13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

 PlayStation 4
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 383 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 339 out of 383
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 383
  3. Negative: 23 out of 383
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  1. DeeFar
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    This is my GOTY of 2020. But it not designed for everyone, if you like Japanese culture at 80s and 90s, this is the perfect game for you.
  2. Jho88
    Dec 31, 2020
    10
    Easily in my top 10 games of all time, although definitely not for everyone. If you're up for a narrative-heavy sci-fi mystery focused on Japanese high schoolers, this is absolutely a must-play!
  3. sohronery
    May 3, 2022
    10
    Must play masterpiece with 10/10 story telling. Visual novel and tactical mix works pretty well but the split is about 80/20 for the gameplay.
  4. tbouniverse
    Aug 3, 2021
    10
    This game was a first for me because playing through it I wasn't able to grasp what was happening with the story but I just couldn't put it down. ​I got so invested that I had to see it through the end. I especially loved the battles since they are very addictive and requires good strategizing as you progress. Playing on INTENSE is advised, for me, I felt genuine accomplishment clearingThis game was a first for me because playing through it I wasn't able to grasp what was happening with the story but I just couldn't put it down. ​I got so invested that I had to see it through the end. I especially loved the battles since they are very addictive and requires good strategizing as you progress. Playing on INTENSE is advised, for me, I felt genuine accomplishment clearing the stages. Music was great as well, want to point out the Inaba song (Seaside Vacation) and the final battle theme (DEOXYRIBOSE) for being out of this world good!

    This game may not be for everyone, it starts off slow, but if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded with a fantastic ride.
    ​
    When I finish a good game, I feel like "aw well, it was a good ride", but when I finish a great game, I genuinely start missing it and feel a bit empty, left wanting more; 10/10.    … Expand
  5. DrGerm
    Apr 19, 2021
    10
    This is a difficult game to describe, and is definitely something you need to put a little time in to see if this is your sort of game and get into the story. However, after about an hour or two, if this is your thing, I think you'll be hooked as well.

    I would describe this as a game consisting of 3 sub-games. The most important aspect is the story. I am barely in to the genre, but I    This is a difficult game to describe, and is definitely something you need to put a little time in to see if this is your sort of game and get into the story. However, after about an hour or two, if this is your thing, I think you'll be hooked as well.

    I would describe this as a game consisting of 3 sub-games.

    The most important aspect is the story. I am barely in to the genre, but I think you would categorize it like a Light Novel. It also reminds me a little of the old Myst style games, a little. I don't want to give anything away, you just have to play through it a little and see for yourself. Let's just say, if you like Sci-Fi at all, and then if you like anime style art, throw in some mystery, then you'll love it. Every character is enjoyable and has a story.

    There is a quasi-real time strategy combat but don't let that turn you off if you're not into RTS. It is not hard (on normal difficulty), very satisfying, and contributes to the story telling.

    Lastly, there is an encyclopedia of sorts, kind of a "collect them all" sub-game. Again, this serves very well to support the story. Essentially, if you just play the game, you'll unlock everything in due time. Reading each entry helps to flesh out the world, and it serves as a great way to go back and easily re-live scenes.    … Expand
  6. neffu
    Sep 10, 2021
    10
    It's difficult to find a game with a good story. Even the story driven games tend to be bland and generic. This one however is really great and worth the try. The battle system is a bit simplistic, but it serves as a nice change of pace as well. Game is pretty chaotic and that may turn some people off, especially at the beginning where you are seeing things happening on the the screen butIt's difficult to find a game with a good story. Even the story driven games tend to be bland and generic. This one however is really great and worth the try. The battle system is a bit simplistic, but it serves as a nice change of pace as well. Game is pretty chaotic and that may turn some people off, especially at the beginning where you are seeing things happening on the the screen but they are so random and seem mostly unconnected, that it's a bit of a struggle to get enraged. But if you give it a chance and you reach the point the stories start to make sense and create one big narrative, you'll feel it's the best thing ever.… Expand
  7. Chickenph
    Nov 23, 2021
    10
    It’s a definite 10/10 *if* you can enjoy a game with a lot of story (and some tower defense that’s fun and pretty easy). There’s a lot of effort put into the world, the story, the animations. Watch some gameplay videos and you'll know if it seems interesting. It’s misleading to call it a visual novel because you play through the story instead of just clicking through text.

    The graphics    It’s a definite 10/10 *if* you can enjoy a game with a lot of story (and some tower defense that’s fun and pretty easy). There’s a lot of effort put into the world, the story, the animations. Watch some gameplay videos and you'll know if it seems interesting. It’s misleading to call it a visual novel because you play through the story instead of just clicking through text.

    The graphics are really pretty, and there are a lot of different locations. The gameplay in the story sections involves talking to people, a little interacting with things, and presenting topics to people. It’s very streamlined so you don’t waste time trying out every option like in adventure games. It’ll highlight any option that you need to use, and give you an onscreen indicator that you have a topic you need to present to someone.

    The story involves time travel, high school, conspiracy theories, a cat, mech battles, gangs…I mean, it’s a fun story that touches on a lot of topics and genres. You play through short episodes that continue each character's story, and after the prologue you choose what character's story to play next.

    The tower defense sections are cool and I’m not usually a huge tower defense fan. They’re pretty easy on normal difficulty, and I enjoyed using the different abilities. Like, some characters control mechs that are for close-range damage, so you can make them jump in the air and do AOE damage. If you don’t enjoy it, you can set the difficulty on easy and just rush through it.

    I looked at screenshots and didn’t get why I kept hearing rave reviews of “This game deserves to be way more popular,” but I bought it and agree. The story is enjoyable to follow and slowly understand, and it’s presented in a way that feels like you’re playing through a season of a cool show. It’s a special game that just has that game magic you can’t explain.    … Expand
  8. mcoci
    May 3, 2021
    10
    -Fantástico como juego de estrategia, con muchísima personalidad y altamente adictivo.
    -la parte de novela gráfica no se queda atrás, muy intrigante y plagada de referencias de cine de los 80/90.
  9. itamarJr
    Apr 28, 2022
    10
    Essa é um experiência única de um jogo, essa jornada é maravilhosa em tds os sentidos, o jogo é cheio de plots( o melhor é que, por vc ter uma certa liberdade para avançar na história, alguns desses plots ñ são inteiramente explicados jogando com um só personagem, vc precisa ver cada perspectiva diferente pra ficar boquiaberto pela sensação incrível que é entender 100% cada segredoEssa é um experiência única de um jogo, essa jornada é maravilhosa em tds os sentidos, o jogo é cheio de plots( o melhor é que, por vc ter uma certa liberdade para avançar na história, alguns desses plots ñ são inteiramente explicados jogando com um só personagem, vc precisa ver cada perspectiva diferente pra ficar boquiaberto pela sensação incrível que é entender 100% cada segredo revelado), o jogo é cheio de referências a outras obras de ficção científica, o que deixa ainda mais prazeroso pra quem curte essa temática, o combate tb é legal ( achei que ñ gostaria mt, mas quando vc joga é uma delícia), eu simplesmente recomendo essa obra pra qualquer um, vc percebe que esse é um jogo feito com muito amor pela Vanillaware(Dificilmente deve ter outro assim), qualquer um que jogou esse jogo fica chateado por ñ ter vendido no mínimo dez vezes mais doq vendeu, eu preciso dizer uma coisa: esse jogo possui um dos melhores roteiros dos jogos da história com certeza, vou guardar com mt carinho os momentos que passei nessa carta de amor para os amantes dos jogos.… Expand
  10. here_and_there
    Oct 16, 2020
    10
    Old school anime, giant mecha, sci-fi, time travel, a stellar cast, a brilliant intricate story, wonderful art style and aesthetics. You have it all. One of the most interesting games I ever played.
  11. weskergamer
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    This is the best video game of 2020 in my opinion. A really well written story and characters. It starts slow but by the end of the game you will feel time well spent. The balance between the gameplay and story is very innovative to the point that you can take a break from the gameplay and go to the story and vice versa. It is a game that respects your time a lot. I wish more people wouldThis is the best video game of 2020 in my opinion. A really well written story and characters. It starts slow but by the end of the game you will feel time well spent. The balance between the gameplay and story is very innovative to the point that you can take a break from the gameplay and go to the story and vice versa. It is a game that respects your time a lot. I wish more people would play this game, it's a masterpiece… Expand
  12. IIIOK
    Mar 29, 2021
    10
    Игра, которая доказывает, что в игре графика не главное. Сюжет и его подача - великолепны, проработанные персонажи не дают скучать ни на секунду. Гемплей-боевка - ААА проекты иногда такого не могут. Музыка - всегда во время и нужный посыл несет. Игра - просто шедевр игрового искусства.Игра, которая доказывает, что в игре графика не главное. Сюжет и его подача - великолепны, проработанные персонажи не дают скучать ни на секунду. Гемплей-боевка - ААА проекты иногда такого не могут. Музыка - всегда во время и нужный посыл несет. Игра - просто шедевр игрового искусства.
  13. TheGameGrinder
    Nov 14, 2020
    10
    Best yet from Vanillaware and one of my favs this year. With their signature art is an impressively deep and unique story with all sorts of crazy twists and turns - gameplay included! Great characters, acting, and music. Loved it!
  14. marvell2k
    Mar 10, 2021
    10
    I was hesitant to pick up this game as I'm not very much into visual novel style type games (although there is a RTS element). I found it on sale on the PSN store and said why not. I sat on it for a few weeks before starting the game.

