it's upgraded, but throwing stuff at enemies is the best way to stun them and reduce their break gauge, allowing for an instant kill or high damage using a brain crush. The amount of objects to throw is always significant and certain ones result in unique quick time events of sorts that reward you with more powerful attacks. Slamming a giant truck into things never gets old! Scarlet Nexus has some character action elements, but it is very much an action RPG first and foremost. Equipment and stats are a significant factor as is using the right attacks or elements to hit enemy weaknesses. You're also very much reliant on your team that can provide you with special powers temporarily. Some of these give your weapon an element like fire or electricity, some influence your movement through slowing time or teleportation, and others like duplication supplement your offense in interesting ways. It can be a lot to take in and the game introduces new mechanics every so often for a good chunk of the game, but mastering combat is very rewarding. Combat is also supplemented by a wonderful soundtrack in each area that changes depending on whether or not you're in combat. When you're in the zone and the music is pulsating with intense electronic energy, it really makes the experience come together as something that feels truly, genuinely cool.
Outside of combat, intermission segments give you a chance to chill out and vibe with your team by giving them gifts (which decorate the hub permanently, it's really neat!) or hearing what they have to say in bond episodes. By improving your friendship through gifts and combat, your teammates will open up to you, telling you their life stories and seeking your help in improving them. This is where a majority of the game's character development lies, so it's an optional thing that kinda feels mandatory. These episodes are well worth it though and feature compelling arcs unique to each protagonist due to their differing relationships with each character. For example, the mysterious, oftentimes obnoxiously indirect Kagero tries to be something of a father figure to Kasane for personal reasons, whereas his relationship with Yuito is far more fragile as a result of his dangerous line of work forever changing Yuito's life. Shiden is an absolute asshole to both characters due to his inferiority complex, but as her teammate, Kasane takes more time to understand where he comes from whereas Yuito finds it harder to break the ice because of his privileged background as part of the Sumeragi family. Every bond episode is notable and compelling and you're likely to think very differently of each character by the time you're done. These scenes can get incredibly long though, so having to do four or more in between every chapter can get tedious fast. These segments actually take up a significant amount of the play time if you want them to and that can often be detrimental to the game's pacing. The stories here are interesting and give a lot of extra life to an already exuberant cast, but it'd be nice if they were spread out a bit more or were perhaps more consistently interactive. It's a similar problem to Tales of Arise - the actual quality of the writing is very solid, it's just the lack of space between so much of it makes it feel worse than it actually is.
Scarlet Nexus is easily one of the best games of 2021. Everything about it comes together in a package that's both incredibly cool and substantial, featuring stories and characters with relatable themes like finding your place in the world and learning to trust others that you likely won't forget. Combat is satisfyingly deep and only grows moreso with time, making you feel like a pro as you eradicate foes with the power of teamwork and public transit. If the pacing was better, namely with less exposition dumped all in one scene, more spread out bond episodes, and some of the later levels cut down slightly, it'd probably be a perfect game for me! If you enjoy action RPGs and want something that feels familiar in its coziness yet fresh in its action packed execution, don't sleep on this one.
The game starts off with a relatively straightforward premise not unlike something like Neon Genesis Evangelion (teens with special abilities are enlisted to fight against an otherworldly threat) that quickly escalates into something broader. Within the first few chapters, important characters are killed, the main antagonist makes (some of) his intentions strangely obvious, tons of exposition and worldbuilding is done, time travel becomes a factor, and plenty of conflicts are stirred up. It's a really exciting, fast-paced intro in a genre that isn't necessarily known for them, though such breakneck pacing can make it hard to keep up. This extends throughout the game and the main story never really slows down. Later exposition dumps can be overwhelming and the game doesn't always space them out so well, but the emotion is there and the ideas presented are strong enough that you'll likely walk away with a good impression overall. Special mention goes out to one particular use of time travel in the game that I don't know I've seen before - I won't spoil it, but damn if it isn't a wildly elaborate way to get what you want!
