![]() ![]() Unfortunately, there’s some repetition in both the enemies and the combat arenas, and the pacing stutters here and there when it pauses for the story a little too long. Using its brain punk conceit to power a range of extended combat techniques, Scarlet Nexus is at its best in the thick of the fight, when the player can mix and match melee weapons, telekinetic beatdowns, and whatever talents the team on hand has to share. Scarlet Nexus marries varied and unique action RPG combat to two extended campaigns featuring engaging protagonists and a cast of memorable supporting players. Surreal, curious, nightmarish, but not entirely outside the traditions of the JRPG genre, the monsters are still effective enemies despite their often surprising and confusing mix of visual elements. That said, an equal number of the OSF are strong female combatants and leaders, and Kasane herself is often defiantly independent.Ī mention should be made of Scarlet Nexus’ monster design which is often just…weird, like Others with flower arrangement heads bolted to goat legs wearing high heels. Although the many hours of character dialogue are voiced with youthful enthusiasm and often well written, there are also moments of cringe-inducing sexism that slide too easily into traditional gender roles and outmoded attitudes. They consist almost exclusively of visually repetitive, decrepit urban structures, ruined underground train tunnels, and the like. On the other hand, the battle areas are almost empty of non-monster life. While the random pedestrians often have something to say, what they say is usually disappointingly pedestrian and rarely worth bothering to listen to. The city streets are a bustle of visual noise. The voracious press intrudes into the aftermath of battles by sending drone reporters to hound the combatants for post-victory soundbites. The metropolis of New Himuka is a blend of traditional Japanese elements like temples and ancient graveyards nestled in a Blade Runner-esque cityscape of moving AR signs and constantly beckoning digital distractions. While the roster of enemy types soon becomes familiar, there is enough nuance and variety of approaching each encounter that combat remains exciting throughout the game.Īesthetically, Scarlet Nexus embraces an anime art style in both its character and environmental designs. Characters level up their abilities via a brain map, which is extensive but not too overwhelmingly deep. Knowing the elemental weaknesses of enemies is important because it will determine which shared powered to tap into, but often battles involve several enemy types, so that encounters are engaging ballets of melee combat, mental abilities, shared powers, dodging, and jumping, and using consumables. For example, the brain powers are powerful but must be charged through melee combat, forcing the player to switch between styles constantly. Still, Scarlet Nexus uses an impressive and extremely versatile combat system that mixes and matches melee and ranged combat with agile movement and special abilities when it comes to real-time action. Now and then, the dialogue-heavy pacing begins to drag, not helped by the fact that it’s all told through static, cartoon panels. The stronger the link between characters, the more powerful abilities become available. Forging interpersonal connections outside of combat is important because when fighting Others, members of the OSF use a brain link to share each other’s powers, whether it be the ability to electrocute the enemy, throw fire weapons, detect hidden foes, or cloak themselves. In between missions, the force returns to their hideout headquarters, and in these intermissions, Kasane can strengthen her relationships through conversation and gifts. While some of them feel a bit like outdated, one-dimensional anime tropes, many of the supporting cast are well-written and complex personalities in their own right. ![]() Scarlet Nexus takes considerable time to develop the relationships between its protagonists and the various other OSF cadets and leaders. She is fiercely protective of her sister and fellow OSF cadet, Naomi. Kasane is an adopted member of the Randall family, an economically and politically powerful force behind the OSF. ![]() ![]() Although it is heavy on action, Scarlet Nexus focuses equally on its characters and their relationships. ![]()
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