    This game is an absolute gem. It's a love letter to Scifi Movies/Literature/Manga/Anime in every sense of the word. It deserves all the praise it's    I was hesitant to pick up this game as I'm not very much into visual novel style type games (although there is a RTS element). I found it on sale on the PSN store and said why not. I sat on it for a few weeks before starting the game.

    This game is an absolute gem. It's a love letter to Scifi Movies/Literature/Manga/Anime in every sense of the word. It deserves all the praise it's getting and then some!    … Expand
  15. TrophyEmpire
    Sep 28, 2020
    10
    Are you like me? A fan of Giant Mecha anime set in the 80's? Like giant kaiju threatening your very future? Prefer a dash of fanservice with harem style anime undertones? Love visually appealing works of art? 13 Sentinels is a game that satisfies all this and more. The story is the well laid foundation which supports this unique title and it unfolds in a way I have never quiteAre you like me? A fan of Giant Mecha anime set in the 80's? Like giant kaiju threatening your very future? Prefer a dash of fanservice with harem style anime undertones? Love visually appealing works of art? 13 Sentinels is a game that satisfies all this and more. The story is the well laid foundation which supports this unique title and it unfolds in a way I have never quite seen before in a video game, popping in and out of characters thoughts as other characters carry on conversations in the background. It sounds complicated, but in this game they made it work! A rich tapestry of backstory intricately woven rivals, even surpasses the best offerings in the JRPG field.

    Character design is well done and endearing. Very likable characters, well drawn with personality enhancing animations galore. The environments are richly painted and brimming with light.

    When it comes to controlling your mechs, the game switches to a strategy style top down battlefield. In this area it falls slightly short of it's stellar story mode. Don't get me wrong, it's still cool, but the battlefield would have been enhanced by adding models for the mech and kaiju instead of simple flashing panels of green and red. I would have liked it to have more of a front mission style look, but there is no denying that even here there is an unmistakable sense of style, despite no on battlefield models, somehow it still works and I found myself liking this mode a lot! Nitpicking small flaws won't change my overall score for this game, too much of what it does right outshines anything else.

    Don't look up spoilers, this game is a rare treat that comes along hardly ever, one of those magical experiences that you will enjoy most the first time through. It's different, well written, made with crafted expertise and a genuine love for it's subject matter. And it shows. This game was made with love, and I love this game!    … Expand
  16. francegame
    Apr 6, 2021
    10
    Very interesting plot of the game! Incredible beautiful art! For the sake of such exclusives it is worth buying a playstation!
  17. XV_
    Oct 25, 2020
    10
    Vanillaware is one of a kind company. They always seem to do the one thing that nobody is willing to do or better-said risk to do. Their work had always struck me as honest and filled with heart and soul. Although their art-style and storytelling is consistently great, their game mechanics are the part that at times struggles to hit the mark or to be on par with the other two said aspects.Vanillaware is one of a kind company. They always seem to do the one thing that nobody is willing to do or better-said risk to do. Their work had always struck me as honest and filled with heart and soul. Although their art-style and storytelling is consistently great, their game mechanics are the part that at times struggles to hit the mark or to be on par with the other two said aspects. 13 Sentinels not only raised the bar way too high in regards to storytelling and art direction, while it may look deceiving, they've made a solid, raw and satisfying combat system that complements its story beautifully, both mechanically and narratively, to deliver a balanced and masterfully crafted experience.

    13 Sentinels is a departure from Vanillaware's latest works that were more on the lines of side-scrolling action adventures, although here the adventure is navigated within the 2D realm, it is a different kind of game, it is more reminiscent of GrimGrimoire, but we will get there. Weird as it sounds, it stars 13 protagonists, and while it may also sound like the majority of them would be just side-stories or padded plot, every single one of them is interesting and necessary to the overall story. They're even thematically different between them; one could feel like a detective story while the other could be a slice of life comedy-drama anime, the range is vastly wide. Vanillaware is not a stranger in regards to having even five protagonists but in 13 Sentinels, they balanced it so well that every character has a lot of moments to shine, and it's never focused on the exploits of only one character; they're like cogs in a well-greased clockwork.

    To balance the plot progression, you start playing with one character, and when you meet certain criteria like getting to a specific point on their plot or advancing through the "battle mode" you'll be unlocking the other characters one by one. Each character has a percent meter so you don't have to worry about not knowing which one to advance to get the "best and most cohesive playthrough". Nevertheless, one of the many brilliant aspects of 13 Sentinels is that there's not a right order to play it. In my case, I changed characters each time I finished their chapter (A "To be continued" will be displayed on the screen), and I never felt any narrative issue playing that way, furthermore, the sci-fi story is filled with twists, and its non-linear narrative only adds to its intriguing and confusing (on purpose) story.

    This is a Sci-fi work through and through, not even great for video game standards but every media standard, and because every campaign diverges from one another in terms of themes and atmosphere, you’ll be encountering a broad range of scenes, from wholesome and comic moments to truly horrific ones, it’s almost incredible how they get away in mixing all this stuff. Another part that was on the top of its game was the original Japanese voice acting, they’ve gathered quite the cast with both veterans and newcomers, and each of them gave their heart to their performances, delivering their scenes like they were born to act them.

    Although I find the battle mode as everything in this game incredible well done, it is also the part that I think a lot of people could be turned off since what you see on screen are not the mechas neither the Kaiju, but abstract representations of them, this is not a bad thing per se, and the game relies a lot on effects and sounds to make every punch and projectile feel like they’re crushing the enemies and they get away with this illusion. This I believe was a budget decision, but since the focus of the game is its story, it doesn’t affect the experience, and even if it leaned towards a more combat experience, this mode as it is, delivers solid battles and damn entertainment moments that stand on its own. Think this mode like a good indie movie with limited effects, not because the effects are “basic” or “simple” makes it a bad movie. By the way, I recommend that you play it on intense difficulty, since normal difficulty can be a little too easy, the intense difficulty delivers just the right balance to maintain the stakes at a good height.

    While 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a departure from anything Vanillaware has created before, it is also their best work to date, it is a well balanced and well packaged of everything you want in a Sci-Fi work and it goes beyond. It borrows some ideas and concepts for other media, mostly movies, and books, and makes its own thing, there are a lot of movie references (and surely other stuff) that are worth an entire study or article. The surprising part (as really anything in this game) is that they make them work in the game’s context, not only they've made them work, they owned them and created a timeless masterpiece that I believe in time it will pass to the hall of fame not only as a mandatory videogame but as a mandatory piece of Sci-fi.    … Expand
  18. jhuang3
    May 2, 2021
    10
    I heard the storytelling of this game is a masterpiece, and I was attracted by its graphic and characters, so I gave it a try. I would say I love this game, and I am also addicted to the battle part, which is unexpected, because I heard some negative comments on battle before I played it. Anyway, I like the mechanism of battle, I truly enjoy controlling different giant robots and useI heard the storytelling of this game is a masterpiece, and I was attracted by its graphic and characters, so I gave it a try. I would say I love this game, and I am also addicted to the battle part, which is unexpected, because I heard some negative comments on battle before I played it. Anyway, I like the mechanism of battle, I truly enjoy controlling different giant robots and use various skills to win a battle in city scale.… Expand
  19. TheYuniverse
    Nov 15, 2020
    10
    What a unique game 13 Sentinels is. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.
    A masterpiece in every way. Visuals, audio, gameplay, story, characters.
    I've never played a game that tackles so many interesting subjects and manages to tie it all together in such a fun and frankly, mind-blowing way. This game handles AI, space colonies, terraforming, memory transplants, genetic    What a unique game 13 Sentinels is. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.
    A masterpiece in every way. Visuals, audio, gameplay, story, characters.
    I've never played a game that tackles so many interesting subjects and manages to tie it all together in such a fun and frankly, mind-blowing way.
    This game handles AI, space colonies, terraforming, memory transplants, genetic engineering, robotics, nanotechnology, etc and you would never even think that just by looking at the trailers lol It's all in the backdrop of what seems like some high school romance drama!
    Anyways, for me, it's an unforgettable game, 10/10 and i hope it does financially well because it deserves all the success in the world. There's not enough games like this.    … Expand
  20. hzvonek
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    This game shows what Vanillaware is really capable of given the proper time and budget. Without mincing words, it is a masterpiece. The narrative and character development is easily the strongest out of any of their previous games. The way that each of the 13 characters' stories intertwine is extremely fascinating and well-done. You would think you would get lost in all that is developing,This game shows what Vanillaware is really capable of given the proper time and budget. Without mincing words, it is a masterpiece. The narrative and character development is easily the strongest out of any of their previous games. The way that each of the 13 characters' stories intertwine is extremely fascinating and well-done. You would think you would get lost in all that is developing, but the way the adventure is constructed is very intuitive. As is expected with Vanillaware titles, the art-style is breathtaking and adds so much to the game's atmosphere, and I can not get enough of the 80's Sci-Fi aesthetic. Lastly is the combat which really surprised me. In trailers, it did look a bit shallow, but the RTS (real-time strategy) gameplay is so enjoyable. The RPG mechanics associated with the combat adds to its addictiveness as it is so much fun to improve your characters and watch them decimate enemies on the battlefield.

