Reynatis: Deluxe Edition

Those that have seen the secret ending for Kingdom Hearts 3 know that Kingdom Hearts 4 could very well be series director Tetsuya Nomura's attempt at making his vision of Versus 13 made real, but I'm so glad that we have Reynatis as another interpretation of that vision, and to be honest, I hope even more developers make their own interpretations of Versus 13. Reynatis is a reality based on fantasy, and though it's far from perfect, that's enough for me

The story and world-building are definitely the most interesting things about Reynatis but it’s a shame everything else feels so half-baked and repetitive. It’s hard to get invested in the characters when the dull combat makes you want to get through the adventure as quickly as possible.

It would be one thing if Reynatis was a decent enough action RPG to turn your brain off to and enjoy some simplistic, button-mashy battles with. The problem is that the creators behind this title so obviously wanted it to be more than that, but it doesn't have the writing quality, the technical spectacle, or the mechanical depth to make it happen. Just like its co-lead Marin, Reynatis' single-minded ambition to reach greater heights unveils its greatest weaknesses - a sense of aimlessness and a general apathy toward its own fantastical world. If you believe you can still find some enjoyment in Reynatis despite its failings, it might be worth a shot. Unfortunately, the performance deficiencies of this Switch release make it a game that's best played on just about any other console you have available. With plenty of other great action RPGs out on the market, you have to wonder if it's worth the trouble.

Reynatis is, unfortunately like many other titles in FuRyu's catalog, an underwhelming RPG. In fact, FuRyu has continued to provide a good case study on why we probably shouldn't solely deify individual creators without acknowledging the full ensembles required to make beloved games. But as it is, we're left with an RPG that is average at best, messy & forgettable at worst. I've played most of FuRyu's output, continuing to look for a game that I can easily recommend to fans of the genre. While some games have been better than others, Reynatis doesn't break through the mediocrity. Maybe next time.

Reynatis is a greatly flawed experience that is simultaneously scathing and vapid, gorgeous and murky, and fun and frustrating in practically every element.

While it's a solid and enjoyable game in its own right, Reynatis suffers from being unable to visually stand out. Animations in combat and cutscenes are sometimes stiff and robotic or even overtuned to the point where they look outright silly for what they're trying to accomplish.

The standout features of Reynatis are its combat mechanics and soundtrack. Overcoming the initial disappointment caused by the subpar visuals and repetitive level design will be challenging for many players. However, those who persevere and allow the game's strengths to emerge will find themselves immersed in the intense action and captivating spectacle.

Japanese action RPGs are a dime a dozen and I can say from experience that most of them are pretty average. REYNATIS is no exception. At best, REYNATIS is an okay game with a boring story but at worst, it is an excruciating experience. I’m sure my experience would’ve been smoother if I played REYNATIS on anything other than the Switch but we review Switch games here, so my hands are tied. As an aside, I’m also a little annoyed that this game just took the same plot I wrote for my first Dungeons & Dragons campaign and made something so bland with it.

REYNATIS is an ARPG where mages face discrimination and oppression, delivering an engaging 15-20 hours of story-driven gameplay. Despite unoriginal mechanics and some flaws, it offers an enjoyable experience, with its narrative unfolding through a messaging app.

REYNATIS feels like a game that is full of good ideas but none of them manage to pan out in a satisfying enough way even if it does offer a unique but stiff approach to combat.