Connections were immediately drawn to Bandai Namco’s Code Vein due to Nexus’s art style, and while some quickly wrote it off as just another anime game, a few (like myself) got very excited to see a brand new JRPG. If the demo is any indication, on release, Scarlet Nexus may deliver “more of the same, but better,” which is exactly what is needed for a new action RPG, and the kind of game this console generation will need more of in the years to come.When first revealed at Xbox 20/20 last year, Scarlet Nexus came as a surprise announcement during an uncertain time for video game news and consequently drew many eyes. Innovation is both necessary and welcome for the hobby to advance, but seeing early generation titles that show confidence and polish on par with the best of last generation suggests gamers will not need to wait for developers to find their footing with the new hardware. The demo suggests a game that is analogous to the current-gen system upgrades themselves: SSD hard drives offer faster loading times, and improved specs allow for smoother frame rates and superior graphics, but fundamentally they are improvements on what came before, allowing players to get into Scarlet Nexus' action faster, and enjoy an enhanced, but not unfamiliar, experience.Īction RPG fans may enjoy the two hours or so in which they complete the Scarlet Nexus demo, but they can also take comfort in what the game suggests for the genre, and for gaming as a whole. In-game menus show a variety of statistics for the members of the squad, though it is presently unclear how much control the player will have over shaping character builds and selecting equipment until the final version is released.Īll of the elements of Scarlet Nexus are familiar, but more importantly, the game seems confident in those elements, letting it focus on presenting its story alongside increasing challenge, knowing players will require little hand-holding to familiarize themselves with the mechanics. Unlike Code Vein, which mimicked the methodical, high risk gameplay of the Soulslike genre, Scarlet Nexus is reminiscent of the speedy action featured in Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. The visuals are somewhat reminiscent of Bandai Namco’s earlier Action RPG effort Code Vein, with Scarlet Nexus' anime-inspired protagonists fighting surreal monsters amid realistic backdrops of urban decay. Scarlet Nexus' Demo Is Easy For Genre Fans To Embrace
In the demo mission that follows, additional mechanics that involve “borrowing” the powers of NPC allies are introduced, along with guard breaks and other sub-systems. The Scarlet Nexus tutorial introduces familiar mechanics, with melee combos, a backstep attack, a special attack that recharges with use of normal attacks, and so on. Players select between Yuito and Kasane (melee and ranged-focused characters, respectively) then run through a quick tutorial before the game begins its first mission. Scarlet Nexus builds off the conventions of prior generation games, and leverages modern technology to provide a faster, smoother experience, making it likely that it is a game that genre fans can enjoy now, rather than one that exists to inspire a more polished iteration later down the line. Related: Biggest Differences Between A JRPG And A Western RPG The sequel, which utilized gameplay elements of the original, adding a much more robust story and characterization, smoother gameplay, and far more appealing aesthetics, is a game that holds up today. The original Dark Cloud for the PlayStation 2 was certainly innovative, combining dungeon crawling with a city-building element and a unique weapon-experience based advancement system, but it aged poorly. Scarlet Nexus' Xbox demo will likely remind players of other action games and action-based RPGs, and that is more than welcome, as early generation games that push the design envelope tend to be remembered more as proof of concept “tech demo” titles, and often do not hold up well.
The brief dive into the world of Scarlet Nexus shows slick anime-style character designs, familiar combo-based action RPG gameplay with plenty of welcome, but recognizable, additions to keep things interesting, and fast, fluid movement.
#SCARLET NEXUS GAMEPLAY SERIES#
A demo is currently available for Scarlet Nexus for Xbox Series X/S players, and action RPG fans may take comfort in knowing that, if Scarlet Nexus is any indication, the new generation of gaming should continue to build on genre successes of the past, refining them with the options afforded by new hardware instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.