It might not be an actual Holy Grail War, Fate/Samurai Remnant's Waxing Moon Ritual delivers a bombastic, action-packed musou game with a narrative that gripped me for dozens of hours.
In "Fate/Samurai Remnant," players are transported to Edo Japan for a Holy Grail War, where they can choose and control a unique heroic spirit samurai. A dark, dramatic story unfolds as they battle rival spirits and seek to grant their own cherished wish. Utilizing strategic combat and customization systems, players must navigate the historical yet mystical world of feudal Japan in this thrilling action RPG. The famous phrase “Your wish shall perish..." sets the tone for an intense and suspenseful journey.
Engaging story with well-developed characters, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the Fate franchise.
Dynamic combat system that combines elements of action RPG and musou gameplay, allowing for a variety of strategies and playstyles.
Beautiful visuals and high-quality cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.
Repetitive combat and tedious boss fights due to the shield mechanic, which can make encounters feel drawn out.
Some characters and plot points feel underdeveloped, leading to a lack of closure in certain story arcs.
Technical issues, such as cutscenes skipping and poor keyboard controls, detract from the overall gameplay experience.
story
1,331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The story of *Fate/Samurai Remnant* has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly for fans of the Fate franchise. While some players found the plot to be predictable and repetitive, others appreciated the depth of the characters and the emotional weight of the story, especially in its exploration of the Holy Grail War set in Edo-period Japan. However, criticisms include a reliance on familiar tropes, pacing issues, and a feeling that certain characters and plot points were underdeveloped or merely fan service. Overall, the game is seen as a solid entry in the Fate series, particularly for those who enjoy story-driven experiences.
“The story is really good with a tone that switches from super serious to goofy in an instant (why am I a pig?) and is very replayable with multiple routes and endings (including an exclusive ng+ one).”
“Fate/samurai remnant is an exhilarating addition to the fate franchise, seamlessly blending the series’ trademark rich storytelling with a captivating historical setting.”
“The story of fate/samurai remnant follows a new protagonist, who becomes embroiled in the legendary holy grail war, but this time, the stakes are heightened by the clash of samurai and mythical heroes.”
“Overly reliant on a subpar storyline.”
“The pacing of the story feels slow and the plot seems to just repeat itself over and over.”
“The game itself is very repetitive and relies heavily on copy-pasting and retreading through the story, which is a hallmark for both Fate and Musou games.”
gameplay
580 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of *Fate/Samurai Remnant* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its blend of musou-style combat and RPG elements. While some appreciate the engaging mechanics and character interactions, others criticize the repetitiveness and lack of depth, particularly due to the reliance on a single character for most of the game. Overall, it is seen as a solid entry for fans of the Fate series, but may not appeal to those unfamiliar with its lore or musou gameplay.
“Fate/samurai remnant is a standout entry in the Fate franchise, successfully marrying rich storytelling with engaging gameplay.”
“The gameplay is very fun and gets much deeper as you go.”
“Fate/samurai remnant is a fantastic musou game that adds more layers and mechanics to what it means to be a musou game.”
“Gameplay is rather underwhelming and lacks difficulty with towns being small and mildly empty-feeling, but that's fairly par for the course in the company of most JRPGs.”
“The gameplay gets tedious after a while and never really gets more interesting on top of enemies being huge damage sponges.”
“The gameplay loop is very basic; you can spam X for most of the game and spam phantasms the moment you get them.”
graphics
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and character designs, particularly in cutscenes and animations. However, several players note that the overall graphical quality feels dated, especially during regular gameplay, and some textures lack detail. While the visuals are generally considered appealing, they do not reach the standards of contemporary titles, leading to a consensus that improvements could enhance the experience, especially given the game's price point.
“The character designs are stunning, reflecting the distinct aesthetics of the period while incorporating the fantastical elements of the Fate series.”
“The visuals are stunning and the gameplay is fast-paced and rewards timing and skill, especially on the higher difficulties.”
“Graphically, it's a treat; animations are just wonderful, art is brilliant, and the visual effects are just on point.”
