Scarlet Nexus

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Story and Setting

A Dystopian Future

“Scarlet Nexus” is set in a world where humanity has discovered a psionic hormone in the human brain, granting people supernatural abilities. This discovery leads to the formation of the Other Suppression Force (OSF), a group tasked with defending humanity from the Others, grotesque creatures that descend from the sky with a hunger for human brains. The world is depicted as a dystopian society where technology and psychic powers intersect, creating a unique setting that blends cyberpunk aesthetics with supernatural elements.

Dual Protagonists

One of the game’s most distinctive features is its dual narrative structure, allowing players to experience the story from two different perspectives: Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall. Yuito, a kind-hearted and somewhat naïve young man, comes from a prestigious family and joins the OSF to follow in the footsteps of a hero who once saved him. Kasane, on the other hand, is a stoic and highly skilled soldier, driven by a sense of duty and a mysterious connection to Yuito.

The game’s story unfolds differently depending on which protagonist you choose, with each character offering a unique perspective on the events and uncovering different aspects of the narrative. This duality not only adds depth to the storytelling but also encourages players to play through the game twice to fully grasp the entire plot.

Complex Narrative

The narrative of “Scarlet Nexus” is both complex and ambitious, weaving together themes of friendship, betrayal, and the moral ambiguities of warfare. As the story progresses, players are drawn into a web of political intrigue, hidden conspiracies, and shocking revelations that challenge their understanding of the world and the characters within it.

The game’s writing is generally strong, with well-developed characters and meaningful interactions. However, the narrative can sometimes feel convoluted, especially for those unfamiliar with Japanese storytelling conventions. The heavy use of jargon and the introduction of numerous plot twists can make the story difficult to follow at times, but for those who enjoy intricate plots, “Scarlet Nexus” offers a compelling and rewarding experience.

Gameplay Mechanics

Psychokinetic Combat

“Scarlet Nexus” shines in its combat system, which is centered around the use of psychokinetic powers. Both Yuito and Kasane possess the ability to manipulate objects with their minds, allowing them to hurl debris, cars, and other environmental elements at enemies. This psychokinesis is seamlessly integrated into the game’s fast-paced, hack-and-slash combat, creating a dynamic and visually impressive battle system.

Players can combine standard melee attacks with psychokinetic throws to create devastating combos. The combat is fluid and satisfying, with a wide variety of enemies that require different strategies to defeat. The game also features a skill tree that allows players to unlock new abilities and enhance their combat effectiveness, adding a layer of customization to the gameplay.

Brain Map and Skill Progression

The Brain Map is the game’s skill tree, where players can allocate points to unlock new abilities and passive skills. The Brain Map is divided into several branches, each focusing on different aspects of combat, such as melee attacks, psychokinesis, and defense. As players progress through the game, they earn Brain Points (BP) which can be used to unlock these skills.

The skill progression system is well-designed, allowing players to tailor their character’s abilities to suit their playstyle. Whether you prefer a more aggressive approach or a defensive strategy, the Brain Map offers plenty of options to create a unique build. The progression feels rewarding, with each new ability adding depth to the combat and encouraging experimentation.

Party System and SAS (Struggle Arms System)

One of the key gameplay mechanics in “Scarlet Nexus” is the SAS, which allows players to borrow the abilities of their party members. Throughout the game, Yuito and Kasane are accompanied by other OSF members, each with their own unique powers. By connecting to these characters via the SAS, players can temporarily use their abilities in combat, such as pyrokinesis, teleportation, or invisibility.

The SAS system adds a strategic layer to the combat, as players must decide when and how to use these borrowed abilities. Each ability has a cooldown period, so timing is crucial. The system also encourages players to build relationships with their party members, as stronger bonds result in more powerful and longer-lasting abilities.

The party system itself is well-implemented, with each character bringing something unique to the table. The AI-controlled party members are generally competent in combat, and their abilities complement the player’s own, leading to synergistic combinations that can turn the tide of battle.

Exploration and Level Design

While combat is the primary focus of “Scarlet Nexus,” the game also features exploration elements. Players can traverse various environments, from urban landscapes to eerie, otherworldly locations. The level design is generally linear, with some areas offering branching paths and hidden items, but the focus remains on progressing through the story and engaging in combat encounters.

