STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT Reviews
While the issues with the PC port soured the overall experience a bit, there’s no denying that STEINS;GATE REBOOT is a stellar iteration of one of the best Visual Novels ever created.
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT offers enhanced audio/visuals and a new route to this staple of the visual novel genre. That may not be enough for players to double dip at the full asking price, but it provides a wonderful experience for those of us following along for the first time.
MAGES brings back the second entry in the Science Adventure series with STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT.
Did Steins;Gate Re:Boot need to exist? Probably not - and, yet, I'm glad it does. As a remake, it doesn't take many big swings and its adjusted pacing and visuals are largely a matter of taste. However, it crucially preserves all the core elements of what made the original Steins;Gate so special and presents them in its own richly enjoyable, refined style with a few exclusive perks in tow.Like two distinct worldlines in the same attractor field, Re:Boot and the original Steins;Gate co-exist. Neither is necessarily the definitive experience, and both hold merit for different reasons. Still, they ultimately converge on the same result: an enthralling, beautiful visual novel that continues to stand tall as one of the greatest time-travel stories of the modern day.
Whether you're stepping into the Future Gadget Lab for the very first time or returning after years watching just the anime, this remake captures everything that made Steins;Gate unforgettable. It's not a perfect remake, but it's easily now the definitive way to experience one of gaming's finest science-fiction stories.
STEINS;GATE REBOOT brings sharp new art and presentation to an already classic sci-fi story. While some wrinkles in the presentation might upset longtime fans, this is an incredible way to experience one of the best time travel stories in gaming.
Steins;Gate Re:Boot is the best version of the classic story, even with some caveats.
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT tells the same story as the original game, with enhanced visuals, better audio quality, better assets, and more CG scenes. With a story as great as the original, there is little to complain about here.
Steins;Gate Re:Boot offers players narrative complexity, compelling characters, and a tale literally for the ages.
STEIN'SGATE RE:BOOT is good because STEINS;GATE as a story is, but doesn't make a great case as a remake. It has beautiful backgrounds but mixed characters.
STEINS;GATE's place in the medium hardly needs explaining. It has long since established itself as one of the most successful visual novels ever made. With STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT completely remaking the original using modern technology, there was little reason to expect much in the way of new content. All it really needed to do was preserve as much of the original experience as possible. Fortunately, STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT does a pretty good job of that, at least more so than STEINS;GATE ELITE.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Steins;Gate Re:Boot remains an excellent visual novel because its character relationships and meticulously constructed time-travel narrative are still remarkably powerful.
Restarting the beloved series with a remake that expands on the world of STEINS;GATE
Steins;Gate Re:Boot opts for a middle ground of sorts between the original game and Elite. By using the latter as the script’s base, certain story details are brushed over, but the result is a more condensed novel that remains one of the best and most emotional in the genre. The redrawn art is lovely, especially on the portable Switch 2 screen, and the re-recorded voicework and new music help to deliver a little freshness. It’s difficult to recommend Re:Boot to anyone that has time travelled with Okabe before, though. The few narrative extras aren’t worth the price being asked for until a discount comes around. For everyone else, if Switch 2 is your preference and you’re in the market for a rollercoaster reading experience, this is a must-have.
While STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT is an enjoyable return, the steep price tag and limited addition of new story content may deter both new and old players alike.
Whatever the reason, Re:Boot is the definitive edition of a true giant of the visual novel genre. As long as you can get along with the tweaked art direction, I doubt you’re going to have any complaints with Re:Boot.
Steins;Gate Re:Boot is an acceptable but not particularly exciting remake of Steins;Gate Elite. There's enough new content to make it an easy recommendation for anyone who's curious about the franchise, but it's not enough to make it especially compelling for long-term fans. The updated visuals give the game a more modern look, but that comes at the cost of some of the personality and flavor of the original. If you're looking for a heady, convoluted sci-fi story with some neat bits of interactivity, Steins;Gate Re:Boot is worth a shot. For anyone who already owns a previous version, there's little reason to rush out and buy it again.
Let's be honest — whether you want to read a book multiple times is often a matter of personality. I'm happy to dive back into stories I explored years ago. At the same time, I know plenty of people who'd rather experience only new stories. If you, dear reader, are among them and have already figured out everything there is to know about microwaves, then a further ending — even a very good one! — probably won't sway you. Wait, it's unfamiliar to you? And you also happen to be into science fiction, science, and/or time travel? Well, then give it a try — Steins;Gate won't let you down!
Review in German | Read full review
Despite the welcome narrative additions, I can in no way justify buying it at full price, whether for beginner players or those returning to the game. That doesn't mean it's a disposable experience. Far from it. With a complex, lengthy narrative, full of details and different possibilities, revisiting Steins;Gate is always very welcome. Especially with so many new CGs, more detailed scenarios, a remade soundtrack, re-recorded voices, and good additional content, even if it's limited.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s ideal for newcomers to discover it on modern platforms, but fans can easily give it a miss.
Review in French | Read full review