“I am usually not someone who judges games by their graphics, but I think that for €70, the textures and environment should be more detailed and fleshed out.”
“The graphics during regular gameplay are very, very, very dated.”
“The character models, however, look really dated. I am typically not a graphics person, but the models look really off even by last-gen standards, which is strange because the environments look really good.”
music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story, particularly during combat and exploration. While some players find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's setting, others describe it as forgettable or mediocre, with a few noting issues regarding accessibility of the soundtrack outside the game. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The music complements the emotional beats of the story and ramps up the intensity during battles.”
“The game welcomes you with striking visuals and immersive background music that sets the tone of the game right from the start.”
“The soundtrack is a banger, which you'd come to expect before even booting up the game if you've been around anything Fate for a good while.”
“The soundtrack is complete forgettable garbage.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable, the places you visit feel stale because the atmosphere barely changes, and the repeated boss fights against rogue servants are very irritating.”
“Music was unremarkable.”
grinding
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, especially during second and subsequent playthroughs. Players report that upgrading and completing objectives often requires excessive grinding of the same maps, with scarce item drops and lengthy battles against spongy enemies contributing to a draining experience. While some find the skill trees manageable, the overall consensus is that the grinding detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Upgrades require a lot of grinding the same maps over and over; lots of mobs are not farmable and item drops are really scarce even with 200 bonus drops.”
“The gameplay gets tedious after a while and never really gets more interesting on top of enemies being huge damage sponges.”
“The boss battles are so dreadfully tedious that I do not recommend this game.”
optimization
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while performance mode allows for smooth gameplay at high frame rates, some users report inconsistent performance, particularly during intense combat scenarios. Graphics are considered outdated, but many players find the performance stable on high settings, with occasional frame drops noted on lower-end hardware and specific platforms like the Steam Deck. Despite some optimization issues, the game remains enjoyable, with a solid story and engaging combat.
“Graphics/performance: 10/10. All settings were maxed out and found no graphical issues or a single thing out of place.”
“Solid story, enjoyable combat, good optimization, and pretty visuals.”
“People have been saying about bugs and all, but so far I encountered none of it. Performance-wise, it goes butter smooth.”
“The dodge and counter system is chance/stat based, resulting in an inconsistent performance that ends up ruining any attempt at learning a crucial aspect of the combat system.”
“Only complaint so far is that the game’s locked at 60 fps for best graphic quality (granted you can use performance mode for 120 fps, but in some specific cutscenes characters look noticeably pixelated).”
“Performance-wise, it seems to jitter a bit on my RTX 3070 and i5 9600k, although it could be due to it being on my HDD.”
character development
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
Character development in the game is generally praised, with reviewers highlighting the stunning character designs and art style that reflect the aesthetics of 17th century Japan while incorporating fantastical elements. However, some critiques mention that certain character arcs feel rushed or lack depth, particularly regarding the main character. Overall, the game is noted for its strong visual presentation and engaging character interactions, despite some inconsistencies in narrative development.
“The character development is another strong point.”
“[beautiful rendition of ancient Japan, excellent character development, addictive and flashy combat].”
“The story is mostly great with a couple caveats, namely a weak main character and some character developments that felt rushed and out of left field.”
“Can't say much about character development yet.”
“It is a Fate game, so expect a heavy dose of story and character development with some gameplay sprinkled on top.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The game offers substantial replayability, featuring multiple routes, endings, and a New Game Plus mode that introduces additional bosses and elements. Players appreciate the engaging story and varied gameplay, with many noting the nostalgic feel reminiscent of PS2-era games. Overall, the replay value is highly rated, with some reviewers giving it a perfect score of 10/10.
“The new game plus adds additional bosses and elements to the game that give it high replay value.”
“As it also has multiple routes and ng+ (which also unlocks more digressions not available on your first playthrough), replayability is great.”
“And while 70€ is pretty steep, it took me almost 30 hours for one playthrough (and the game offers ng+ with alternate endings, so there's a lot of replay value).”
