Scarlet Nexus for Xbox review: A shallow but entertaining anime adventure
Source: Windows Central
The Xbox is the go-to system for shooters and multiplayer games, but it'south always had a weak spot when it comes to RPGs, specifically JRPGs. One can probably attribute the lack of those titles to Xbox's meager presence in the East. With every console cycle, Microsoft makes an attempt to court the Japanese audiences and fans of the genre away from other platforms but with the Xbox Serial X, the push has never been more palpable.
So, it makes sense that Carmine Nexus, despite being a multiplatform title, has begun resonating with Xbox faithful. Bandai Namco Studios take become best known for their anime tie-in titles, simply Ruby Nexus is a wholly original project helmed by the team who worked on Code Vein and the Tales series.
It's an enjoyable action JRPG that's heavy on the anime. It excels at world-building and features great music and rock-solid functioning on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. But for the longtime JRPG fans who've played any of Bandai Namco's anime games before, Blood-red Nexus isn't exactly groundbreaking or as exciting every bit I would've hoped, held back by repetitive gainsay, basic RPG elements, and a presentation that'south all talk and no action.
Reddish Nexus
Bottom line: Cherry-red Nexus looks and performs really well, peculiarly on next-gen hardware, but its gameplay is noticeably concluding gen. While it doesn't do anything new, information technology as well doesn't screw up the basics either and should please Xbox fans looking for an anime fix.
The Good
- Swell performance and visuals
- Tricky music
- Fantabulous globe-building
- The story is a wearisome burn, but worth it in the terminate
The Bad
- Cutscenes are all talk, no show
- RPG elements are bones
- Repetitious combat and environments
- Feels dated in its design
Cherry-red Nexus: What I liked
Source: Windows Fundamental
| Category | Ruby Nexus |
|---|---|
| Title | Ruddy Nexus |
| Developer | Banda Namco Studios |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment America |
| Genre | Action RPG |
| Xbox Version | Xbox I and Xbox Series Ten|S |
| Game Size | 16.8 GB |
| Play Time | twenty hours |
| Players | Singleplayer |
| Xbox GamePass | No |
| Launch Toll | $60 |
Scarlet Nexus takes place in a distant dystopian future where humanity is under constant threat from brain-eating monsters called Others. The just defence force that humanity has confronting them is the Other Suppression Force, or the OSF, which uses a substance to alter their brains to unlock extrasensory superpowers. You play as either the cheery Yuito Sumeragi or moody Kasane Randall, new cadets who both find themselves continued in different ways, and are thrust into the middle of a mind-bending conspiracy. While I won't get into spoilers, like whatever good JRPG, it takes a while for the story to get interesting and information technology was fairly predictable for about the showtime 12 hours or so until a twist pumped the gas on the plot.
I played as Kasane for my kickoff playthrough and spent a few hours with Yuito on my 2nd, merely aside from some different perspectives on the greater plot and unlike interactions with other OSF members, the stories mirror each other thematically. No matter who you choose, you'll basically get the same event.
It was fairly predictable for about the beginning 12 hours or then until a twist pumped the gas on the plot.
Most of your fourth dimension will be spent on missions in the field, where gameplay follows your typical activeness game format. Players enter minor arenas and the only way to intermission gratuitous is to defeat all the threats in fast-paced hack and slash gameplay, similar to what we've seen in Nier Replicant. Both Yuito and Kasane have psychokinesis, which allows them to hurl debris and objects at enemies to stun them and inflict massive harm with a QTE (quick time issue) if y'all manage to manipulate the right hunk of junk.
If y'all deplete an enemy'due south stun guess, they'll leave themselves open to a Brain Crush finisher, a flashy motility that's always guaranteed to end the fight. Eventually, players volition get admission to the Brain Drive, an automatically activated special mode that boosts your stats in one case you lot've done enough harm, and the Brain Field, an all-or-nothing attack that can potentially impale you if used for too long.
In addition to psychokinesis, you lot can access your teammate's psychic power by using what'south called the SAS, or Struggle Arms Organisation. Mixing and matching powers each mission is where the gameplay starts to get interesting. As you level upwards, you'll be able to unlock more than moves for Kasane and Yuito, but you'll also get opportunities between missions to improve your relationships with your squad to unlock more than battle skills.
Anime fans should note that the game supports both English and Japanese dubs. I played with both, and while I prefer the Japanese dub, the English dub is serviceable, though some of the seriousness and urgency of the dialogue is sometimes lost in translation.
Dystopia only make it way
Source: Windows Central
Outside of gainsay, the world of Scarlet Nexus is an intriguing i. New Himuka is a combination of Western and Eastern aesthetics, wrapped in a cyberpunk sheen. The urban center of Suoh, where you start your journey, is almost utopian in its cleanliness and efficiency, melding electronic ads and signage that reeks of rampant capitalism and an authoritarian government in that classic cyberpunk way. The OSF team communicates with messages sent from their brains, and their own HUDs are sometimes censored and obscured without their consent.
