Akiba's Beat Reviews

Akiba's Beat is ranked in the 12th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
ZTGD
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Jun 27, 217

While I can most definitively say that Akiba's Beat is a marked improvement over its predecessor, I can't help but feel that in its aspiration to become like the much beloved Persona and Tales series, it has lost an identity of its own. Despite its improvements, with the stellar lineup of games all bidding for your time this year, it's hard to recommend Akiba's Beat over its superior alternatives.

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6 / 10.0
May 15, 2017

What could have been a decent visual novel was marred by unnecessary walking, dungeon repetition, and a dull combat engine. Unless you are really dedicated to your purchase, trudging through to the end of this game doesn't seem like something that most people will do.

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4.2 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba’s Beat is definitely not for everyone and for most players it would be a boring affair. If anything, I recommend playing the Vita version instead; at the least it can be played in small bursts absentmindedly.

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3.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Even if Akiba's Beat had a higher budget and more time, it lacks any unique features, mimicking what other games do, but worse. For 40 hours you'll mash X through slow dialogue, then run around a dead environment, and then do more dialogue until you get to mash square against sponges. If Akiba's Trip is the shirtless jock who kicks the door with beers in hand, Akiba's Beat is the timid cocktail-drinker standing in the corner with one hand in his pocket. Technically functional, but spiritually dead.

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6.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat caters to the niche audience who will definitely have a good time discovering the ins and outs of Akihabara through an entertaining and interesting story. However, hardcore RPG fans will be disappointed with the combat and dungeon exploration that they're probably used to seeing in PS2 and early PS3 games. There is fun to found in Akiba's Beat for those who wish to give it a try, but it will most likely be added to the backlog and quickly forgotten.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

At the end of the day Akiba’s Beat is an alright JRPG, even if it gets by mostly by just ticking the boxes in the checklist for all games in the genre.

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6 / 10
May 16, 2017

Akiba Beat's biggest failure is, undoubtedly, its disconnect with what makes Akihabara so enticing. It is missing the heart of what you'd expect a game of its kind to have.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
6.7 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Although a tribute to the likes of Persona and the Tales of Series, Akiba's Beat doesn't have quite enough substance to recommend another Sunday visit to Akihabara.

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9 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat is both a stellar role-playing experience and a heartfelt yarn with bite. One of 2017's best RPGs so far, and a new personal favourite.

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4 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat is a tedious action RPG that has very few redeeming factors and one that has made me appreciate Akiba's Trip even more and that is saying something.

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3 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat is a step down from its predecessor on almost every level. A bland, soulless JRPG that yearns to emulate more successful titles without any of the style, grace, or nuance.

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7 / 10
May 16, 2017

You'll spend far more of your time watching cutscenes then you will exploring dungeons and defeating enemies, so while the combat system is quite basic, the eclectic mix of characters and twisting storylines will hold your interest through to the end. Thus, if you think of Akiba's Beat as a visual novel with some light gameplay elements instead of thinking of it as an action RPG, then you'll probably enjoy it a whole lot more.

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3.5 / 5.0
May 16, 2017

For all of its noticeable issues, Acquire's risk to try something new in Akihabara pays off.

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4 / 10
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat is a bad game, but it's an even worse sequel. So many aspects of the previous game, Akiba's Trip, are abandoned or watered down in this title, from the downgraded graphics, to the lack of customization, the poor characters, and more. Akiba's Beat abandons it's roots, instead trying so desperately to fill shoes far too big for it. Like the Chinese knockoff Transformers toys in my local deli, Akiba's Beat attempts to emulate many big franchise without the budget, skill, or style of any of them. You will buy it for a steep discount and know exactly what you're getting into, or you will laugh at it and walk away before buying the game it tries to be.

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5 / 10
May 16, 2017

Overall, "average" is the perfect descriptor for Akiba's Beat. While there is nothing particularly bad about it, it does little to stand out among the most recent releases that truly revitalize the JRPG genre.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
5 / 10
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat really only works every so often, but fans of the genre will likely appreciate it on some level. While the dialogue is difficult to get engrossed in, and the combat feels unresponsive at times, there's still a cult classic buried in this little title. Not every game can be perfect, and that definitely applies to Akiba's Beat. Still, it's clear it will be perfect for many people out there, and that's what matters.

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6 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat is in a strange position, having been released right after two other Japanese role-playing games dealt with very similar topics. While it doesn't have strong enough writing to eclipse these titles, it does feature a few story beats that keep it from being a D-grade Persona. From a combat perspective, the game feels like a Tales game, but without any of the polish. There's room for improvement in practically every area, but it's still a decent RPG that is worth playing for those that somehow ran out of RPGs in their backlog.

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3.5 / 5.0
May 16, 2017

If you can appreciate a trope-filled homage to Japan’s nerd culture as a whole, Tales and Persona-style gameplay, and enjoy a game with plenty of dialogue, then this one’s for you.

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May 16, 2017

Akiba's Beat may not set the JRPG world on fire but it is quirky enough to enjoy.

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7 / 10
May 16, 2017

If you’re into otaku culture, or are itching for another Tales experience, Akiba’s Beat is a title worth looking at. Its competencies create a game that’s, while not amazing, worth the time I put into it.

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