Scarlet Nexus

 Xbox Series X
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 141 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 106 out of 141
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 141
  3. Negative: 15 out of 141
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  1. wavegab
    Oct 5, 2021
    1
    game pass worthy. When the game has a combat system that is designed around combos but half of the combo is about holding a button and waiting and constantly getting interrupted, you know it failed as an ACT game.

    Also do not classify this as a JRPG. With its anime-logic plot and storytelling, it would receive an even worse rating. I guess all of this game's budget goes into visual,    game pass worthy. When the game has a combat system that is designed around combos but half of the combo is about holding a button and waiting and constantly getting interrupted, you know it failed as an ACT game.

    Also do not classify this as a JRPG. With its anime-logic plot and storytelling, it would receive an even worse rating.

    I guess all of this game's budget goes into visual, so they only hire braindead combat designers. Why would you think anyone would enjoy combats that being constantly disrupted by a teleporting-to-your-face enemy and out-of-screen projectiles, at the same time, every 2 seconds. There is a **** reason why this game goes into gamepass after 3 months of its release    … Expand
  2. KUNMB11
    Jul 17, 2021
    4
    SCARLET NEXUS (XSX)

    "Flashy Combat Paired with the Worst of JRPG Game Design" (+) Replay-ability (+) Characters The strength of SCARLET NEXUS plays into its dual narrative. From the get-go, I had the choice of playing either two characters, Yuito or Kasane, and to my surprise, after playing through both characters I had vastly different experiences. Both stories start out    SCARLET NEXUS (XSX)

    "Flashy Combat Paired with the Worst of JRPG Game Design"

    (+) Replay-ability
    (+) Characters

    The strength of SCARLET NEXUS plays into its dual narrative. From the get-go, I had the choice of playing either two characters, Yuito or Kasane, and to my surprise, after playing through both characters I had vastly different experiences. Both stories start out similarly only with a difference in dialogue, but as soon as the story begins to pick up, I was pleased to see different missions, locations, combat styles, and enemies. The developers took their time to set up a distinct but comforting structure. Moreover, the characters and the team aspect of the game are wonderful. I enjoyed all their backgrounds and using their different abilities in combat was fun and engaging. Every enemy I encountered had a weakness to one of the characters in my party, encouraging me to use all abilities. No one character felt overused or underutilized, it was balanced extremely well.

    (-) Narrative Design
    (-) World Design
    (-) Repetitive Combat

    The story is suitable. That’s the best I can say. There is a huge disconnect between what is happening in terms of gameplay and what the characters are saying in cutscenes. People in this game will do the most absolute villainous over-the-top bad **** and then in the next chapter (15 minutes later) they will join my side, and vice versa through the entire game. This is not always a game-breaking deal, but if the game is narrative-driven (like 10 hours of just cutscenes) the story needs to be competent. This story here is childish. But if the narrative isn’t the main pull, the world might be. The presentation here is good, it's nothing special, but serviceable for an anime. The world design begins to lose its appeal around the halfway mark. I ran into the same locations repeatedly, and I wasn’t pleased because all these locations are built linearly, so I saw the same locations in the same order. Alongside locations, the combat is repetitive. The same enemies begin to flood my screen only scaling in health and damage dealt (it is an RPG after all but feels far too constrained here). Overall, I understand why some people may like this game for the characters and the combat alone, but I don’t see fit to return to the game any time soon.

    (2/5) - Below Average - Recommended at $49.99    … Expand
  3. Ayvaza
    Jan 15, 2022
    2
    Beware of spoilers, dont read if you did not play and intend to play it.

    First of, what a garbage story, overall it makes absolutely no sense. They (bunch of future companions) try to kill the male lead over and over again, and later message him to meetup in a bar to chill together. they betray the nation they reside in , or where they were serving... and there is even not a reason why    Beware of spoilers, dont read if you did not play and intend to play it.

    First of, what a garbage story, overall it makes absolutely no sense. They (bunch of future companions) try to kill the male lead over and over again, and later message him to meetup in a bar to chill together. they betray the nation they reside in , or where they were serving... and there is even not a reason why they would betray the nation. the first hours you will be busy to fight off people who want to kill you the 10th time.
    dont let japanese write stories, they are too dense, they forgot that the "friendship 4ever" died with narutos simping ... damn i cant even write a decent review beecause how stupid the story is. the MCs father is getting killed and he is still simping and asking "why are you doing this" oh god, stupid author, should be jailed for this and also the dude agreed on the plot. probably one of my last anime games. they need to man up, grow some balls or whatever, but not this whiny bit-chy sh-t.

