As thePersonafranchise celebrates its 25th anniversary, fans are desperate for word of the next installment in Atlus' long-running, urban-fantasy JRPG. But with no announcement in sight, players will need to look elsewhere to scratch their itch during the wait. One option could beScarlet Nexus, a sci-fi action-JRPG that released in June 2021, boasting a relationship-based battle system, easy-to-overlook side quests, and a robust story campaign. Like the oft-overlooked earlier installments ofPersona,Scarlet Nexusis something of a cult classic with a lot of potential for future installments.
Even though the title launched nearly a year ago,Scarlet Nexussaw a considerable boost in popularitywith its recent release on Xbox Game Pass. As a debut series with a different style of gameplay,Personafans could easily overlook the title, but that would be a shame given the wait forPersona 6. Bandai Namco’s psychic, cyberpunk saga likely holds a great deal of appeal for those who enjoyed the Phantom Thieves.
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Kindred Spirits
Thematically,PersonaandScarlet Nexuswere clearly made with the same audience in mind. Both titles explicitly court anime fans with their aesthetics,televised adapatations, tropes, and general trappings. The games also star groups of precocious, battle-proficient youths (with a few adult hangers-on), who must topple God-like entities, save the world, and figure out how they feel about each other.
Character relationships are not only central toScarlet Nexus' story, but deeply intertwined in the game’s action combat. Becoming better friends with party members will pay dividends in the form ofnew combos and abilities. Relationship-building and gift-giving mechanics are becoming increasingly common in RPGs, but few titles link a party’s combat efficacy to the power of friendship as explicitly asPersonaorScarlet Nexus.
It should be acknowledged thatScarlet Nexus’story isn’t as “tight” or coherent as mostPersonatitles, and the game’s cast ofcompanions feel more like archetypes than distinct personalities. Much of the story’s disorienting qualities are by design though, requiring a full playthrough from each protagonist to get the full picture of its mind-bending plot. For a standalone title, or possibly the first installment of a new franchise,Scarlet Nexushandles inter-character relationships with satisfying depth.
Scarlet Nexus and Persona Are Games That Keep On Giving
Scarlet Nexusisn’t as long as an averagePersonatitle, even if someone plays through the entire title as both protagonists. Yet likePersona, it provides players with a steady drip of fresh mechanics throughout the game to keep things lively. Combat seems fairly simplistic at first, requiring players to alternate between physical and telekinetic attacks to fight foes. But as the player unlocks additional party members and new mechanics, the battle system evolves intoone of the best RPG fighting systems in recent memory.
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Scarlet Nexusalso features a gift-giving system that is necessary to rapidly advance party members' relationships, leading to “bond episodes” that develop their personalities and individual storylines. As a result, bothScarlet NexusandPersonagames grow in breadth and depth as the player progresses. Players can try to achieve perfect bonds with every party member, or cherry-pick the characters that appeal to their play style and attitude.Scarlet Nexuswill also likely appeal to mature audiences despite the teenaged cast, just likePersona, and director Kenji Anabuki expressed interest in developinga sequel for more grown-up audiences.
A Distinct Adventure with Familiar Flourishes
Even thoughScarlet Nexusis clearly influenced byPersona, the game has an identity of its own that will make the experience feel fresh and distinct. Both titles' magic systems are rooted in themes of cognition and the mind, butPersonatakes a more metaphorical, occult, and psychological approach to power, whileScarlet Nexusis firmly situated in sci-fi territory with militarized psychics, brain networks, and a futuristic setting.
The biggest mechanical departure fromPersonais thatScarlet Nexus' battles play out in real time, requiring skillful dodges, quick reflexes, and timed button inputs, like a blend betweenThe World Ends With YouandKingdom Hearts.Turn-based purists may be turned off by this distinction, butfans ofPersona 5who have triedPersona 5 Strikersshould find it easy to acclimate. Given the wait forPersona 6, there are few better ways to kill time.
Scarlet Nexusis now available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
