Monark Reviews
Monark has to be one of my favorite JRPGs I have reviewed so far and I love the tactical gameplay that encourages you to change up your play style depending on what characters you have, and like chess, keep your main character alive, like the King. I found only one true annoyance for me while investigating the mist areas – you can get a phone call to go to the Otherworld and fight level 90 enemies.
Monark is a mostly solid JRPG with higher-than-average difficulty and a serviceable plot. While it won't surprise anyone with its unimpressive 3D graphics and a mediocre soundtrack, the characters and lore should indeed satisfy most fans of the genre.
Monark is a difficult game to quantify into a score; plenty of artistic merits exist in direction, tone, and atmosphere, but at times they're undermined by a lack of refinement.
Monark delivers a refreshing JRPG approach with a mystery filled narrative and great turn-based strategy gameplay. A fulfilling experience that stands out from many JRPGs in the past few years. For those coming from The Caligula Effect 2, Monark is worth taking a look at!
Our feelings at the end of our experience with MONARK is to be in front of a two-faced work. The JRPG long surprised us thanks to its serious and never trivial plot in addressing topics already seen and a really impressive care of the psychological aspect throughout the gaming experience. At the same time, as the hours passed, some technical and gameplay flaws came out on which it’s difficult to skip over.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I have loved my Monark experience through and through, bumps be damned, and I would absolutely recommend this title to anyone who likes Shin Megami-style RPGs – and even those who might not, because I think the world and characters are that interesting.
If you’re seeking a JRPG with a more horrifying aesthetic, you’ll have fun if you can look past those flaws. Shin Megami Tensei fans will probably enjoy what’s offered but otherwise, I can only truly recommend this to the JRPG faithful.
Monark is a JRPG that understands its audience all too well while also standing out in its own right. It has the right balance of being a familiar experience while also keeping you invested in the journey.
Monark is an unrefined gem, but it is definitely a game worth checking out. Despite some issues, it’s a good first attempt with plenty of room for polish in any subsequent follow-up.
So that’s Monark, a game that really doesn’t do much for me. But at the same time it’s a fascinating game that wants to do things a little differently. You won’t play another JRPG operating like Monark anytime soon. Monark doesn’t hit the mark but it shows us there are folks in the industry taking these swings, even in historied spaces like JRPGs. And there’s a demo, so I sincerely reccommend giving that a whirl and seeing what you think.
MONARK is an original take on the strategy RPG with a mild horror twist. The graphics feel a bit muted and dull. But the game more than makes up for it with a deep risk-reward combat system. A highly recommended purchase for fans of the anime RPG genre, but, also a pretty good jumping on point for those looking to test the water. MONARK is a dark but endearing adventure that may just make you think twice about answering that mobile phone call from an unknown caller. If you want to try before you buy be sure to pick up the free demo on the eshop.
Monark constantly strains within the confines of expectation, unable to push its ambitions through.
Monark's horror vibe is a nice touch but the needless and frustrating grinding paired with bland world design make this hard to recommend to anyone but the most hardcore JRPG fans.
Being Monark an RPG developed by ex-producers of Shin Mengami Tensei, it's natural to notice some similarities. Particularly regarding the school theme, the mute main character or pacts with demons. What we emphasize in Monark is exactly the opposite. Namely, all the changes that were considered in order to give a breath of fresh air and, brilliantly, provide a new direction to an already very defined genre. So Monark presents itself as something innovative that only lacks some graphic polish, but for fans of the style, they will certainly be able to suffer from some "Gluttony" to taste this game! We fully believe that there is a silver lining for a Monark 2 and we're hopping for that to happen, so that we can present the developers with the "sin" of Pride.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Some players might be able to put up with the annoying difficulty spikes and the barrages of personal questions to reach the rare highs, but getting that far may very well drive you to madness.
I loved combat and working on the skill tree. The story is intriguing and I wanted to push on. The fun tanked when puzzles were ambiguous. I wanted to quit and was tempted to move on. Once I figured it out, though, the fun picks up.
The story and creepy atmosphere paired with psych tests gives Monark a unique RPG twist. I highly recommend checking out and exploring Monark for its story development, gameplay, and its unconventional but familiar JRPG action.
Monark is a relatively accessible TRPG for beginners in terms of tactical complexity, while still being interesting and versatile. In addition, the game is recommended for those interested in shounen anime and plot premises similar to the Persona games and the dark brushstrokes of the main Shin Megami Tensei series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, Monark scores above average on its report card. Non-traditional JRPG elements combined with a fun tactical based combat system and plenty of different musical tracks to groove to, it was hard to put down even when I couldn’t figure out what I was actually supposed to be doing. Maybe this was just me and the types of puzzles, or maybe it was a bit too vague, but it was often almost enough to make me quit and have to retake my semester all over again.
With an interesting story and solid gameplay, Monark is an excellent addition to FuRyu's RPGs. Despite having some flaws in the level design, it is a consistent title from the company and an RPG that any fan of the genre should explore.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review