The story is also reliant upon the perspective of its two protagonists, Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall. You can select one of them as your main character and that'll determine the viewpoint of certain cutscenes, the team that'll accompany you for most of the game, and a bit of unique content here and there. It's a really cool idea and I was excited to see how different the two playthroughs would feel, but it only really succeeds in the gameplay department. Having to practice with two wildly different fighting styles gives you an appreciation for what they can do - Kasane can keep foes stunlocked and at bay with her range from the start, whereas Yuito is more of a late bloomer, starting off a bit hard to use but becoming a veritable human blender by the end. Having to fight with different teammates is an educational experience that teaches you how to best use their powers. Kasane's team generally has powers that make it easy to press the advantage and ensnare enemies in her attacks, whereas Yuito's team is best suited to helping him actually approach foes to make use of his already dominant offense. However, the story changes between routes are disappointingly minor. All of the major content is shared between characters, so you'll be repeating most of the game just to see the occasional different morsel, and these differences dry up entirely once you approach the endgame. Considering that these unique bits really don't add a ton to the story, it's hard to justify a second playthrough (at least right away) specifically for the story content. At the very least, it's worth it for the segments where the two teams fight - the sheer emotion of both sides coming through, the intensity of the mechanics hitting a high, and the amazing track that plays culminate in moments that are masterstroke boss fights.
Combat in Scarlet Nexus is some of the most thrilling I've seen in a while. Using a combination of melee attacks and psychokinetic abilities, you can do flashy combos, powerful charge attacks, and manipulate the environment to your advantage. Your weapon does the most damage in most cases once it's upgraded, but throwing stuff at enemies is the best way to stun them and reduce their break gauge, allowing for an instant kill or high damage using a brain crush. The amount of objects to throw is always significant and certain ones result in unique quick time events of sorts that reward you with more powerful attacks. Slamming a giant truck into things never gets old! Scarlet Nexus has some character action elements, but it is very much an action RPG first and foremost. Equipment and stats are a significant factor as is using the right attacks or elements to hit enemy weaknesses. You're also very much reliant on your team that can provide you with special powers temporarily. Some of these give your weapon an element like fire or electricity, some influence your movement through slowing time or teleportation, and others like duplication supplement your offense in interesting ways. It can be a lot to take in and the game introduces new mechanics every so often for a good chunk of the game, but mastering combat is very rewarding. Combat is also supplemented by a wonderful soundtrack in each area that changes depending on whether or not you're in combat. When you're in the zone and the music is pulsating with intense electronic energy, it really makes the experience come together as something that feels truly, genuinely cool.
Outside of combat, intermission segments give you a chance to chill out and vibe with your team by giving them gifts (which decorate the hub permanently, it's really neat!) or hearing what they have to say in bond episodes. By improving your friendship through gifts and combat, your teammates will open up to you, telling you their life stories and seeking your help in improving them. This is where a majority of the game's character development lies, so it's an optional thing that kinda feels mandatory. These episodes are well worth it though and feature compelling arcs unique to each protagonist due to their differing relationships with each character. For example, the mysterious, oftentimes obnoxiously indirect Kagero tries to be something of a father figure to Kasane for personal reasons, whereas his relationship with Yuito is far more fragile as a result of his dangerous line of work forever changing Yuito's life. Shiden is an absolute asshole to both characters due to his inferiority complex, but as her teammate, Kasane takes more time to understand where he comes from whereas Yuito finds it harder to break the ice because of his privileged background as part of the Sumeragi family. Every bond episode is notable and compelling and you're likely to think very differently of each character by the time you're done. These scenes can get incredibly long though, so having to do four or more in between every chapter can get tedious fast. These segments actually take up a significant amount of the play time if you want them to and that can often be detrimental to the game's pacing. The stories here are interesting and give a lot of extra life to an already exuberant cast, but it'd be nice if they were spread out a bit more or were perhaps more consistently interactive. It's a similar problem to Tales of Arise - the actual quality of the writing is very solid, it's just the lack of space between so much of it makes it feel worse than it actually is.
Scarlet Nexus is easily one of the best games of 2021. Everything about it comes together in a package that's both incredibly cool and substantial, featuring stories and characters with relatable themes like finding your place in the world and learning to trust others that you likely won't forget. Combat is satisfyingly deep and only grows moreso with time, making you feel like a pro as you eradicate foes with the power of teamwork and public transit. If the pacing was better, namely with less exposition dumped all in one scene, more spread out bond episodes, and some of the later levels cut down slightly, it'd probably be a perfect game for me! If you enjoy action RPGs and want something that feels familiar in its coziness yet fresh in its action packed execution, don't sleep on this one.
Reviewed on Mar 17, 2022