    This is my personal game of the year for 2020 (this review is being written before the release of Cyberpunk 2077, although this will likely not change my opinion here). There are so many twists and turns to look out for among the expertly written plot and narrative. Do not miss this title!    … Expand
  21. Trensch
    Feb 10, 2021
    10
    I beat this game a week ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it yet. The story is a wild ride with relatively few low points. The mystery had me hooked early on and never let me go. I found the turn based strategy combat enjoyable enough. It won’t blow your socks off but it breaks up the story nicely and never seemed to overstay its welcome. There are story beats inserted throughout theI beat this game a week ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it yet. The story is a wild ride with relatively few low points. The mystery had me hooked early on and never let me go. I found the turn based strategy combat enjoyable enough. It won’t blow your socks off but it breaks up the story nicely and never seemed to overstay its welcome. There are story beats inserted throughout the battles as well which helps tie the game play to the story.

    *Buyers Beware* if you are looking for a game filled with action, you will be very let down. If you are here for a great mystery-sci fi story then you will not be disappointed.    … Expand
  22. lonestar62
    Jan 3, 2021
    10
    I was shocked by how much I loved this game. It's definitely outside my typical genre but I decided to give it a try. It's easily in my top 3 games played in 2020, and maybe even this decade. I would definitely give this game a try if you're considering it!
  23. movinshadow
    Oct 22, 2020
    10
    Genius game, Story line and charecters is superb, graphics made like hand drawn with all love they have. )
  24. Kpackom
    Feb 18, 2021
    10
    A masterpiece of a game, although I would admit it's not for everyone.
    Visually and audio is superb, gorgeous and immersive, while combat part is purposefully left visually lacking which more games should learn to do.

    It's a mix between a visual novel and tactical mech wave defender and both parts are exquisitely well done.
  25. RpgGuru
    Feb 17, 2021
    10
    Best history ever made. Es una obra de arte, una joya, una experiencia inolvidable
  26. DanTheMan1992
    Sep 30, 2020
    10
    There's always one thing that impresses me with Atlus they make some fantastic & breathtaking RPG games & am just stunned of how amazing this game is =D i highly recommend this one guys & if you are new to RPGS go give 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim a good go trust me it's worthy every penny ^_^
  27. MiguelV2016
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    Best narrative ever seen in a "videogame" try to watch as less as possible in that way you don't ruin yourself this marvellous experience
  28. Cafe_8bits
    Feb 21, 2021
    10
    Probably one of the best PS4 exclusives. What a ride. This game is just perfect, and everyone who likes science fiction should give it a try! The story can be confusing, since is not playing on chronological order, but the fact that they could put 13 point of views of the events in the game together in this way is a testimony on how great is the writing here.
  29. Olkadan
    Jan 25, 2021
    10
    Great story and characters.
    The game entered my all time favorite list.
    More people should play it.
  30. Ibuki_7731
    Nov 6, 2020
    10
    Dear God the story in this game is grade A movie material. Not a lot of people will be a fan of the battle gameplay or the whole "piece the story together yourself" after completing certain conditions aspects. But it's an amazing journey. Would recommend getting solely for the story.
  31. Diablo4
    Oct 3, 2020
    10
    Surprising story if you do not play this game you are doing yourself a disservice. Very captivating keeping you on the edge of your seat.
  32. Ragnar_san
    Sep 25, 2022
    10
    Uno de los mejores videojuegos de la historia, simple y llanamente. Muy recomendado a todo aquel que le gusten las visual novel.
  33. bluesats
    Sep 29, 2020
    10
    13 Sentinels is truly one of the best experiences I've ever had in gaming. It features rich storytelling, beautiful aesthetics and engaging combat. Vanillaware is no doubt a national treasure in Japan for good reason.
  34. MizoNozo
    Jun 9, 2021
    10
    I won't spoil a thing, the game's surprises and twists are definitely most of what this game has going for it. The art is beautiful and the music / voicework are amazing. The only negative I could really leverage is that the combat is really easy almost the whole way, but that's fine, you can play it on harder difficulties. Easily the best sci-fi story I've seen in a videogame, please play this.
  35. pcschmidt00
    Dec 18, 2020
    10
    This game was incredible in almost every way. The story was a very interesting and well constructed time travel plot, the character were all interesting, the visuals, the music, the gameplay, all of it. All of it was amazing. The plot twists were all very interesting, and the multiple timelines were a great way to keep the plot interesting. And that ENDING THO. INSANE. It sucks it sold soThis game was incredible in almost every way. The story was a very interesting and well constructed time travel plot, the character were all interesting, the visuals, the music, the gameplay, all of it. All of it was amazing. The plot twists were all very interesting, and the multiple timelines were a great way to keep the plot interesting. And that ENDING THO. INSANE. It sucks it sold so poorly here because it's such a damn good game. If you're into jrpgs, anime, or mechs, pick up this game. It has a slow start but the payoff is TOTALLY worth it… Expand
  36. Pioga
    Oct 2, 2020
    10
    A must buy if you're into scifi and visual novels. In my opinion it's a masterpiece.
  37. Sarulade
    Jun 1, 2021
    10
    Just completed the game and have to say it's one of the most unique experiences out there. In the beginning I wasn't a big fan of how it had seperate sections for the RTS gameplay and then story mode but later I realised how both are intertwined and how it makes you to remember what event they are talking about basically the context of what is happening. The story is very masterfullyJust completed the game and have to say it's one of the most unique experiences out there. In the beginning I wasn't a big fan of how it had seperate sections for the RTS gameplay and then story mode but later I realised how both are intertwined and how it makes you to remember what event they are talking about basically the context of what is happening. The story is very masterfully crafted and explained in a confusing but satisfying for when you are able to piece everything together. Then ending also felt quite impactful and not just something thrown at you to end the game. If you are a fan of a good stories in games and lack of gameplay for majority of your hours in it doesn't bother you then you should definitely try this game. Worth it in my opinion!!!… Expand
  38. Lanzer22
    Jan 17, 2021
    10
    If you like Sci-Fi, and especially Sci-Fi movies, this game will blow your socks off.

    This is a visual novel first and foremost, with a real time strategy mini game to represent the fights. The story is very complex, revolving around the lives of more than 15 characters and what happened to them in the past, present, and future. It takes a lot of brain power to understand all the    If you like Sci-Fi, and especially Sci-Fi movies, this game will blow your socks off.

    This is a visual novel first and foremost, with a real time strategy mini game to represent the fights. The story is very complex, revolving around the lives of more than 15 characters and what happened to them in the past, present, and future. It takes a lot of brain power to understand all the characters and their motivations, then on top of it you need to understand the technologies and concepts behind everything. But the payoff is well worth the effort.    … Expand
  39. VelAmi
    Jan 22, 2021
    10
    Without getting into any spoilers, I would simply recommend that this masterpiece is played with as little info on it as possible. After reading comments similar to my previous sentence I thought I would just jump in and check it out. After all good User reviews mostly means something positive.
    Do not miss out on this game!
  40. Bartson
    Apr 24, 2021
    10
    One of the best games I Ever played. Story, artwork are absolut fantastic...
  41. Dpjohnston1983
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    Surprising story if you do not play this game you are doing yourself a disservice. Very captivating keeping you on the edge of your seat.
  42. KingOfDelusion
    Sep 26, 2020
    10
    I've gone into this game knowing nothing, my expectations were even high since I really enjoyed other Atlus games before but this still managed to blow my mind. If you want a game with a great plot, don't even think twice about picking it up, it always keeps you interested and wondering what's about to happen, I was barely able to leave it alone for two days because of how intrigued I was.I've gone into this game knowing nothing, my expectations were even high since I really enjoyed other Atlus games before but this still managed to blow my mind. If you want a game with a great plot, don't even think twice about picking it up, it always keeps you interested and wondering what's about to happen, I was barely able to leave it alone for two days because of how intrigued I was. I don't want to say anymore to not spoil the game but I wholeheartedly recommend it.… Expand
  43. Estellise13
    Sep 30, 2020
    10
    Create an account just to rate this game(btw English is not my first language). At first I'm also the one who say "I like vanillaware and I want to support but ,meh combat is not for me" but after playing it the rts gameplay is good not so hard but satisfying, the real reason why I love this game is the story telling and the way it interact to the player(I may not tell you why because ofCreate an account just to rate this game(btw English is not my first language). At first I'm also the one who say "I like vanillaware and I want to support but ,meh combat is not for me" but after playing it the rts gameplay is good not so hard but satisfying, the real reason why I love this game is the story telling and the way it interact to the player(I may not tell you why because of spoiler).

