'Reynatis' Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: Steam
Reynatis is a Japanese RPG set in Shibuya. The game clearly has influence from Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, even bringing composer Yoko Shimomura onto the project. The game’s audio is entirely in Japanese with English subtitles and menus. The story is set in a world of wizards in a heavily drug-ridden Shibuya. The game follows two protagonists. Sari is a member of the M.E.A.’s magic task force, a team of wizards that uses their powers to take down criminals and stop the use of the illegal drug Rubrum. Rubrum addicts will threaten wizards as well since their blood has similar effects as the drug. Opposing the M.E.A. is the Magic Guild, who see the task force as oppressive. Those who don’t align with either the guild or the task force are known as stray wizards. One such stray is the other protagonist, Marin, who seeks to become the strongest wizard.
Both protagonists explore the streets of Shibuya, which is divided into several different screens. The game’s strongest mechanic is switching between Suppression Mode, where wizards hide their magic with hats, hoods, and visors, and Liberation Mode, where magic is on full display. Since Sari belongs to the M.E.A., she can freely explore Shibuya in Liberation mode with no consequences, letting her run faster and jump higher. For everyone else, magic is illegal, so Marin must stay in suppression mode as he explores. The catch here is sometimes drug addicts, city patrol, or M.E.A. agents will attack, forcing you into Liberation mode.
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Combat relies on your magic. Wizards can do a standard attack or two special moves, which all deplete MP. When magic runs out, wizards are forced back into Suppression mode, where they can only dodge or jump. dodges restore MP and, if timed right, brings up a circle meter that can restore full MP and unleash a special attack. Building up combos fills the burst liberation meter and allows for a powerful attack. While this combat sounds good in theory, it suffers from a very janky camera. I often can’t tell if the battle is finished until I see the results screen because the enemies are off-camera.
Image Source: IGN
Players can also visit restaurants in the city to restore health, but given that save points do the same for free, there’s no reason to eat out. Food or drinks will be consumed immediately, so they’re no use in combat. There are other items scattered throughout the city that will restore HP or increase attack strength in combat. The game can be paused at any time, including during combat, to access items, check status, and level up skills.
As players explore Shibuya, they will encounter magical graffiti known as Wizart. The Wizards will then absorb the artwork to unlock new skills. In addition to Shibuya, there are sections of forest that Marin will explore. Since this forest is outside of the city, Marin can run around in full liberation mode with no consequences. The available side quests are all the tedious pattern of reaching a certain spot, talking to someone, and fighting someone with almost no variation. This quickly gets stale and repetitive but is a great way to explore the city looking for Wizart.
Graphics
The city of Shibuya is lovingly recreated down to even being able to see real-life locations like the 109 building, Scramble Crossing, and Center Street. However, the character designs look like they would be right at home on a PS2 game. There’s nothing wrong with opting for artistic styles, but the artistic characters against a realistic Shibuya don’t meld together well. This is a non-issue for the most part, as the characters are controlled from behind, so it really only affects cutscenes that show the character’s face. It only seems to be a problem with the playable characters and the main wizards in the story. The NPCs scattered around Shibuya look realistic enough.
Image Source: RPGamer
Story
The game’s greatest strength is its story and how the liberation suppression mode ties into it. The first protagonist that the players meet is Sari. She is a member of the M.E.A.’s magic task force, a team of wizards that uses their powers to take down criminals and stop the use of the illegal drug Rubrum. Rubrum addicts will threaten wizards as well since their blood has similar effects as the drug. Opposing the M.E.A. is the Magic Guild, who see the task force as oppressive. Those who don’t align with either the guild or the task force are known as stray wizards. One such stray is the other protagonist, Marin, who seeks to become the strongest wizard.
As Marin’s journey progresses, he encounters a group known as O.W.L. that is committed to providing refuge for stray wizards. The story is one of oppression and freedom and what true strength means. The story’s themes and the tie-in mechanic of hiding your true self speak to eternal themes. Sari, on the other hand, is at first enthusiastic about her position in the M.E.A. However, the events of the game cause her to start questioning the authority she has been using against other wizards in the city. In short, not everything is as it seems, further emphasizing the hidden depths and hidden powers of the characters.
Verdict
Overall, the indie game is an intriguing experiment that suffers from a janky camera and outdated gameplay. Reynatis is a worthwhile experiment but suffers from dated visuals and frequent loading screens. The game becomes highly monotonous if played in large doses. Its strongest aspect is its story, which is just engaging enough to justify slogging through repetitive gameplay. Reyantis is available on all current-gen consoles and Steam and has a demo available for curious players who want a taste before purchasing.
Ranking: 4/10
Developer: Furyu; Publisher: NIS America; Players: 1; Released: September 27, 2024, ESRB: T for Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Language, Drug Use; MSRP: $59.99
Reviewed played on PS4
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Source(s): NisAmerica
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