Reynatis [PC] | REVIEW

2024 has been a good year for RPGs so far, whilst we still have the likes of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and Dragon Age: Veilguard to look forward to. We also have the recently released Reynatis, which might not be quite so high profile, but still had a prolific team behind it. However, whilst the game does have some unique and clever ideas, a lack of depth in combat can see it feeling a little monotonous as you progress.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Reynatis takes place in a modern Tokyo setting where magic-wielding wizards exist, but tight rules are put in place that forbid its use. This is policed by the Magical Enforcement Administration (known as the MEA), who are allowed to use magic as a means to protect those who fear it… yeah, you can see where this is going. Players take on the role of two protagonists: Sari Nishijima, who works for the MEA and deals with these rogue wizards (all whilst tackling the spread of a drug called Rubrum across the city which grants its users magical abilities whilst turning them into monsters), and Marin Kirizumi, who… well… just wants to become the most powerful wizard in the city.

I enjoyed the storytelling of Reynatis, with the shift in perspective between protagonists allowing the tale to flesh out and explore each of its themes with plenty of depth. Admittedly, the game is on the shorter side so it doesn’t feel like an epic RPG (it can be beaten in around fourteen-hours), but the more condensed take on the genre ensured that its storytelling was concise and to the point. Maybe it would have been nice to see the characters you meet get better fleshed out, but with optional moments of interaction offering deeper insights into them, it’s still easy to appreciate their role in the story.

At its core, Reynatis plays like your typical action-RPG, with plenty of different areas to explore across Tokyo (more specifically Shibuya), dungeons to scavenge, side quests to complete, and so forth. As mentioned, it isn’t the most time-consuming RPG you’ll play so it is smaller in scale, but it does bring with it some interesting mechanics that give it a unique touch.

“Reynatis has some interesting ideas, but the lack of variety and depth in combat can make it feel a little dull the longer you play.”

Combat is action-based, with players mashing out combos, unleashing more powerful abilities, dodging out of the way of incoming attacks, and switching party members to keep on top of foes. It’s quick-paced and action-packed with snazzy visual effects bursting out from all angles, though you can’t simply rely on button-mashing to find success. Instead, you have to switch between Liberated and Supressed combat modes in order to balance out your capabilities.

When Liberated, you’re essentially at your attacking peak, with players able to inflict all sorts of attacks and maximise their damage output. These actions can consume your MP, whilst you’ll also leave yourself vulnerable to incoming attacks. When Supressed, you’re unable to attack enemies, but can quickly dodge incoming attacks with a button press. You’ll also build up your MP, which allows you to unleash something known as Burst Liberation when filled, which freezes time and leaves your opponent vulnerable to a massive array of attacks. It means there’s a big emphasis placed on switching between the two to maintain a good balance of attack and defence, though switching party members mid-battle is equally advantageous, especially since they recharge their MP when not in use.

It makes for a clever combat system that will keep players on their toes, but it’s let down by a lack of variety as you progress. Whilst the new abilities you unlock for character can change up your tactical approach, I found that I just had to follow the same routine in-combat from start to end. The boss battles never changed things up enough to force me to embrace a shift in strategy, whilst the repetitive enemy design just got more tiresome the further I progressed through the game. It’s a shame, because Reynatis does have some interesting ideas in its combat, but its lack of depth could make encounters feel like a chore.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The Liberated and Supressed mechanics also tie into exploration in-game. When Liberated, you’ll move quicker through the city and won’t have to hide your identity, but might find yourself pursed by the MEA. And if they catch you? It doesn’t end well. When Supressed, you’ll move slower, but actually fit in within the city, meaning you can interact with others or purchase items. It plays in with the theme of the game in a clever way, all whilst adding an element of tension to exploration that does make the setting that bit more interesting. Shibuya is wonderfully designed too, whilst you’ll even venture to a world with more varied biomes known as Another that ensures you won’t only explore city streets in the game.

There’s also a Malice level in place that will decrease as players complete quests, granting access to more combat abilities – each of which is represented by collectible graffiti found across the city called Whizart. You can mix-and-match these across your party freely, giving players the flexibility to fine-tune the capabilities of their characters evenly or to better suit their playstyle. Again, it shows that Reynatis does have some pretty cool ideas, but it’s a shame that the combat doesn’t have the depth over the long-term to complement it.

Developer: FuRyu, Natsume Atari
Publisher: NIS America
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2738750/REYNATIS/