Kingdom Hearts III momentarily reignited hope for Final Fantasy Versus XIII faithful. The game’s Toy Story world featured Verum Rex, a fake game showcasing many visual and gameplay elements reminiscent of the cancelled title. With Reynatis, a new title from FuRyu and featuring the talents of Final Fantasy Versus XIII writer Kazushige Nojima and composer Yoko Shimomura, fans have another opportunity to experience the “fantasy based on reality” they have long desired. Can Reynatis deliver on the promise of its predecessors and satisfy the expectations of a dedicated fanbase?
Reynatis is set in modern Japan, much like Persona 5, Tokyo Xanadu or The World Ends With You. While visually familiar, the realm introduces a supernatural element: the ability for certain deceased individuals to return to life as Wizards. The narrative explores both sides of the duality of man. Marin, a Wizard, is driven by the ambition to achieve ultimate power and freedom. In contrast, Sari, an MEA officer, is dedicated to upholding justice and risks her life to combat magical addiction and monstrous threats. Between Marin and Sari, players alternate between their perspectives throughout a compelling narrative arc.
The narrative structure of Reynatis presents challenges due to its reliance on esoteric terminology, lack of English audio, and uneven pacing. The condensed timeline of a single night, despite the game’s lengthy duration, further complicates the plot and sense of scale. Exploration is confined to a limited number of areas within Shibuya, with frequent but brief loading times and repetitive traversal through the same areas. The hub structure is reminiscent of the Yakuza series when they were on PlayStation 2. It’s compromised by a lack of detail, suggesting a constrained development budget.
Shibuya serves as a central hub where Marin, Sari, and their companions encounter hostiles, including drug users, law enforcement, and supernatural creatures. The district also offers opportunities to discover hidden graffiti that can enhance combat abilities or provide passive benefits. While the game features side quests, these tasks often feel perfunctory, involving repetitive activities such as returning to familiar locations, engaging in battles, or collecting items. The primary value of these quests lies in their contributions to the game’s world building, providing context for the more abstract elements of the story.
The visual presentation is notably underwhelming, lacking the cinematic polish and expressive character models often associated with its contemporaries. The environments exhibit a repetitive and generic quality, with limited variation in textures and objects. The overall aesthetic, particularly in the urban areas, appears overly simplistic and reminiscent of early-generation PlayStation 2 graphics.
Combat mechanics are superlative but are hindered by repetitive dungeon design and a lack of variety. The transition to outdoor naturalistic environments, while providing a welcome change of scenery, does not significantly improve the visual fidelity. The overall visual quality falls short of the ambitious expectations set by the talent within the studio.
Reynatis‘s experience is characterised by its fast-paced combat and strategic gameplay. While its narrative and character development may not be as polished as a Square Enix title, its intense battle sequences offer a thrilling and visually engaging experience. The frenetic pace of combat overshadows graphical shortcomings, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.
In Shibuya, players must exercise caution when using magic, as excessive displays can compromise their cover. While in “Suppression” mode, characters are restricted to defensive and evasive manoeuvres, but they gain increased agility and MP regeneration. “Liberation” mode allows for offensive magic attacks, but it comes at the cost of MP consumption.
Reynatis introduces a novel MP system, where the resource is constantly fluctuating based on player actions. Dodging and evading while in cover replenishes MP, while attacking depletes it. This dynamic mechanic fosters a strategic approach to combat, as players must carefully balance offence and defence to maintain a sustainable MP supply and feels like an actionised variation of an Active Time Battle system from Final Fantasy.
Shimomura’s musical composition is a significant strength of Reynatis, complementing the battle system. Her classical-inspired score effectively enhances the atmosphere, featuring memorable and emotionally resonant melodies. The music’s evocative quality can transport players to a state of contemplation or intensity, as exemplified by the experience of listening to the score while facing a storm of bullets from MEA agents.
Reynatis falls short of fulfilling the expectations given its pedigree. Its presentation and production values are significantly shoddy, and the experience is artificially extended with excessive padding. While the visual aesthetic is disappointing, it offers a unique Y2K teen vibe that enhances the ambiance. The distinctive graffiti and fashion elements partially mitigate the impact of the otherwise mediocre graphics.