    Please buy this game, if you love a good story telling and sci-fi stuff you've definitely fell in love with this game.    … Expand
  44. Silverlake101
    Oct 21, 2020
    10
    Best story driven game of 2020. Vanillaware gives us a game that shines in both its real time strategy defense gameplay and in its extremely intricate and deep plot told through interactive visual novel-like storytelling. A must have for those who appreciate well written stories as well as beautifully painted backgrounds and characters.
  45. jinhaseo
    Oct 25, 2020
    10
    I'm rating this a 10 for the story. Combat is passable but really if they eliminate the whole combat gameplay I don't think I would even mind. For me it only served as an obstacle to the meat of the game. The story is filled with intrigue and revelations and the way they spread them out through out the game from start to finish is magnificent. Just when you think you figure the game out,I'm rating this a 10 for the story. Combat is passable but really if they eliminate the whole combat gameplay I don't think I would even mind. For me it only served as an obstacle to the meat of the game. The story is filled with intrigue and revelations and the way they spread them out through out the game from start to finish is magnificent. Just when you think you figure the game out, they pulled the rug, making you question everything all over again. This game goes to my top recommendations easily.… Expand
  46. beltaniasa
    Oct 31, 2020
    10
    Best story game of 2020. gives us a game that shines in both its real time strategy defense gameplay and in its extremely intricate .for those who appreciate well written stories as well as beautifully painted backgrounds and characters.
  47. mesprit77
    Nov 11, 2020
    10
    This is a very cool and unique game. It is a mixture between a strategy game and a visual novel. The story is told through the perspective of 13 different characters. Gameplay ++
    Story ++
    Visuals ++
  48. TheComfyCactus
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    For starters, keep in mind this game is not for everybody. In my opinion this game resides within its own genre and geared towards a particular niche of person. My overall score and review will reflect upon that. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was created by the fine folks at Vanillaware. They are responsible for a bunch of classics. Odin Sphere: Lieftasna and Dragons Crown just to name a couple.For starters, keep in mind this game is not for everybody. In my opinion this game resides within its own genre and geared towards a particular niche of person. My overall score and review will reflect upon that. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was created by the fine folks at Vanillaware. They are responsible for a bunch of classics. Odin Sphere: Lieftasna and Dragons Crown just to name a couple. They are a company that clearly takes their time and instills a massive amount of effort and quality into the games they produce. In fact, after finishing this masterpiece I can easily say they now rival Square Enix. This is also one of many reasons as to why 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has become my favorite game of the year. If you’re a true to heart anime fan, enjoy a good thought provoking science fiction novel and Strategic gameplay then clear your calendar and get ready envelope yourself into the unique universe than is 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. This game revolves around the lives of 13 people set out to save the world in some aspect or another. I enjoyed each and every character including all of the npc’s. I was able to relate to each of the main characters even if only in some minor way. Each of their stories was so unique and intriguing in their own right and I wanted more and more. The voice acting was spot on, both in Japanese and English. At first the game is a bit linear but after the prologue of each character the game completely opens up and no longer holds your hand. You may choose to go about the story in any way you would like or you can spend your time on the battlefield in giant mechas defending the city and building stats. Everything is top quality from the whimsically edgy music to the great writing with countless cliff-hangers. To be completely honest I was hard-pressed to find any flaws. I mean, I completely understand that everything in our world has room for improvement, however 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has no room for improvement. It’s wall to wall perfect. There are many late nights and much fun to be had with this little gem. It's an incredible game and I highly suggest you not let this Mecha rust.… Expand
  49. fukuyama
    Nov 30, 2020
    10
    This game is really really good. Haven't touched my ps4 for almost 1 year until I came across this masterpiece. Everything is just beautiful.
  50. Ngoo-Tong
    Mar 9, 2021
    10
    Cast: 10/10
    Story: 10/10
    AVG: 10/10 Battle: 10/10 Part of the AVG plot is very interesting. It may be due to insufficient funds, and some of the pictures in the battle are not very good. Time: 42.5hrs-(platinum trophy, excluding new tasks after the ending ) ===== AVG劇情很有趣 戰鬥部分可能是因為經費不足 畫面不是很好 費時:42.5hrs (白金，不含全破後新增任務)    Cast: 10/10
    Story: 10/10
    AVG: 10/10
    Battle: 10/10

    Part of the AVG plot is very interesting.
    It may be due to insufficient funds, and some of the pictures in the battle are not very good.

    Time: 42.5hrs-(platinum trophy, excluding new tasks after the ending )
    =====
    AVG劇情很有趣
    戰鬥部分可能是因為經費不足 畫面不是很好

    費時:42.5hrs (白金，不含全破後新增任務)
  51. Runmyhands
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    This game has great storytelling, great voice acting, an interesting cast of characters, and on top of that, a beautiful visual style. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the combat gameplay before getting into the game, but I actually enjoyed it. It’s nothing too crazy, as combat/gameplay isn’t really the focus of this game, but I thought it was pretty fun for what it was. This gameThis game has great storytelling, great voice acting, an interesting cast of characters, and on top of that, a beautiful visual style. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the combat gameplay before getting into the game, but I actually enjoyed it. It’s nothing too crazy, as combat/gameplay isn’t really the focus of this game, but I thought it was pretty fun for what it was. This game definitely isn’t for everyone, as there isn’t too much gameplay involved, but if you don’t mind that, and you enjoy a good sci fi story, I’d definitely recommend it.… Expand
  52. Massimod1117
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    Just an amazing game. Full of some of the best characters and visuals I've seen in a long time. The story is the true star of the show. It is full of twists and turns that will always have players on their toes. If you are looking for a good narrative to sink your teeth into. This game is most definitely for you.
  53. Himesh26
    Mar 26, 2021
    10
    A masterpiece of a game that will go down in my short list of greats which include the likes of Undertale and Persona 4 Golden. Story 10/10, Characters 10/10, graphics 11/10, gameplay 9/10. I've never seen any other game tie in 13 non-linear character storylines into a well-written sci fi plot.
  54. Ben_ben
    Aug 8, 2021
    10
    One of the best Adventure(GAL) game. It is funny to reveal surprise unexpected astonishing story
  55. Maki0
    Apr 20, 2021
    10
    Another great game from atlus. With excellent and uniqe story telling. Excited what atlus comes with for their next installment.
  56. Valiefor
    Jun 20, 2021
    10
    One more master piece from Atlus.
    The best sci-fi story I have ever experienced.
  57. Ourflag
    May 8, 2021
    10
    What a game. 13 Sentinels has one of the best stories in gaming history. I was so hooked on such a complex, well-written story of this game. The art direction and the characters were also really good.
  58. igolrum
    May 25, 2021
    10
    Excellent story with many world changing twists to it. And unlike most other stories that go wild like that, this one actually manages to tie everything together in the end so that it all makes sense.

    Pretty neat strategy part aswell.
  59. CarsonButBased
    Nov 24, 2021
    10
    The few times I heard people talking about this game I always heard that it was amazing. I went in with pretty high expectations and it completely blew those out of the water. The game loads up and you're greeted with probably the best title screen music I've ever heard.
    The game is split into a real time tower defense combat mode, and a visual novel mode. While the combat mode is good,    The few times I heard people talking about this game I always heard that it was amazing. I went in with pretty high expectations and it completely blew those out of the water. The game loads up and you're greeted with probably the best title screen music I've ever heard.
    The game is split into a real time tower defense combat mode, and a visual novel mode. While the combat mode is good, the main appeal defiantly comes from the vn mode. In the vn mode you go through the events that happened to the 13 main characters leading up to the final battle.
    What makes the game so incredible is how the story is told. As you experience each characters story, you'll get twist after twist after twist. At first nothing makes any sense, but as you get further and further everything starts connecting. I didn't have everything 100% figured out until the ending. You can also play through the stories in almost any order, so your experience with the game won't be the same as someone else.
    Like I said before, I went in with high expectations, and this ended up becoming my favorite game of all time. If you have a PS4/5 give this game a shot, you won't regret it.    … Expand
  60. Belonski
    Jan 25, 2023
    10
    This game is primarily a visual novel game with a complex story. That means you actually have to pay attention to the story, think and speculate to enjoy it best. If you don't like that or hate anything that's slower paced, visual novel, anime or any nudity, this game is not for you.
  61. proxzia
    May 29, 2022
    10
    This is truly a masterpiece in the sci-fi genre. A beautifully crafted game with gorgeous art and music, which is brought to life by its immersive story and cast of characters.
    This game truly blows you away, the number of twists and turns and questions to be asked and answered in this game's narrative is truly mind-boggling, and yet somehow it all makes perfect sense in the end.
    Play this game.
  62. AdoMobA
    Mar 15, 2023
    10
    Pros
    - one of the best takes on visual novels ever made
    - a masterpiece of storytelling when it comes to mysteries - each of the 13 main protagonists feels just as valid and interesting as the rest - perfectly paced to drip feed you information for you to make your own conclusions - beautiful artwork that is a joy to look at - the tactical gameplay is a lot of fun Cons - poor    Pros
    - one of the best takes on visual novels ever made
    - a masterpiece of storytelling when it comes to mysteries
    - each of the 13 main protagonists feels just as valid and interesting as the rest
    - perfectly paced to drip feed you information for you to make your own conclusions
    - beautiful artwork that is a joy to look at
    - the tactical gameplay is a lot of fun

    Cons
    - poor optimization on the Ps4, you will experience performance drops during the major battles when there are hundreds enemies exploding on the screen

    13 Sentinels is one of the best hidden gems that you have never heard of. Made by Vanillaware and published by Atlus, the game is a hybrid between a visual novel and a light strategy game, each part feeding into the progression of the other one.