“You spend 95% of the game as Iori, with 3% as Saber and 1% as the rogue servants via spending a gauge in battle, and the rest are playable at certain points in the story for like 5 minutes, 10 at most.”
“And while 70€ is pretty steep, it took me almost 30 hours for one playthrough (and the game offers NG+ with alternate endings, so there's a lot of replay value).”
“It takes me back to the PS2 era in terms of game replayability, and that is not a bad thing.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its powerful storytelling, well-developed characters, and evocative music, which together evoke genuine feelings, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers noted the impactful moments throughout the chapters and DLCs, particularly praising the emotional depth of character interactions and the intensity of the narrative. While some felt the overall story lacked engagement, the emotional highs and beautifully crafted cut-scenes were frequently recognized as standout elements that enhance the gaming experience.
“Every chapter is incredible, the characters are all a treat and joy to get to know and watch evolve. I cried genuine tears at the end of chapter 4 and once more during one of the DLCs.”
“There are also some genuinely emotional moments in the game, such as the tragedy that happens near the end of chapter III.”
“Beautiful, heart touching, and stunning.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
88%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly when attempting to achieve 100% completion. Others report a relatively smooth experience, especially on specific platforms like the Steam Deck, but acknowledge sporadic graphical issues. Overall, the game was released in a buggy state, leading to frustration among users seeking support and resolution for their problems.
“Plays great on my Steam Deck without any issues.”
“Runs smoothly on my Steam Deck, no stability problems at all.”
“I can play this on my Steam Deck and it runs perfectly.”
“I tried every basic troubleshooting I could possibly do, but none led me to finding the source of the issue. What's worse is when I asked support for help, none of their suggestions worked, and the only alternative was to ask for a refund, which is simply impossible at this point. I feel robbed and betrayed; this is the first game that I purchased with my own money from Koei Tecmo, and this is what I get. I am so upset that I wish I had simply downloaded a pirated copy of this game.”
“Just don't go for completion, because the last achievement is a buggy mess with no indication of what you're missing out of the hundred or so entries.”
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs and glitches.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's atmosphere receives mixed reviews, with some praising the dynamic soundtrack that enhances the experience during both exploration and combat, while others find the overall environment stale and repetitive. Despite the impressive sound design and immersive elements like ambient sounds, the lack of variety in locations and the frustration of repeated boss fights detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively, the game's setting and engagement may leave some players wanting more.
“The sound design is equally impressive, with a soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
“What charmed me about it was the whole atmosphere and the possibility of taking part in the war for the Holy Grail, because until now there were anime and manga, but there was no such game where you actually play like a master.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable, the places you visit feel stale because the atmosphere barely changes, and the repeated boss fights against rogue servants are very irritating.”
“The atmosphere of the entire game feels lacking, as it fails to create an engaging environment for players.”
“The game also has a dynamic soundtrack that fits the atmosphere; from ambient background music of various towns to intense background music as the tension heightens during combat scenarios.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing character dynamics, particularly the protagonist's unexpected strength compared to the servants, which leads to genuinely funny moments. Players also express joy in the whimsical portrayal of swords and characters like Musashi and Jalter, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere throughout the game. Overall, the humor is a significant and enjoyable aspect that enhances the gaming experience.
“This interplay between the characters led to some genuinely humorous moments.”
“Funny and epic story.”
“Musashi makes me feel very funny (in a good way).”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been criticized for resembling a cash grab, with players feeling misled by advertisements that promise diverse gameplay with various characters, only to find themselves primarily controlling a single character. This has led to frustration among fans, particularly those who hold the franchise in high regard, as they desire a game that truly honors the series rather than exploiting its popularity for profit.
“Save your money and don't encourage them to keep going for cheap cash grabs like this.”
“Fate is my favorite series and that is all the more why it is so infuriating to see cheap anime fan cash grabs rather than a game that does the series justice.”
“Of note, do keep in mind that while the advertising of this game largely features gameplay from a lot of the different servants, the reality is that for the most part, you will be playing as Iori instead.”