Scarlet Nexus Overview (PS5) | Push Sq.

Republished on Wednesday, fifteenth February, 2023: We’re bringing this assessment again from the archives following the announcement of February 2023’s PS Plus Additional and Premium lineup. The unique textual content follows.

Scarlet Nexus is kind of a novel motion RPG set in a world the place the human mind has advanced. Most individuals are hooked as much as a type of mind community — like when you may entry the web within your personal head. What’s extra, some particularly gifted people are in a position to make use of ‘powers’ — utilising their psychological energy to regulate the weather, or transfer objects with their thoughts. Mainly, they’re brain-powered X-Males, and the story revolves round a small variety of these psychic troopers.

It is dystopian sci-fi from a really anime viewpoint, and whereas Scarlet Nexus does supply up an intriguing setting and a spread of cool ideas, the storytelling itself falls a bit flat. The sport is cut up between two protagonists: Yuito, a form hearted cadet who hails from a prestigious household, and Kasane, a psionic prodigy with a chilly character. You select to play as one or the opposite proper in the beginning of the sport, with the general plot taking part in out from a unique perspective relying in your resolution.

Which means that in an effort to get the total image, two playthroughs are wanted; one from Yuito’s perspective, and one from Kasane’s, every taking round 20 hours or so. It is an intriguing premise on paper, however in observe, each the storytelling and gameplay of Scarlet Nexus put on skinny by the top of 1 playthrough — by no means thoughts two.

That is to not say these elements of Scarlet Nexus are unhealthy. In truth, it is a effectively made RPG, and arguably probably the most polished title that Bandai Namco Studios has developed in a very long time. It is simply that, when you’re about ten hours into this “mind punk” journey, its flaws begin to turn into increasingly obvious.

The storytelling, for instance, suffers from some erratic pacing points a bit of afterward. Key moments within the narrative are glazed over, and really feel like they’re forgotten far too rapidly, whereas sure members of the forged appear to vary their tune within the blink of an eye fixed, with none actual character growth to again it up. By the top, the plot has carried out so many leaps in logic that it begins to return throughout as convoluted.

It is actually the supporting forged that carry Scarlet Nexus’ story — even when they are not probably the most memorable bunch. Yuito and Kasane get their very own allies over the course of the sport, they usually’re largely likeable. As is the case with a number of trendy Japanese RPGs, these characters can initially appear stereotypical or one-dimensional, however they develop on you as you get to know them higher.

The sport’s bond system, which helps you to spend time along with your squadmates in between primary story missions, provides perception into what makes every occasion member tick. Some reveal enjoyable character quirks, whereas others give you an alternate outlook on how the world of Scarlet Nexus works. There’s sufficient intrigue right here to maintain you invested, even when it’d really feel just like the overarching story is dropping its means.

We would say cutscenes and dialogue account for round a 3rd of Scarlet Nexus’ runtime. The remainder is spent traversing dilapidated environments and moving into fights with summary monsters often called ‘Others’. Typical weaponry is ineffective towards these nightmarish creatures, and so it falls to the psychic powers of the OSF — your taskforce — to maintain the beasts in verify.

The aforementioned environments are fairly customary stuff when it comes to design — principally linear areas that provide minimal alternative for exploration. They give the impression of being good sufficient — Scarlet Nexus is a really neat and classy title general — however there’s not a number of variation; nearly all of your excursions ship you to outdated metropolis ruins and different deserted city areas. All of it will get a bit samey.

Sadly, the identical is true of the enemies that you’re going to face. The Others have clearly had some creativeness poured into them — they are a mishmash of natural components and inanimate objects — nevertheless it is not lengthy in any respect earlier than you are going up towards barely reskinned opponents which have barely totally different assault patterns. Even bosses are reused as regular foes afterward.

And this subject bleeds into the sport’s fight system. On a floor stage and simply past, fight in Scarlet Nexus is exclusive and satisfying. Its gimmick is that you should use Yuito or Kasane’s telekinesis to hurl hefty objects, like vehicles, building supplies, and rubble at your enemies to deal injury. Used along with fundamental weapon combos, it provides fights an satisfying rhythm — particularly whenever you begin to chain projectiles along with well-timed melee assaults.

The issue is that fight by no means actually evolves. Cooldown-based buffs and flashy particular strikes are supplied by teammates as you develop your bonds with them, however the crux of fight is at all times melee assault, throw object, melee assault, throw object on repeat. It simply will get somewhat stale, and probably the most fascinating squad-sprung talents are all locked till close to the top of the sport.

Nonetheless, fight is enjoyable sufficient for probably the most half. And to be honest to Scarlet Nexus, smacking bizarre monsters with big slabs of concrete does really feel good. On PlayStation 5, the sport utilises the DualSense controller’s haptic suggestions to ship rumbling impacts, and it even provides stress to the L2 and R2 triggers whenever you’re lifting particles along with your thoughts. It is all properly executed, and offers encounters a really tactile really feel.

Conclusion

Scarlet Nexus is an satisfying, polished motion RPG, however regardless of its fascinating ideas and setting, all of it feels a bit stunted. An intriguing plot is hampered by sloppy storytelling, and the fight system is sweet enjoyable, nevertheless it loses its edge lengthy earlier than the credit roll. For those who can play previous the sport’s flaws, there’s rather a lot to love in regards to the mind punk world of Scarlet Nexus — simply do not anticipate it to rewire your personal gray matter.