Scarlet Nexus (2021)

After about 55+ hours, I successfully earned every achievement in Scarlet Nexus for the Xbox Series X, savouring nearly each and every moment, with the game largely paying off both narratively and gameplay wise. Increasingly dynamic and fluid combat, endearing characters, and a surprisingly fleshed out ‘bonding’ system assist in creating an exciting experience that remains rewarding throughout each playthrough, providing one of the most valuable experiences on Xbox Game Pass to date.

Scarlet Nexus takes place in the distant future within a region called ‘New Himuka’, in which humanity is beset by mysterious abominations known as ‘Others’. A government agency known as the ‘Other Suppression Force’, commonly referred to as the OSF, is tasked with defending human settlements from these monsters and making sure that their numbers remain manageable. Humans are born with powerful abilities such as pyrokinesis, psychokinesis, or clairvoyance, among many others, that allow for the destruction of enemy units. Members of the OSF are scouted and conscripted, or can volunteer and begin training later in their lives.

At the beginning of the game, players are given the choice of two characters, OSF Cadets Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall, each wielders of a power known as ‘psychokinesis”, and each with their own stories and weapon proficiencies. While the narrative for each character resolves in the same way, the player is given a unique perspective with diverging storylines depending on who they choose. For my first playthrough, I went with Yuito, and I am glad that I did. His storyline serves as a good introduction to the world of Scarlet Nexus, while his combat feels weighty and cohesive.

Much of the narrative intrigue in Scarlet Nexus comes from uncovering the mysteries of this strange reality and the gradual formation of bonds and friendships with an eclectic cast of characters. Relationships are forwarded through normal story progression and gameplay, the giving of gifts, as well as unique ‘Bond Episodes’, in which the player character has a unique interaction with a party member. These are cutscenes (and the occasional combat sequence) that provide context and backstory for many of the party members, while also expanding upon the world that these characters live in. Admittedly, the story can get a little confusing at times, especially during the beginning Phases, where questions are continuously raised with very few answers being given. These are all eventually settled and answered in time but I couldn’t help but find myself a little lost from time to time. Time-travel is eventually introduced, complicating story elements even further. While the resolution and character relationships are all satisfying in the end, there are inevitable contrivances, plot-holes and paradoxes which could be frustrating for some. I tend to be pretty forgiving in my suspension of disbelief, but even I had some eyebrow raising moments. A breakneck pace makes it so characters are not given the opportunity to react to life-changing situations in a way that is believable. By the end, it was the relationships and individual characters that truly kept my interest. Shiden, Hanabi, and Arashi were a few standout party members for me. Shiden, in particular, starts off as very unlikable, but quickly became highly relatable and sympathetic through his nine ‘Bond Episodes’. It is through these interactions that each party member becomes more than just the trope they are based off of. Also to the writers credit, the game does a good job of incentivizing a second playthrough, as to witness the other characters perspectives and see how they get to where they are. There were multiple instances I found that I was genuinely excited to see what Kasane was up to and what her motivations were for the actions that she takes. Without spoiling anything, the game concludes in a way that is open-ended enough for many of the characters stories to continue, but not in a way that is sequel-baiting. Each party member develops significantly over the course of the game, but still show that they are willing to learn and grow further, whether as a team or as an individual.

Combat is where Scarlet Nexus shines its brightest, providing an experience that prioritizes stylish combos and quick thinking. On their own, the player character has pretty basic combat options, including a regular and alternate attack which can be chained together, a dodging/dashing maneuver, as well as their ‘psychokinesis’, turning objects in the environment into devastating projectiles. After gaining a level, the player is free to invest points into an ability tree that provides increasing combat bonuses and abilities, actively making the player feel more powerful with each that is acquired. When introduced to the party, companions provide a combat ability which, upon activation, can drastically change damage type, movement or knockdown prowess. Depleting an enemy units knockdown bar opens them up to stylistic finishers, akin to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, in that it feels natural and (usually) does not interrupt the flow of gameplay. Certain enemy types require specific partner abilities to defeat, forcing the player to constantly adapt and use each party member to their limit. While I definitely had some favourite abilities and combos that I would lean towards, no character was ever left by the wayside. As the player develops their bond with a companion, they will receive further benefits from that character while in combat, even when not selected as an active party member. This includes moves which can be used to further string together combos, sustain an ability longer, and just maximize overall damage output. Even if you are not a fan of a particular character, each is worth investing time into purely for the added combat potential. Many of the side quests throughout the game are directly centred around defeating certain enemies with specific companion abilities, so completionists can expect to get familiar with each and every ability. For those who want more out of the games combat, a combat simulator was added to the game that allows a player to challenge themselves and get better scores that they can pit against other players online. While I did not delve into this feature too much I appreciated its inclusion, and it also seems to be the only means of unlocking the more rare costumes and weapons. These were not required for getting all of the games achievements so I only attempted a few of the earlier challenge sets. Overall, this games combat can be described as exceptional. The player is really empowered by their companions and the bonds that they have formed, with this being presented both narratively and through combat. In the moments where you are fighting alone, the absence of your companions is palpable.

Aesthetically the game is incredibly pleasing and does an excellent job of showcasing the capabilities of the next-generation systems. Frame rate remained constant, and there were very few graphical issues to be had. While the render distance for environmental objects could be improved, it was never noticeable enough to detract from the experience. Scarlet Nexus commits to a visual style that it never once strays from. Environments were colorful and vibrant, with lines of neon energy running throughout most areas. ‘Others’ are nearly incomprehensible abominations that remain visually distinctive and easy to distinguish from one another, which is useful when surrounded during a fight. Many of the character designs are memorable, especially player characters Yuito and Kasane. Cinematic cutscenes were very impressive and high-energy, and I really wish more of the game took this approach. Many character interactions and dialogue sequences are set in a panel format, with in-game stills taken to provide context for what the characters are doing. Personally, this style of cutscene was not as engaging for me and I often found myself listening to them while looking at my phone or doing some cleaning.

As a title on Game Pass, Scarlet Nexus is more than worth exploring, even if for just a single playthrough. Bandai Namco and Tose have created a JRPG experience filled with memorable characters and an expansive combat system that kept me coming back for more. Vibrant and fluorescent, the game is visually distinctive from others of its kind, with realized environments and exceptional character design. If you have been looking for a longer, narrative-driven, action JRPG and happen to have Game Pass, this is a title you should immediately look into trying out.