The game’s world is richly detailed, with a blend of futuristic cities and surreal, dreamlike environments. However, the exploration can sometimes feel repetitive, as many areas share similar aesthetics and layout. The lack of open-world exploration may disappoint some players, but the game compensates with its strong narrative and engaging combat.

Side Missions and Bond Episodes

In addition to the main story, “Scarlet Nexus” offers side missions and Bond Episodes that allow players to deepen their relationships with party members. Side missions typically involve combat challenges or fetch quests, offering rewards such as items or BP. While the side missions are not particularly innovative, they provide additional content for players who want to extend their playtime.

Bond Episodes, on the other hand, are narrative-driven interactions between the player and their party members. These episodes delve into the backgrounds and personalities of the characters, revealing more about their motivations and relationships. Completing Bond Episodes strengthens the SAS connection with that character, enhancing their abilities in combat.

The Bond Episodes are a highlight of the game, offering meaningful character development and enriching the overall narrative. They also provide a welcome break from the combat, allowing players to explore the interpersonal dynamics of the OSF team.

Visual and Audio Design

Anime-Inspired Art Style

“Scarlet Nexus” is visually striking, with a distinctive anime-inspired art style that sets it apart from other action RPGs. The character designs are detailed and expressive, with each member of the OSF sporting a unique and memorable look. The game’s environments are equally impressive, blending futuristic architecture with surreal, otherworldly elements.

The game’s use of color is particularly noteworthy, with a vibrant palette that enhances the visual appeal. The contrast between the bright, neon-lit cities and the dark, foreboding Otherworlds creates a visually engaging experience. The enemy designs are also imaginative, with the Others resembling twisted, grotesque amalgamations of organic and mechanical elements.

The cutscenes are presented in a mix of traditional animation and visual novel-style sequences, with the latter featuring static character portraits and text. While the visual novel segments may feel less dynamic than fully animated cutscenes, they are well-executed and fit the game’s overall aesthetic.

Audio Design and Voice Acting

The audio design in “Scarlet Nexus” complements the game’s visual style, with a soundtrack that blends electronic beats with orchestral elements. The music enhances the game’s atmosphere, with tracks that range from intense battle themes to more ambient, mood-setting pieces. The sound effects, particularly during combat, are satisfying and impactful, adding to the overall immersion.

Voice acting is available in both Japanese and English, with both versions featuring strong performances from the cast. The voice actors bring the characters to life, capturing their personalities and emotions effectively. The dialogue is well-delivered, and the localization is generally strong, although some lines may feel awkward due to the translation of certain idioms or cultural references.

Performance and Technical Aspects

“Scarlet Nexus” runs smoothly on most platforms, with solid performance and minimal technical issues. The game’s frame rate is consistent, and load times are relatively short, especially on next-gen consoles and PCs. The visual effects, particularly during combat, are impressive without causing any noticeable slowdown.

However, there are a few minor technical issues, such as occasional clipping during cutscenes or minor pathfinding glitches for AI-controlled characters. These issues are infrequent and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

Scarlet Nexus – Remember more than a year ago when watching the announcement video about Scarlet Nexus during Microsoft’s “Xbox 20/20” event, the writer expected a game with a style almost like Astral Chain, from the environment to fast-paced combat.

But when experiencing the official release, the writer realized that he was wrong, the same futuristic city with houses close together, the same high-speed fighting style, the player can also choose between two characters. , but Scarlet Nexus is more than that.

Keita Iizuka, who was involved in the development of Code Vein, was selected as a producer for Scarlet Nexus, while the game’s director, Kenji Anabuki, has many years of experience with Bandai Namco’s popular Tales series ( the latest version, Tales of Arise, will be released in September).

The powerful staff of the Scarlet Nexus development team is also enough for players to see Bandai Namco’s ambition for this potential “rookie”.

Even after playing through the demo, when the writer experienced the official version, he still couldn’t help but be caught up in the rich and in-depth combat system of Scarlet Nexus.

If players think that the game is only about hitting, jumping, and dodging, then you are wrong.

Both director and producer Scarlet Nexus have been involved in projects in the famous Tales series, so the game also inherits the team fighting style from Tales of titles.