    When it comes to visual novels, they live and die by their story. So how is the story of this game? Masterful. Perfectly paced, as you have to meet certain thresholds in both the story and combat to progress most of the characters' segmented storylines. Steady and unrelenting drip feeding of information allows you to come to your own conclusions, sometimes letting you click a couple of things together in your head just seconds before it confirms them. Absolute perfection.

    I also believe that the order you play this game in lets you figure out different things at different times, so I might have figured out plotline A ten hours in and plotline B thirteen hours in while plotline C, D and etc. had to have been spelt out for me. While you play the game, you might understand C then B and never get A until the game beats you over the head with it. Perfection.

    The strategic part, called Destruction, has you fighting the enemy forces on an abstracted map of a city, where you use a team of six sentinels to plough through horde after horde of enemies. Each mission has a unique set of objectives that reward you with exp and additional information. The sentinels themselves are divided into four classes, allowing for different loadouts and combos to be thrown at the hordes of enemies.

    The last thing I will mention is the Analysis section of the game. I have never seen a more fantastic glossary for a game in my life. The Analysis serves as a sort of timeline for you to put context to the non-linear storytelling the game engages in, allowing you to look through many of these to understand the correct sequence of events. Just brilliant.

    13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a game that everybody should play at some point, because between the story, the art, the combat and the interesting mystery, this game is that one hidden gem that is missing from your library.    … Expand
  63. blend_one
    Jul 27, 2023
    10
    An absolute masterpiece in storytelling, it's incredibly satisfying how the 13 characters stories intertwine as you gradually learn more and more about the world and events. The story can be a bit confusing at first, but as you progress, every piece falls into place.

    The combat mode is surprisingly fun as well.
  64. Underpants158
    Aug 14, 2021
    9
    This game is essentially a visual novel with some RTS gameplay elements. The RTS elements serve to change up your flow but you would not play this game for the RTS parts. If that is what is piquing your curiosity then this is not the game for you. If a visual novel with an absurdly deep, complicated, and interwoven story is what you are interested in then this is the game for you.

    There    This game is essentially a visual novel with some RTS gameplay elements. The RTS elements serve to change up your flow but you would not play this game for the RTS parts. If that is what is piquing your curiosity then this is not the game for you. If a visual novel with an absurdly deep, complicated, and interwoven story is what you are interested in then this is the game for you.

    There are 13 characters who's stories you will play through. The storytelling can be incredibly hard to keep track of because of the sheer number of characters but also the time jumping and flashbacking. Making sense of the sequence of events, especially as they cross over with over characters is a pain. However after the prologue (about 4 hours into the game) you get access to an “analysis” menu. Here you can review all story elements that you have uncovered in tabs divided by character, chronology and objects. You can also replay scenes from this menu if you want. This will help a lot.

    Now you may be wondering, does the story payoff? Or is this a Game of Thrones kinda situation. The story absolutely pays off. It is reminiscent of some other sci-fi franchises, which I can not name because that would be too spoilery. If that doesn't bother you AND you are willing to get fully invested into the story then I highly recommend giving this game a shot.    … Expand
  65. Allyptic
    Feb 11, 2021
    9
    Great game with a huge focus on story, characters, and world-building. I don't remember the last time when the story absorbed me so much. Yes, there are few bugs here are there, but nothing game-breaking. Usually minor visual glitches.
  66. SZJX
    Oct 4, 2020
    9
    It's basically a visual novel with light SRPG elements added in here and there. It's even listed in VNDB while most of Vanillaware/Atlus' other work are not. Story-wise it may not be deliver the same emotional impact as tier 0 VNs (since it's not really possible to do the long build-up that conventional VNs do with their static scenes), but it deserves at least a 9 with the impeccable artIt's basically a visual novel with light SRPG elements added in here and there. It's even listed in VNDB while most of Vanillaware/Atlus' other work are not. Story-wise it may not be deliver the same emotional impact as tier 0 VNs (since it's not really possible to do the long build-up that conventional VNs do with their static scenes), but it deserves at least a 9 with the impeccable art style that Vanillaware always delivers, which is truly unique and cannot be found in any other medium. It pays homage to a lot of sci-fis and VNs, but in a reasonable way and with its own unique twists on the tropes. As the mystery was gradually revealed I was so hooked and couldn't stop going for a few hours straight. Definitely worth a read.… Expand
  67. UnknownMight
    Nov 18, 2020
    9
    Story 11/10
    Ain't no better story in games.
    The story is extremely complicated and involves 13 protagonists, despite this you will not get some Evangelion **** at the end and understand nothing, every reveal is made crystal clear and you will drop your jaws. I will say however some few story elements were a tad too convenient. Combat: 4/10 Even though the devs don't seem to admit it,    Story 11/10
    Ain't no better story in games.
    The story is extremely complicated and involves 13 protagonists, despite this you will not get some Evangelion **** at the end and understand nothing, every reveal is made crystal clear and you will drop your jaws. I will say however some few story elements were a tad too convenient.

    Combat: 4/10
    Even though the devs don't seem to admit it, this is a visual novel. It is recommended to rush through the light weight combat which fortunately only takes a third of the game time. It's shallow but extremely fast paced, each fight lasts like 5 minutes.

    Graphics/Music:
    This is a low budget game, the visuals are beautiful yet scarce. The score is perfect and aligns perfectly with the story scenes    … Expand
  68. egoBorder
    Mar 16, 2023
    9
    While not perfect, this clever adventure packs enough excitement to keep your head and your thumbs spinning. A truly innovative story makes for a bite-sized game that can feed a village. Go in as blind as you can!
  69. Neatqt
    Jan 23, 2021
    9
    Cast: 10/10
    Story: 10/10
    Fun: 7/10
    Gameplay: 10/10

    MUST PLAY
    ---------------------- 35 Hours Played
  70. SplitMind
    Aug 26, 2021
    9
    13 Sentinels was a bit tough to get into, but the more I played, the more I enjoyed. This is an incredibly deep game in terms of story and will require quite a bit of investment from the player.

    The first thing you should be warned of is that this 'game' is split into three sections, with only one of them being actual gameplay, similar to a turn-based RPG. The second is a visual novel    13 Sentinels was a bit tough to get into, but the more I played, the more I enjoyed. This is an incredibly deep game in terms of story and will require quite a bit of investment from the player.

    The first thing you should be warned of is that this 'game' is split into three sections, with only one of them being actual gameplay, similar to a turn-based RPG. The second is a visual novel where you control a series of protagonists to develop the story. The third section is then a library of sorts, with mystery files you unlock to learn more of the lore. This means a brief glimpse could give you a very misleading perception of 13 Sentinels.

    The story of the game is the bread and butter, so let's review that first. I found that the story took quite a few hours to become engrossed in. In the opening hours having 13 characters quickly introduced made for a lot of confusion and difficulty in making the narrative coherent for me.

    However, the mystery of what is happening throughout the game kept me interested enough to become invested in each of the characters. There were only a handful of times where I had to seek online help to find my way through. I won't say too much more for fear of spoilers, but 13 Sentinels is a very exceptional if complex story similar to films like The Matrix or Cloud Atlas.

    The one thing I was left wondering was if so many characters really were necessary. By the end of the game I still didn't feel like I had a 100% understanding of the story, but I much prefer this than to an incredibly cliche story or a minimal approach, which is the unfortunate approach taken by many mainstream games currently.

    The gameplay is very accessible and a tad simplistic, however in a game with such a complex story this is to be commended. In the story sections of the game you are mostly navigating screens similar to point-and-click adventures. You will be doing a serious amount of reading and listening, so I hope that is your cup of tea. With the turn-based battling, this was very enjoyable to me and provided a welcome break from the heavy storytelling, however small cut-scenes were common before and after battles too but this was welcome since battles also get repetitive.

