Scarlet Nexus review

Our Verdict

Scarlet Nexus is all the same another bully game from Bandai Namco Studios. Its satisfying combat keeps things interesting, fifty-fifty in the early on parts of the story when the plot feels dry. Y'all're in for a great ride with Ruby-red Nexus.

For

Fun and engaging gainsay
Enough of character build variety
2 plotlines for added replayability
Interesting story and characters

Against

Lack of enemy multifariousness
Mediocre soundtrack

Tom'due south Guide Verdict

Carmine Nexus is yet another great game from Bandai Namco Studios. Its satisfying combat keeps things interesting, even in the early parts of the story when the plot feels dry. You're in for a groovy ride with Scarlet Nexus.

Pros

+
Fun and engaging combat
+
Plenty of character build diversity
+
Two plotlines for added replayability
+
Interesting story and characters

Cons

-
Lack of enemy multifariousness
-
Mediocre soundtrack

Cherry-red Nexus is technically an action/RPG, although that nebulous term means precious lilliputian nowadays. The game takes obvious inspiration from cinematic action games like Bayonetta, or even Devil May Cry, while applying a hefty layer of JRPG goodness. The end result is an engaging game with a deep story and action-packed combat.

Fighting the extremely strange baddies and sitting through static storyboard sequences are how you lot'll spend your time in Ruby-red Nexus. The linear levels tin can be somewhat frustrating due to their lack of depth, but they're just there to funnel you lot into battle later on battle. This may sound dull, simply I assure you that y'all'll hardly notice.

Although the soundtrack, early on game dialogue and English vocalisation acting leave some to be desired, Scarlet Nexus is an intense experience, filled with interesting characters and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Information technology has much of what people beloved almost JRPGs, combined with the fast step of an action/hazard game.

Scarlet Nexus review: Gameplay

Ruby Nexus revolves around two characters, Yuito and Kasane, both of whom possess telekinetic abilities. Regardless of which character yous choose, you'll be throwing cars, statues, steel girders and other items. The dynamic gainsay remains heady, even as you lot get deeper into the game, making it a cardinal forcefulness for Carmine Nexus.

This is a fast-paced game, where you sprint between battle sequences. But there's more to the game than just fighting enemies. Scarlet Nexus plays into the storytelling strength of the JRPG genre. As you lot run from battle to boxing, there'south enough of dialogue and the occasional cutscene in between. The hours wing past, cheers to this very satisfying gameplay loop.

If the combat has a downside, however, information technology's that the enemies lack variety. Yous'll be fighting the same types over and over, and that part alone begins to feel stale.

Which character you choose volition impact non but the story, but how you play too. Yuito uses a sword and specializes in quick, close-quarters combat. Kasane, on the other mitt, stays further back, and wields a bunch of knives telekinetically. Both characters can do a lot of damage one time y'all unlock more than of their combos and skills via the expansive skill tree. Their damage output will also increase if you utilize their political party members finer.

Using what the game calls the Struggle Arms Organisation (SAS) — which is a virtual link betwixt soldiers — you tin temporarily share powers with other characters to take advantage of enemy weaknesses and status effects. Did y'all soak an enemy in water? Borrow Shiden's electricity powers to stun that enemy. Or, have you doused an enemy in oil? Catch Hanabi's pyrokinesis to calorie-free them afire.

In-betwixt chapter missions, you'll have the take chances to bond with your team. Doing so makes for a deeper connexion with them. As your bond level increases, so do the abilities you proceeds from your party members in gainsay. You tin can also give them gifts, which they'll use and keep in their personal spaces in the hideouts between missions.

Scarlet Nexus review: Story and setting

In the far hereafter, humanity has discovered a hormone that unlocks psionic abilities in about anybody. However, shortly afterwards this discovery, otherworldly monsters called Others descend from the sky and attack. They feast on human brains, and resist traditional combat techniques. Humanity has had to adjust to survive.

Scarlet Nexus contains two branching storylines, following either Yuito Sumeragi or Kasane Randall. When y'all finish ane plotline, you can get back and play the other, meaning that you can wait upwards of 40 hours or so to stop the entire game.

Regardless of which graphic symbol you choose, yous'll exist office of the Other Suppression Forcefulness, an elite paramilitary organization that fights the Others. Each member brings their own power to the table, such every bit telekinesis, electricity, burn down, and much more than. These soldiers volition ofttimes link upwardly with each other to temporarily share powers via the SAS, making for constructive squads.

Bandai Namco spent a lot of fourth dimension on character development. While the characters start off with typical anime tropes, they become more than their archetypes equally the game goes on. As the world starts coming to an end and humanity suffers a schism, y'all'll start to see who these characters really are. Fans of the Tales and Ys series will enjoy the story and how it evolves.

Although Scarlet Nexus is a chip dry to starting time, information technology rapidly picks upwardly and grips you lot for the entirety of the campaign. And when you're washed, you lot can showtime once again with the other character and experience a new plotline.

Scarlet Nexus review: Visuals and sound

Visually, Scarlet Nexus strongly resembles some other Bandai Namco game, Code Vein. Both share a 3D anime look with similar animations, lighting effects, and grapheme models. The futuristic "brain punk" vibe in Blood-red Nexus somehow reminds me of the mail service-apocalyptic atmosphere in Code Vein, also, despite stark differences in presentation.

The audio design is probably my least favorite function of Scarlet Nexus. I chose the English dub, assuming that's what about of the Western audience would go for. At the kickoff, the voice acting wasn't the all-time, with many of the characters (in the Kasane arc, at least) feeling flat. Only equally the story progressed and the characters evolved, the vocalism acting improved, too.

The music isn't much to write home most. Information technology grows repetitive, even annoying at some points. This soundtrack is nothing outstanding, only at least it stays in the groundwork without causing also much trouble.

Red Nexus review: Verdict

I came abroad impressed with Cerise Nexus, and excited to go back and try the other character arc. The game balances plot and gainsay quite well, something that many other JRPGs cannot claim.

Despite its lack of enemy variety and repetitive soundtrack, Scarlet Nexus is a win in my book. Its story and combat excel, making for an engaging game that should go on you entertained throughout both of its campaigns. The characters are why I kept going back, as I was excited to run across how they'd evolve over the course of the plot. Fifty-fifty the main characters Kasane and Yuito go through their own changes as they grow.

Fans of deep stories and fun, fast-paced action combat will find a lot to similar in Scarlet Nexus.

Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom'southward Guide, covering all things phone-related. He's written about phones for over v years and plans to continue for a long while to come. He loves nix more than relaxing in his dwelling with a volume, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, merely y'all can all-time reach him on Twitter.