The two main characters, in addition to their Psychokinesis ability, can also use the abilities of their teammates through the SAS – Struggle Arms System.

In each different situation or a different playstyle, you choose, depending on how you choose your teammates.

For example, when facing fast monsters (Others), using Arashi Spring’s ability (time delay) is most suitable.

If players prefer stealth gameplay to sneak up on Others, then Kagero Donne’s stealth ability is the best option.

Regarding the main character’s Psychokinesis ability, in addition to normal combo attacks, players can control surrounding materials as weapons to defeat enemies.

That is, in Scarlet Nexus, consecutive attacks will be interspersed with … scraps of bottles flying directly into the face of enemies, along with “bundles” which is the added ability from the main character’s teammates.

Not only that, the Others in the game can be killed faster by lightning and fire attacks, depending on their weakness.

For example, Others that contain oil are killed faster when the protagonist uses Hanabi Ichijo’s Pyrokinesis (fire) ability.

The player can also use the protagonist’s Psychokinesis to manipulate special materials, deal more damage to the Others, or make them more susceptible to certain attributes.

For example, when the player controls a bucket of water that pours directly on Others’ heads, making them vulnerable to electrical attacks.

Scarlet Nexus gives players a “pantry” to choose from, everything else is up to you to choose what suits your taste best.

Scarlet Nexus gives players a choice between two main characters: Kasane Randall and Yuito Sumeragi.

Each person presents a different perspective on the story in Scarlet Nexus, the first part may not be much different when both are rookies in the ranks of OSF – Other Suppression Force, but later on, the plot of the two characters begins to go in two separate directions.

Playing both characters is essential for players to enjoy the full story of Scarlet Nexus.

Yuito Sumeragi is a superior character when he was born in a family with money and full rights, but Yuito did not rely on it but worked hard to advance with his ability.

Kasane Randall has an unfortunate past when her parents died because of Others, was brought in by the rich Randal family, and cared for by her foster sister Naomi Randal, so Kasane has an extremely emotional attachment and cares for Naomi.

Yuito in the past was saved by a girl who looks a lot like Kasane, so he pays a lot of attention to her, while Naomi Randall has a crush on Yuito.

The secondary characters in Scarlet Nexus not only serve as teammates to use their powers but also have connecting chapters (Bond Episodes).

Scarlet Nexus has a very ordinary look compared to the massive inside it.

The design of the main character Yuito Sumeragi from appearance to a weapon is very “traditional” compared to Kasane Randall with her “Batman-style” weapon, Katana sword, and “popular” style hairstyle.

The beginning of Scarlet Nexus’s story might mislead players as more of Bandai’s casual anime title than their ambitious experiment, which could be bad news for a newborn rookie.

Contrary to the side characters, Scarlet Nexus side quests are quite repetitive and not as interesting as the main plot and Bond Episodes, like “get to this point”, then “kill this monster” or “pick this up”.

The rewards of the side quests are also not great when most of the items players can visit the shop to buy.

And in battle, sometimes you will feel your attacks, or your scraps are missed because the Target system has limitations when the Others move out of ammo range.

where can you get a Scarlet Nexus online

SCARLET NEXUS – PlayStation 4: Buy it now

Scarlet Nexus (PS5): Buy it now

Scarlet Nexus [Xbox Series X]: Buy it now

PS5 – Scarlet Nexus – [PAL EU – NO NTSC]: Buy it now

Conclusion

“Scarlet Nexus” is a bold and ambitious entry into the action RPG genre, offering a fresh and engaging experience that stands out from its peers. With its innovative combat, deep storytelling, and striking visuals, the game provides a memorable journey through a dystopian future filled with psychic powers and moral dilemmas. While it may not be perfect, with some narrative complexity and repetitive elements, the overall package is one that fans of the genre should not miss.

For those who enjoy fast-paced action, intricate plots, and character-driven narratives, “Scarlet Nexus” delivers a compelling experience that is both unique and satisfying. Whether you are drawn to its anime-inspired aesthetics, its dual protagonist system, or its dynamic combat, there is something in “Scarlet Nexus” for everyone. It is a game that rewards exploration, experimentation, and engagement, making it a worthy addition to any gamer’s collection.