    What I really enjoyed in the gameplay was that the difficulty cold be varied without punishment, allowing faster and smoother progress through the game. Your attacks include the proverbial melee and range attacks with some summoning and passive skills. These and attributes can be upgraded which makes for a compelling experience as I could tangibly feel the benefits of upgrades.

    The graphics of 13 Sentinels hinge on the story sections, where you can view your protagonist exploring the world and interacting with others. Whilst they weren't exactly pushing the console to its limits, I found the anime style very befitting, literally like an animated graphic novel. The graphics in battles is very 'digital', as every object is represented in pixelated sprites, however this simplicity works really well, I think. But the various environments the story takes you to helps make up for the repetition in the battle mode.

    Overall, 13 Sentinels was an amazing game for me, so amazing that it sapped 40 hours of my life to get my second-ever Platinum Trophy. This is something else to be commended as most Platinums are just protracted and tedious attempts to extend a game's length, but with 13 Sentinels I had most acquired playing the game normally, which enticed me to add a few extra hours to get the Platinum. This is one of the best games I have played in a long time and I can't see myself ever forgetting the experience, although it will definitely be hard to recall the finer points of the story.    … Expand
  71. BKChronos
    Nov 15, 2020
    9
    This game just exudes originality in an industry where devs seem to be too busy copying or remaking.

    Was super hard to understand at first, but the plot is just in another fu***ing level and the RTS sections were super fun.
  72. marcusbrahma
    Sep 25, 2020
    9
    Самое внезапное и приятное открытие 2020-го. Решил купить наугад, посмотрев пару обзоров и оценки и не прогадал. Арт-дизайн, геймплей, сценарий, сюжет все в этой игре невероятно доставляет, однако надо признать игра все ж на любителя. На любителя аниме(ну или не противника), sci-fi сеттинга, сложного повествования и тактических(хоть и не сильно сложных) боев. Ну и само собой никакой суперСамое внезапное и приятное открытие 2020-го. Решил купить наугад, посмотрев пару обзоров и оценки и не прогадал. Арт-дизайн, геймплей, сценарий, сюжет все в этой игре невероятно доставляет, однако надо признать игра все ж на любителя. На любителя аниме(ну или не противника), sci-fi сеттинга, сложного повествования и тактических(хоть и не сильно сложных) боев. Ну и само собой никакой супер топ графики, но об этом как-то и неловко говорить учитывая отличный и оригинальный арт. Из минусов выделю некоторую сумбурность в повествовательной части в плане геймплея. Не всегда понятно, где триггер для продолжения и приходиться заниматься бездумным тыканьем во все. Порой сбивает настрой. Ну и бои порой очень уж простые, но это кому как конечно. Вообщем, с учетом вышеперечисленного, неистово советую.… Expand
  73. aleqhz
    Apr 22, 2023
    9
    Amazing story, nice graphics and gameplay. It provides what you expect from a game: it's fun.
  74. alanwaketan
    Oct 23, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 说起本作就不得不评价其剧情。因为这是一款真正意义上的剧情驱动型游戏，整个游戏框架和游戏形式都是为了剧情服务的。这个剧情呢就是一张老千层饼，不停的反转非常的引人入胜。游戏分为三个篇章，究明篇，崩坏篇和追忆篇。追忆篇又包含了十三名主角各自的剧情线。其中的核心我认为是究明篇。玩家可以把整个游戏想象成一个大型推理现场。追忆篇就是让你收集线索，而究明篇就是让你抽丝剥茧。所以游戏的核心就是利用究明篇中收集到的要素来进行推理。游戏最绝的就是安排了这种看似松散的游戏架构却暗含了丝丝入扣的推理环节，我愿称其为开放式推理世界。举个例子，我一开始玩的是鞍部十郎，结束了序章之后，我点进去了究明篇看情节发生的时间线结果发现了不同情节之间居然有空档，那我就开始思考到底玩哪个角色能够补全这个空档，于是乎下一次就选择该角色来进行游玩而不是继续鞍部的剧情。往往这些通过别人为主视角的情节会和已知情节产生矛盾。这时候我就会推理为什么从而思考该从哪个角色的视角进行深入了解继而获得真相。整个游戏就是在这么一个层层叠进的过程中不断的靠近真相。其中的反转的刺激度不亚于坐过山车。真是一种从未有过的游戏体验。不愧是被法米通称之为前无古人后无来者的游戏。游戏唯一的不足之处就是崩坏篇和追忆篇之间的联系不够紧密。

    接下来就是剧透部分了。本作最后的培养皿说其实并不能解决游戏所有的矛盾。其中我最不解的就是既然都是培养皿了为何要麻烦的设置5个区，每个区也就只能获得3个克隆体进行培育，真的能达到学习该时代的精神从而融合不同时代的人类精神文明来避免人类灭绝这一覆辙吗？这一设置无疑只能用试验田说来解释，就是真的是想从五个时代开始重启做模拟来看看到底哪个时代能够避免人类灭绝。然而克隆体的设置是活到18岁之后被拉回现实世界上2年课来适应开荒生活。这18年能模拟个啥？这一矛盾我认为是剧情上最大的漏洞。当然本作如此复杂的叙事结构和剧情，能完善致此已实属不易。小小瑕疵不足为过，只是不吐不快。    … Expand
  75. SplinterOfChaos
    Oct 4, 2020
    9
    A deeply metaphysical story combined with a big mechs SRPG, 13 Sentinels is both rare and fascinating despite its entrenchment in what polite society might call "anime **** While appealing to two niche genre that tend to be hostile to casuals, visual novels and SRPGs, it has captured an audience that feels almost mainstream in the way it subverts their conventions.

    Vanillaware being the    A deeply metaphysical story combined with a big mechs SRPG, 13 Sentinels is both rare and fascinating despite its entrenchment in what polite society might call "anime **** While appealing to two niche genre that tend to be hostile to casuals, visual novels and SRPGs, it has captured an audience that feels almost mainstream in the way it subverts their conventions.

    Vanillaware being the developers of the classic Odin Sphere and numerous other games that broke conventions for Japanese games, 13 Sentinels seems on its surface like your typical anime cliche. Its cast is entirely highschool students piloting mechs and in general taking on way too much responsibility, dealing with puberty, conspiracies enacted by people over 30, and everything of import happens in this one city. However, it derives intrigue from its complex, interweaved stories that all feature protagonists with novel and mysterious challenges to overcome. It begs the player to invest emotionally and intellectually in order to comprehend.

    The combat of 13 Sentinels is deep, yet on the verge of approachable. Controlling up to six members at once, all in real time, it can be overwhelming managing all the special abilities, each of which must be individually upgraded using a shared pool, on top of pilot skills which may demand specific character combinations or skills in order to get use out of. Still, the combat is not hard, per say. A few almost useless units. due to improperly equipping them or assigning them to missions where they are ineffective, are easily made up for by the frankly overpowered abilities of others. It rewards strategic thinking without forcing you to lose if you make a few mistakes.

    A good rating in combat can help unlock "mystery points" which unlocks information adding depth to the story, though there is significantly less interaction between the story and combat and that's a little unfortunate.

    All in all, a very high recommendation.    … Expand
  76. DarkFireUmad
    Jan 31, 2021
    9
    Bastante guay, me ha impresionado lo buena que es su curva de dificultad y escalado de los enemigos y niveles. La historia es brutal, pero es bastante liosa con tantos saltos temporales. No me ha gustado que los protas sean tan hornies, a veces cansa.
  77. Mistoltean
    Oct 24, 2020
    9
    Vaniilaware's signature is still in 13 Aegis Rim:

    When I played their games, their most impressive qualities are their 2D sprite art style and complex story with multiple perspectives from multiple protagonists. 13 Aegis Rim still upholds to Vanillaware standard. That says if you are for great, complicate, and grey-area protagonists, this game offers one of the best in 2020. If you    Vaniilaware's signature is still in 13 Aegis Rim:

    When I played their games, their most impressive qualities are their 2D sprite art style and complex story with multiple perspectives from multiple protagonists. 13 Aegis Rim still upholds to Vanillaware standard.
    That says if you are for great, complicate, and grey-area protagonists, this game offers one of the best in 2020. If you like their art styles, this game is probably the best out of their work.
    Don't play this game if you look for beat-them-up or ARPG style. This game should be considered visual novel with RTS as an add on. Tbh, the game is still great without RTS element. This is not meant the RTS aspect is bad, it is average at worst. However, the core and the best aspect of this game is its story and twist.    … Expand
  78. Luigichief
    Feb 18, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So, the thing is, this game is UNIQUE, and will continue to be for several years. I saw some interviews and the creator said that he would never make another game with a level like that and Atlus wouldn't leave it anyway, all due to his very long production time, which is sad but it is only a reflection of the game industry today. Kamitani (creator) described the game as "truly, recklessly ambitious".