Scarlet Nexus' visual way is one of its strengths. The game and characters ooze information technology, fifty-fifty if their personalities are run-of-the-mill anime tropes. Everything from the goofy pervert to the loud-mouthed 13-year-old-who-is-really-much-older-than-they-appear is accounted for, and they all take their reasons for joining the OSF.
Scarlet Nexus: What I didn't like
Source: Windows Central
Unfortunately, for all the character and world-building this game has, Scarlet Nexus makes the odd decision to prove almost none of it. Instead of cutscenes depicting wild transformations and over-the-acme anime fights, you're often met with a slideshow of sorts and a talking portrait, and those conversations are often expositions dumps that could've been shown instead of told.
For all the grapheme and world-building this game has, Blood-red Nexus makes the odd determination to bear witness almost none of it.
I found that Scarlet Nexus often takes one step frontwards and one step dorsum in its presentation. The 4K cel-shaded visuals look bang-up, loading times are lightning fast, and the operation is a rock-solid 60 FPS, only the cool and interesting world of New Himuka is often seen as a PowerPoint presentation. Cities are total of invisible walls and sidequests are tiresome fetch quests. Exploration on the field isn't much meliorate, and you'll detect yourself returning to the same levels over and over once more.
Reddish Nexus feels distinctly last-gen in its design. It's extremely linear, and for an RPG at that place's almost no incentive to explore. The field is separated into sections by loading screens and aren't even that big. I don't wait every game to be open in that sense, but other cyberpunk anime games like Astral Concatenation manage to brand their hub worlds with things to do, and Cherry Nexus seems to have forgotten to do that.
One footstep forward, one step dorsum
Source: Windows Central
As I mentioned before, the Scarlet Nexus is pretty predictable in its kickoff one-half, and fatigue started to set in fast once the overall gameplay loop of mission and post-mission friend bonding revealed itself. If yous're going into Scarlet Nexus anticipating action, it has that in spades, although information technology'south admittedly non too deep. However, if yous're hoping for deeper RPG mechanics, you'll notice that Scarlet Nexus is almost as deep every bit a kiddie pool.
That'south not to say that there isn't a feeling of progression, in that location's just not much to graze on bated from adding equipment to heave your attack and defense force, and unlocking skills on the Brain Map. Y'all but ever get two elemental attacks, and you'll constantly discover opportunities to use them in a philharmonic. You'll also occasionally need to crack an enemy's vanquish or use a ability to get sneak up on an enemy, only that's as complicated as combat strategy goes. Your party only exists to offer their power, every bit they're useless on the field, and yous're likewise bombarded with tips for things you don't need tips for. I was constantly reminded that fire is hot and volition burn me if I touch it every time I encountered it.
This all may sound negative, simply I didn't detest my time with Scarlet Nexus, I just felt that with every positive I found, a negative was close backside. I had been watching Scarlet Nexus since its debut, and I was hoping for it to not feel like your run-of-the-manufactory activeness RPG with an anime facade. I was able to adjust my expectations and enjoy it, only it reeks of missed potential.
Scarlet Nexus: Should yous play it?
Source: Windows Central
If you're expecting Cherry-red Nexus to be something out of the ordinary, you'll find yourself quickly disappointed. Scarlet Nexus squanders its original premise with shallow gameplay, simply if you're an Xbox anime fan peckish a fix and you lot don't mind some of its cliches, you'll observe an enjoyable sci-fi story. Scarlet Nexus looks and plays dandy on both sometime and new hardware, and at just effectually 20 hours, you lot'll get your money's worth out of it. Just if information technology's non your vibe, you can always await until the anime adaptation airs this summer.
Cherry Nexus design might feel dated, simply information technology'due south not necessarily a bad thing. The game's world, music, and visuals are unique plenty to warrant the time spent with the game. While it plays itself manner too safe for me, anime fans familiar with Bandai Namco'south licensed games might be willing to bargain with the basics for an original story.
I applaud Bandai Namco for taking a chance on an original projection similar this. Information technology might non be the best RPG on the Xbox, but it could definitely satisfy an anime craving, in the same way that cotton candy might satisfy a sweet molar. With Tales of Arise on the horizon, I hope that Bandai Namco strikes the perfect balance betwixt aesthetics and satisfying gameplay in their next RPG effort.
Red Nexus
Lesser line: Scarlet Nexus might waste its original concept and world with unambitious gameplay, merely there's fun to be had for those action game fans not looking to reinvent the bicycle.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/scarlet-nexus-xbox-review
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