Death end re;Quest Reviews
Death end re;Quest retains Galapagos RPG’s will to innovate with each new game, this time with better execution overall. However, it’s still a budget RPG and the lack of investment holds it back from being the great narrative experience it aims to be. Nevertheless, the good combat system, compelling design, and a scenario that's much deeper and more interesting than usual have the ability to hook the player despite the title's flaws.
So overall, mashing up the likes of .Hack or Sword Art Online's being trapped in a digital world, MeiQ's character design and finally a penchant for the macabre, and you have one of the better titles this partnership have ever put out which in the past couple years is a fair amount of praise. Whether fans of RPGs or JRPGs, Death End re;Quest is worth grabbing either on the PC or on the PS4 where it was already available.
Overall, I really enjoyed what Compile Heart had to offer with Death End Re;Quest. The battle system brings a fresh change up to the more traditional style, and the customization of skills, and how you can alter the battlefield with the “hacking” command was really fun. The “Dead End” choices made me feel like a moron, but in a way that had me coming back to say “I’ll get the next one right!”. If you’re any kind of JRPG fan, you definitely want to consider giving Death End Re;Quest a try.
While it’s daring, it’s fun, and ultimately the darkest entry within the Compile Heart library, I often felt my experience marred by the need to endlessly retrace my steps while wondering around maze-like dungeons for hours on end. However, it will take quite a bit of patience to get where the game itself really stands out as one of their strongest.
At times spooky, at times brutal or corny, on the whole this rabbit hole is one that casual and hardcore fans alike should feel comfortable diving into.
Death end re;Quest was a good JRPG. It’s strongest points are the story, the switching between worlds and the features of the battle system. It’s certainly not perfect though. Sometimes the wandering around dungeons went on too long without encountering anything and there are certain features which the game could explain better. It innovated in many ways while relying on tropes in others. Still, I enjoyed my time playing through the game and couldn’t put it down at times. It's one of the better Idea Factory JRPGs.
Death end reQuest is an unexpected mixture of RPG and visual novel gameplay elements that mesh together quite well, making it a unique title to play. Combined with a compelling story and entertaining battle mechanics, it is worth checking out, that is, if you don’t mind the instant death decisions and consequences. So make your choice: will you play or not? The game awaits your answer.
That being said, I still feel what the game does right by far outshines its flaws. If you’re looking for something different that is a bit darker than your average JRPG, I would highly recommend you pick this game up today. You will not regret it, and while I can compare certain aspects of it to other titles, there is really nothing else like this out there today. I spent about 30 hours on one run and quite a bit more to get the other endings via New Game+. This one is well worth the $59.99 price tag, just be prepared for a rough ride and be sure to save often. Death is around every corner and you will be re;Questing a lot!
By bringing Death end re;Quest to the Nintendo Switch with all DLC included I’m pretty sure this is the ultimate package. The game, in my opinion, is foremost a Visual Novel with an intriguing storyline and many hours of gameplay. Be prepared for lots of reading and some interesting ideas when it comes to battle but also, you’ll have to stomach the violence. To me, that’s where the game failed. Yes, good stories come with horrible plots and they can still engage. But I don’t want to be witness to blood spattering, crunching bones and prolonged suffering. Though the story kept me hooked, I can’t overlook that.
Death end re; Quest is a game that reinvents its genre with metalanguage and the mix between different types of games. Without any serious performance problem, it has an immersive and immersive history, being a good option for those who want to escape the traditionalism of RPGs or even for those who like technology in general.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I know that I said it at the beginning of the review, but I’ll say it again: Death end re;Quest is one of the best games that Compile Heart has ever made. While it may not manage to avoid all of the tropes that you’d expect to see from a CH game, it’s obvious that a lot of effort has been put into this game, and it absolutely shows. It’s a weird combination of sci-fi, horror, comedy, visual novel, and JRPG elements that were all put together in just the right way to allow them to work together in a near-perfect way.
On one hand, the game’s narrative and characters are engaging enough. On the other, the actual RPG elements are hindered by a battle system that, while having some neat ideas, doesn’t really come together.
It’s a bit rough around the edges, especially on the Switch. But Death end re;Quest is easily one of the most creative games in Idea Factory’s stable, and if you missed it before there’s plenty of value in checking it out now.
Although the enjoyable RPG mechanics can be a bit tiresome eventually and the balance between the RPG and visual novel side can feel off Death end re;Quest’s brilliantly written storyline will keep players hooked.
Death end re;Quest spins an interesting tale, but unfortunately is tripped up by its own tedious gameplay mechanics.
It may be a niche JRPG but Death end re;Quest is impressively innovative in both its storytelling and battle system.
Death End re;Quest struggles to do anything to entice players from outside the JRPG space, but for fans of the genre, there's plenty on offer here. The story is compelling, the characters are diverse, the combat is fantastic, and it is one of the freshest JRPGs I've played in years.
Death end re;Quest is yet another example of interesting concepts poorly executed. The game shows its true potential during certain moments, however, those are the exception, rather than the rule.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
For most of us though, the frustrating world traversal, disappointing combat flourishes and all-too-generic gameplay will make it hard to find a reason to stick with Death end; re Quest.