    The story has all the sci-fi 'clichés' you can imagine, but they are used in a very original and very engaging way. This is probably the best thought story I have ever seen / read in my life.

    The game's prologue is already very good, AMAZING as at no time did I feel bored, the closest thing was during some battles in the first 2 areas of the game.
    Redoing days in different ways is very interesting, but kind of strange from a narrative perspective.
    But Nenji Ogata's route makes ... he keep repeating the day. She is very interesting.

    The final Boss fight is exciting, they did a phenomenal job with the gameplay there, I didn't think it was possible with such a battle system. The end of the game is very exciting, a scene that I swear out of the pod, and then seeing all the characters interacting and finding their 'happy ending' is absurd, good, fan service on the spot. This ending surprised me a lot in many ways, they tied everything up too well (there was only one art style like that of the menu in the new world). And I didn't think the game was going to end so happily.

    The extra / secret scene that shows that apparently there are several probes similar to this one out there is quite interesting.

    Amazing how good the characters are, they are TOO nice, some of them have development but most are not so much, the story is more about them finding out about everything and trying to save themselves than anything else. That is, she is much more story-driven than character-driven.
    I would just say that there was a little more interaction between them, especially the couples.
    Let me just leave one inside that, none of the novels is very developmental, but the chemistry of some characters or you see how they care about each other with actions was quite interesting in some cases. And the 'destruction of the world' being imminent in their view 'forced' some relationships to progress faster, in addition to being a bunch of teenagers.

    The story not having so much focus on the characters and their interactions for me was THEIR BIGGEST DEFECT, there are 13 protagonists and getting them to interact with each other would take a long time but it was just making them interact with 1 or 2 (the closest), I could make it easy. As I said, the novel for example suffers a lot from this, but most of the scenes would be much more exciting if we made more of the relationships of the characters, in addition it would be possible to develop them much more.
    I read around that the game was supposed to have a much slower pace and to have a lot more interactions between the characters, but due to the production time interrupted by Atlus and the budget was not possible. :(

    One criticism is that the world of the future (2188) on the ship was very poorly illustrated (only with portraits) and we have a very small and well summarized notion of the events of that time.    … Expand
  79. Emrawww
    Jan 13, 2021
    9
    I played Dragon's Crown and Odin's Sphere. Both Vannilaware games. This game is NOTHING like those two. If you expect the same gameplay as those games, please research this game more.

    This game has two main sections. One is the story (visual novel) and the other is gameplay ( tower defence). Story: WOW. Just WOW! The story is just amazing. One of the best videogames story ever made! The    I played Dragon's Crown and Odin's Sphere. Both Vannilaware games. This game is NOTHING like those two. If you expect the same gameplay as those games, please research this game more.

    This game has two main sections. One is the story (visual novel) and the other is gameplay ( tower defence).

    Story:
    WOW. Just WOW! The story is just amazing. One of the best videogames story ever made! The way it's told and paced is just on another level. Amazing...

    Gameplay:
    Nothing special here. I expected more from the gameplay section. It's not bad but it is just a simple towerdefence mode where you can level your mechs/characters unlocking new abilities.

    Even though the gameplay is average, the story is so well made that I still think this game deserves a big fat 9. Must play for people that like scifi and/or story driven games.    … Expand
  80. Satisfyer
    Dec 14, 2021
    9
    It's just a masterpiece. Amazing story, thank you for this amazing videogame, Vanillaware.
  81. GamejournoSucks
    Nov 4, 2020
    9
    Amazing amazing game Vanilla ware once again outdone themselves with another solid entry.

    Their are two sections to this game a visual novel like story mode and a turn based combat playing field like Final Fantasy tactics (but much more streamlined of course), my only criticism is both sections are completely different from one another its jarring playing from one section to the next    Amazing amazing game Vanilla ware once again outdone themselves with another solid entry.

    Their are two sections to this game a visual novel like story mode and a turn based combat playing field like Final Fantasy tactics (but much more streamlined of course), my only criticism is both sections are completely different from one another its jarring playing from one section to the next but you need to play both concurrently in order to progress through the game.

    Other than that both sections are rad definitely one of my fav games of 2020    … Expand
  82. willozsy
    Sep 7, 2022
    9
    The game is a slow burn but one of the best stories I've ever experienced in any media
  83. Vaeu
    Jul 21, 2022
    9
    Great game, shame I can't share more of my thoughts because I keep getting a 404 error.
  84. MuntaX
    Oct 28, 2020
    9
    Es un juegazo como la copa de un pino,una de las mejores historias que he visto en un videojuego y un decorado artístico fantástico.La traduccion al español es sublime y se agradece mucho que lo hayan podido traducir para que la gente que habla español lo pueda disfrutar.
  85. Vragegaming
    Sep 29, 2020
    9
    When I first saw a trailer for this game, I wanted to give it a try but wasn't sure I would like the gameplay very much. I'm happy to say I not only love the gameplay, but the story and characters were just as compelling as I hoped from a game like this. I love the set up and how you pick the protagonist you want to interact with first. I find the twists and turns in he story entertainingWhen I first saw a trailer for this game, I wanted to give it a try but wasn't sure I would like the gameplay very much. I'm happy to say I not only love the gameplay, but the story and characters were just as compelling as I hoped from a game like this. I love the set up and how you pick the protagonist you want to interact with first. I find the twists and turns in he story entertaining and I adore how the game pulls a lot of emotion from me with each character plot. I highly recommend this game whether you love anime or sci-fi. I'm not very up to date on sci-fi but theres references I do get and this game honestly made me want to learn more about the genre. All that is holding it back from a 10 for me is that I havent completed the game fully yet but based on gameplay and set up I do believe it at least deserves a 9. A lot of things to remind me a bit of a spike chunesoft game but vanillaware and atlus really made a unique feeling game and I think if you're iffy on it, at least try it out if theres a sale because it's really really fun in my opinion.… Expand
  86. GGuice
    Nov 8, 2020
    9
    Take my word for it, this is the hidden gem of the last generation, without question. I play a **** ton of games and read a ton of books, and I've never seen a work of fiction with this level of non-linear off the wall in depth incredibly well done story telling. The ONLY reason this game isn't a 10 is because the strategy portion of the gameplay could definitely be more polished and addedTake my word for it, this is the hidden gem of the last generation, without question. I play a **** ton of games and read a ton of books, and I've never seen a work of fiction with this level of non-linear off the wall in depth incredibly well done story telling. The ONLY reason this game isn't a 10 is because the strategy portion of the gameplay could definitely be more polished and added to in different aspects; it basically feels more or less like a prototype/blueprint in a late stage. That being said, even the strategy portion is DAMN good, in-depth, and addicting. like how I said its basically a late prototype or blueprint? Well its a damn good one at that. Buy this game.… Expand
  87. Rotrex
    Nov 21, 2020
    9
    If you like games with good plot or/and visual novels, this is your game. The only bad thing I can think of is that the combat is a bit repetitive in the long term because the mision objectives are very similar in all the misions.
  88. Erotenkai
    Nov 30, 2020
    9
    13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of Vanillaware's best games to ever get localized in the west. Considering if you're a fan of heavy science fiction narrative story told in visual novel format, I don't see why you should pass on this game. DO NOT LISTEN to the criticism of the gameplay elements as part of the charm in 13 Sentinels is the mind-blowing plot.
  89. GoatSimp69
    Dec 18, 2020
    9
    Ir-reproducible narrative, beautiful 2D animation, excellent voice acting.
    30 hours of play time, not too long, not too short just right.
    The only drawback I feel: the character's emotions and conflicts are not strong enough.
  90. Kellyb0m
    Mar 27, 2021
    9
    Awesome story and characters, had a bit of weird gameplay but I got used to it, really enjoyable experience
  91. RealOcto24
    Sep 5, 2021
    9
    This is honestly a masterpiece. The biggest draw to this game is it’s story. I’ve seen haters say two things about this game’s story. “It’s so full of cliches” or “the story is way too much”. These are both not true. This story seems to start out with all the main cliches and slowly starts to destroy those cliches throughout the course of the story. You may believe you know how oneThis is honestly a masterpiece. The biggest draw to this game is it’s story. I’ve seen haters say two things about this game’s story. “It’s so full of cliches” or “the story is way too much”. These are both not true. This story seems to start out with all the main cliches and slowly starts to destroy those cliches throughout the course of the story. You may believe you know how one character’s ark will end but it will instead completely twist and end up much more different than the cliches they’re based off of. And the story is a lot, I will admit, but anyone can figure it out if they retain some generally important information. However it perfectly balances the 13 stories and all of them are important to the story in one way or another. And in the end, the story takes a huge twist that caught me off guard… Expand
  92. zen_
    May 12, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good:
    -The story is very enjoyable with bunch of different characters that you can play as with spectacular art design
    -The way the paths intersect with each other when you play the other characters is very creative
    -There are a LOT of plot twists that make your jaw drop so many times
    -The soundtrack is amazing
    -The gameplay is pretty good while mixing a visual novel with the good action/adventure of the gameplay
    -The writing is very good
    -The Japanese voice acting is amazing
    Cons:
    -Sometimes the pacing makes it a bit boring
    -The gameplay is super easy
    Verdict:
    The game is amazing with a good story/characters and bit of visual novel mix
    This game although i wouldn't recommend it for everyone because it really is a slowburn
    9.5/10    … Expand
  93. Ventu
    Feb 6, 2022
    9
    13 Sentiels: Aegis Rim es un gran juego, obligatorio para los amantes de Novela Visual y RPG Tactico. La historia es muy interesante, los personajes carismaticos, un apartado artistico precioso, y el sistema de combate muy entretenido. Siendo realistas, es un muy buen juego, pero no diria que es la obra maestra que todo el mundo dice. Hay que tener en cuenta que no es un juego para todo el13 Sentiels: Aegis Rim es un gran juego, obligatorio para los amantes de Novela Visual y RPG Tactico. La historia es muy interesante, los personajes carismaticos, un apartado artistico precioso, y el sistema de combate muy entretenido. Siendo realistas, es un muy buen juego, pero no diria que es la obra maestra que todo el mundo dice. Hay que tener en cuenta que no es un juego para todo el mundo, la historia puede ser dificil de entender en su totalidad, y el sistema de combate puede abrumar un poco al principio hasta que te acostumbras a su estetica. Hay que destacar que conforme avanzas es un juego muy gratificante, todo va encajando y el sistema de progresion hasta el 100% es muy completo. Lo mejor es su historia y como logra conectar todo, asi como un apartado visual dibujado a mano precioso. Lo peor no es algo malo 'per se', pero la historia puede ser confusa en ciertos momentos.… Expand
  94. DarkwingSchmuck
    Jul 27, 2023
    9
    13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim may have its flaws, but it is also a one-of-a-kind experience -- far better than the sum of its parts. Vanillaware's best effort by a mile, 13 Sentinels is an incredibly unique and ambitious game that's separated between two very different gameplay experiences -- a story-driven visual novel, and a real-time strategy RPG -- and while combat is serviceable enough,13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim may have its flaws, but it is also a one-of-a-kind experience -- far better than the sum of its parts. Vanillaware's best effort by a mile, 13 Sentinels is an incredibly unique and ambitious game that's separated between two very different gameplay experiences -- a story-driven visual novel, and a real-time strategy RPG -- and while combat is serviceable enough, the former works better than the latter, as 13 Sentinels' story is really what holds everything together.