    tl.dr.: Story is so bad, that it would have been better if there were no story at all. gameplay is decent but dont waste your money on this sht. i am glad that i played this with the gamepass    … Expand
  4. Nekst
    Oct 22, 2021
    0
    The combat is frustrating. Sometimes it doesn't register that I am holding a trigger. Or even using an attack, which is supposed to combo. Character will stand around and get hit while your pressing buttons.
  5. Broyax
    Mar 7, 2023
    3
    Encore l’un de ces soi-disant jeux de rôle japonais… mais comme chacun le sait, jeu de rôle et japonais, ça fait souvent deux ! surtout en matière d’histoire et de choix, vu qu’on a quasiment jamais le choix dans les « J-RPG » et ce Scarlet Nexus ne fait pas exception à la règle… sauf en ce qui concerne le choix du sexe de départ, bien que l’histoire semble rigoureusement la même mais vueEncore l’un de ces soi-disant jeux de rôle japonais… mais comme chacun le sait, jeu de rôle et japonais, ça fait souvent deux ! surtout en matière d’histoire et de choix, vu qu’on a quasiment jamais le choix dans les « J-RPG » et ce Scarlet Nexus ne fait pas exception à la règle… sauf en ce qui concerne le choix du sexe de départ, bien que l’histoire semble rigoureusement la même mais vue sous un angle légèrement différent (il faut faire une seconde partie pour s’en rendre compte, je suppose).

    Bien entendu très dirigiste, le jeu qui semble de prime abord plus ‘sérieux’ que de coutume s’avère en fait presque aussi niais que les japoniaiseries passées, présentes… ou à venir ! tout le monde n’en finit pas de s’excuser et les réactions sont souvent pleurnichardes et/ou outrées… D’ailleurs, le boss de fin, un rageux insupportable a failli me rendre fou, non pas par sa difficulté mais parce qu’il se relevait tout le temps après tout ce qu’on lui mettait sur la gueule, franchement, c’était lourdingue !

    Il est à noter que la dernière partie du jeu fait de toute façon du remplissage avec des combats à n’en plus finir, elle aussi. Et pourtant, l’univers présenté ici fait preuve d’une certaine originalité ; un monde qui suscite la curiosité d’autant que les graphismes façon manga animé (mais pas trop) sont très réussis. Et tout cela tourne comme un charme sur SX à 60 im/s en toute circonstance.

    On a globalement fort peu de cinématiques ici mais surtout des saynètes, des sortes de bandes dessinées sonorisées en somme, ce qui peut fatiguer à la longue, d’autant que c’est très bavard… et il se trouve que si les débuts peuvent faire illusion, les rebondissements multiples (éventés et avariés) rendent cette histoire à la con complètement caduque bien avant la fin… Heureusement, qu’on peut zapper tout ça !

    Mais si les combats sont trop nombreux, ils n’en demeurent pas moins assez divertissants grâce à des mécaniques bien pensées et relativement simples (pour un jeu japonais) ; c’est très dynamique et souvent spectaculaire et les cinq niveaux de difficulté proposés (de très facile à très difficile) satisferont tout le monde. La maniabilité s’avère sans reproche, et tout répond au doigt et à l’oeil.

    Comme d’habitude (encore !), on ne peut pas sauvegarder manuellement mais uniquement à des points spécifiques… heursuement, ils sont assez nombreux et judicieusement disposés. Par contre, la musique Bontempi est à se pendre (un supplice !) et semble totalement décalée du reste du jeu.

    Dans l’ensemble, on regrette qu’on n’ait vraiment aucune influence sur l’histoire et que les personnages soient tous aussi stéréotypés et/ou niaiseux… une histoire bancale de toute manière que les combats sympathiques ne parviennent pas à faire oublier, ni l’impression de répétition qui nous poursuit pendant tout le jeu : c’est en effet à peu près toujours la même chose et les environnements sont souvent recyclés !    … Expand
  6. VoltrenXytech
    Nov 21, 2022
    3
    the combat ruined the entire game for me, it feels clunky and unrefined, i shouldn't have to get most of the way through the game for it to start feeling less like jamming rocks together and more like trying to threat a needle with tremors

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2021
28
#28 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Vgames
    Dec 27, 2021
    85
    Scarlet Nexus is an amazing Japanese action RPG game, at the start it could give a feeling of an average anime game, but the amazing designs, blend of action and RPG, interesting story are a great blend to one of 2021 games you don't want to miss.
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  2. Gamers' Temple
    Jul 19, 2021
    76
    While I did have some fun with Scarlet Nexus, I am left with the feeling that it could have been more. If there was more life to the city, and any life at all to the frequently drab mission locations, all of the traversal in the game would have felt a lot less like traversal and the world would have felt more immersive and fleshed-out. The combat has its unique aspects, but there is a repetition to it that is exposed by the volume of battles that you will fight against the same enemy types. While it is a plus that the game essentially gives you two campaigns, you may find yourself having had enough after making it through one.
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  3. SomosXbox
    Jul 8, 2021
    88
    Scarlet Nexus is arguably one of Bandai Namco's best games. Its deep combat system and a plot that makes you want to know more at every turn make the game a highly recommended product for fans of the ARPG genre.
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