REYNATIS Reviews
I'm not sure what happened with Reynatis. Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima are legends. It feels like FuRyu had everything they needed to deliver a great JRPG. However, game development is difficult, and some projects are bound to miss the mark. That happened here in a big way. Reynatis is one of the most miserable experiences I have had with a game in decades. It is an ugly, repetitive mess that houses some of the worst writing the medium has to offer. Outside of the OST, there is almost nothing of value here. If this is, in fact, anything like what Final Fantasy Versus 13 was supposed to be, then I can comfortably say that Final Fantasy fans dodged a bullet.
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.
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 isn't an awful game to play, but it remains a pretty average experience throughout.
Unconvincing even when it shows off its peculiarities, Reynatis proves to be a barely mediocre action JRPG.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Reynatis is a game full of heart that reminds me of the golden age of PS2 RPG adventures, for better and for worse. It's full of interesting ideas, but is lacking consistent execution. If you can see past that, I do think that the charm of the game – the strong character writing, the living city of Shibuya, and angsty JRPG vibe of it all – will really resonate.
Should you play REYNATIS? Yes. Should you buy it full-price? Probably not. Unless you’re a fan of weird but fun PS2 titles, you should wait for a sale. But when that sale comes, I do recommend you check this game out.
With an interesting premise and a solid combat engine, Reynatis has the foundations of a good game. However, the myriad of questionable game design choices, ugly visuals and an uninteresting story makes for a hard sell for anyone but the most enthusiastic action RPG fan.
Reynatis offers a compelling story and some nail-biting combat with a dual system of defense and offense that engages properly, especially in boss fights with huge monsters. Unfortunately, exploring Tokyo and the parallel world Another is not as engaging, as apart from rare situations it proves to be little more than a walking simulator. Technically it is not excellent, with models and textures reminiscent of what we saw on PS3, however, at least there is no slowdown or frame loss. If you are looking for a storyline full of charismatic characters, this might be your game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
As far from being the disaster prophesied by the detractors of the genre, as the miracle desired by the fans of the great artists involved in this round by FuRyu, REYNATIS is a practical demonstration of how, many times, it is not enough to put together brilliant minds to give life to an authentic masterpiece.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Reynatis is a greatly flawed experience that is simultaneously scathing and vapid, gorgeous and murky, and fun and frustrating in practically every element.
Reynatis is a game with ambitions. Vaulting ambitions, unfortunately. Its convoluted story, annoying combat issues, and systemic glitches will turn away all but the most devout of action- JRPG fans. But if you're in that category and you're up for something new, there are enough clever approaches here to make this trip to alternate Shibuya worthwhile.
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 close to a master at one trade, with its unique and refreshing combat system. But there's too many other pieces that drag the overall presentation down, especially with its outdated graphics, poor Switch performance, awkward camera angles, and high price tag. However, even through all its minor to glaring flaws, and believe me there are many, it's an adventure I find myself looking fondly back on the things it does well.
Urban fantasy which mixes fantastical elements with a recognisable and familiar setting is one of my favourite genres, and Reynatis' premise definitely ticks a lot of those boxes. However, despite a generally rather fun combat system and memorable soundtrack, Reynatis breaks down as it progresses, with dull environments, forced backtracking, poor technical performance and lengthy boss fights. If you can look past these issues, there is some fun to be had, but it is a highly tentative recommendation at best.
Reynatis is a very fun action RPG that ticks a lot of boxes for me with its challenge and personality. The character models in gameplay do lack polish but the designs are gorgeous.
We played Reynatis so you don't have to. Sometimes too much ambition can lead to a wide gap between on-paper ideas and the actual creation and production processes, and this is very well the case. A convoluted story, a lot of technical issues and boring and repetitive gameplay don't do justice to the great soundtrack.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A trip to Shibuya like you've never seen it before. Reynatis is a standout title that brings a bunch of inventive ideas together for an entertaining RPG. It's onyl a shame that the execution feels a little light. If you're aching to head back to the scramble and escape the daily bustle, then this intriguing commentery on how Japan see's istelf is worth picking up.
The best things in REYNATIS are the combat and the music. Getting past the initial knee-jerk reaction of the subpar graphics will be hard for most gamers, as will the dull level design and missions. However, those who stick with it and allow the better qualities to settle in and expand will be engrossed by the action and spectacle.