    Despite a few too many instances of cringy teenage romance drama here and there, 13 Sentinels boasts one of the most finely crafted high-brow science fiction narratives you'll likely ever encounter in a video game. Smart, weighty, extremely dense, and completely engrossing, 13 Sentinels' story and characters will stick with you long after completion; even if its 40-hour playtime may go on for a bit longer than is necessary.    … Expand
  95. nanansgxz2
    Jan 18, 2023
    9
    13 哨兵：宙斯盾边缘充满了各种复杂性和细微差别，让你想要加倍分析每个场景中的剧本、传说和艺术品。有很多事情要做，但它的处理方式是，你通常永远不会得到超过你能处理的。相反，它让你为它的重要时刻做好准备。
  96. WindlessNight
    Jan 31, 2023
    9
    One of the best stories. At first things make sense, then they get wildly confusing depending on which order you play the stories in. Eventually the game gives you a guide to help explain the twist within the story guide which is nice. And then everything makes sense again. The real time tactics gameplay was okay, it never really sat right with me as the two gameplay styles felt veryOne of the best stories. At first things make sense, then they get wildly confusing depending on which order you play the stories in. Eventually the game gives you a guide to help explain the twist within the story guide which is nice. And then everything makes sense again. The real time tactics gameplay was okay, it never really sat right with me as the two gameplay styles felt very disjointed from one another. One being very low stakes story based, and the other being a very high one with drastically different art styles is a little weird to me. I always got the mech fights out of the way as soon as possible as they weren’t nearly as enjoyable as the story itself. The graphics during the story portion was absolutely lovely, like a nice painterly and anime mix. The story plays on the obvious anime troupes really well and it’s done very purposefully. If you love a good story and don’t mind real time tactics to get to the end, it’s worth your time.… Expand
  97. J_R
    May 14, 2023
    9
    9.0/10

    13 Sentinels is one of my favorite pieces of science fiction ever, across any medium. The story and characters are excellent. Go into this as blind as you can. It's looks and sounds absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately I can't praise the gameplay as highly. The gameplay isn't bad, it's just not as compelling as the narrative, art, characters, etc. It's fun but not    9.0/10

    13 Sentinels is one of my favorite pieces of science fiction ever, across any medium.

    The story and characters are excellent. Go into this as blind as you can. It's looks and sounds absolutely beautiful.

    Unfortunately I can't praise the gameplay as highly. The gameplay isn't bad, it's just not as compelling as the narrative, art, characters, etc. It's fun but not interesting enough and lacks challenge.

    I highly recommend 13 Sentinels. It definitely deserves more love and attention than it has currently received.

    9.0/10    … Expand
  98. hazukimio
    Jun 28, 2023
    9
    13 SENTINELS: AEGIS RIM has one of the most unexpected yet brilliant narratives in both visual novels and strategy games. Despite the lack of impression in the combat part, I would still recommend it to any gamer who has a predilection on storytelling.
  99. VG_Alex
    Oct 25, 2020
    8
    A sci-fi AVG game with a exquisite art. The battle part and the story part are cleverly separated to allow players to master the progress of the game independently. The story background is very well combined with the characters. The interweaving of multiple lines also makes the story more attractive. However, in the later stage of the story line, the game has a slow pace, and the combatA sci-fi AVG game with a exquisite art. The battle part and the story part are cleverly separated to allow players to master the progress of the game independently. The story background is very well combined with the characters. The interweaving of multiple lines also makes the story more attractive. However, in the later stage of the story line, the game has a slow pace, and the combat part is relatively single and boring. The game as a whole has a great background and a wonderful narrative,It is a very distinctive game.… Expand
  100. bball4224
    Sep 29, 2020
    8
    There are lots of interesting twists along the way, but the final 10% or so was pretty meh in my opinion. The climax didn't live up to the buildups. Also the trophies are way too easy. You get the platinum for completing the game. I got S rank on every mission in "intense" mode, and honestly it's not that hard even in that difficulty. But you can play in any difficulty as long as you get SThere are lots of interesting twists along the way, but the final 10% or so was pretty meh in my opinion. The climax didn't live up to the buildups. Also the trophies are way too easy. You get the platinum for completing the game. I got S rank on every mission in "intense" mode, and honestly it's not that hard even in that difficulty. But you can play in any difficulty as long as you get S ranks on every mission you'll get the platinum easily. But personally there are many times I got an S in Intense without breaking a sweat, the game is not that difficult. Maybe 20% of the missions I didn't get an S on the first try. And I never reset a character so I generally didn't have optimal lineups for most of the missions, yet it's still mostly a breeze. I did have fun with the combat though. Just sometimes you're waiting to use a big attack, and suddenly that was the final wave and it's over.

    Also fine, insert your random gay character, but to have it be the same guy who is constantly spouting about his pride as a Japanese soldier yadda yadda, yeah no. If he was that serious about it as his dialogue is, he wouldn't be pursuing something that is so counter culture to that. He constantly acts like he isn't interested, but every action he does speaks otherwise. Just for tropes...

    Most of the voice acting I actually thought was pretty decent. Yuki was personally really enjoyable to listen to. Miwako, Tsukasa, and Takatoshi I found to have quite annoying voices though.

    The semi nudity is super cringe at times, especially considering all the characters are constated stated to be teens. But I guess most of the base that plays games like this probably don't mind fanservice or general Japanese perversion.

    It's also amazing how every single characters romantically loves someone. Or loves multiple people. Who knew the success rate for high school relationships was so high?!

    But annnnnyway, mostly was an enjoyable game. Just felt the end 10-20% was a letdown after all the times it made me say "oh snap" early on. Felt like they could have gone in even deeper detail about some things.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PS4 Game of 2020
33
#33 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 69
  3. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. Edge Magazine
    Dec 31, 2020
    70
    No, it doesn't make any damn sense. But consider us compelled. [Issue#354, p.112]
  2. CD-Action
    Dec 18, 2020
    80
    “Huge mechs, a ruined city, and a hot female teacher in a latex suit”, is how one of the game’s characters described his visions. That’s, in a nutshell, the essence of this unique, crazy RPG where you face kaiju in turned-based combat one minute, and follow weird conversations of high-school students the next. And there is nothing wrong with that. [12/2020, p.70]
  3. Games.cz
    Nov 12, 2020
    90
    A game of two halves. One of them is an amazingly detailed and well-told sci-fi story, the other a fun, strategic RPG. And as a whole it works perfectly.
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