Redemption Reapers
- February 22, 2023
- Adglobe
- 28h median play time
A gritty and gory tactical RPG, Redemption Reapers has a few good things going for it, but ultimately the unbalanced difficulty and lack of engaging narrative may put many players off.
"Redemption Reapers" is a tactical action game where players control a group of elite soldiers fighting against an otherworldly invasion. With a range of characters, weapons, and abilities to choose from, players must utilize strategic teamwork and coordinated attacks to overcome their foes. The game features intense battles, deep customization, and a grim, post-apocalyptic world to explore.
Reviews
- The gameplay is challenging and requires strategic thinking, making each battle engaging and rewarding.
- The dark atmosphere and soundtrack create an immersive experience that enhances the overall tone of the game.
- The character abilities and combo attack mechanics add depth to the combat, allowing for creative strategies.
- The leveling system feels inconsistent, with random stat increases that can lead to frustrating character development.
- The story is a slow burn and lacks depth, often leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their motivations.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including limited graphical options and performance problems, particularly on certain platforms.
- story129 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally viewed as a long, slow burn that can be both engaging and tedious, with many players noting its lack of depth and character development. While some appreciate the dark, grim atmosphere and the focus on character backgrounds, others criticize the straightforward plot and the underexplained motivations of key antagonists. Overall, the narrative is considered serviceable but not groundbreaking, with mixed feelings about its execution and pacing.
“The gameplay is enjoyable yet challenging, and the storyline is also very interesting.”
“You follow a small ragtag band of misfits who try to do what is right; as the story progresses, you learn more about their backgrounds.”
“It is a gloomy apocalypse story in a low magic fantasy world, and the story is also great.”
“The story starts out pretty strong but as the game goes on actually becomes the weakest part, since it absolutely refuses to explain anything.”
“There was also one big problem I had with the storytelling, which is that the game never really tells you about where the mort came from, or what their goal is.”
“The story and characters miss the mark and ultimately it ends up feeling very generic and bland.”
- gameplay66 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of challenging tactical mechanics reminiscent of Fire Emblem, focusing on strategic positioning and character synergy, though it lacks depth in customization and variety due to a limited cast of five units. Players appreciate the engaging combat and the satisfaction of mastering the mechanics, but some find the experience repetitive and the reliance on familiar formulas somewhat uninspired. Overall, while the gameplay is solid and enjoyable, it may not offer enough innovation to stand out in the tactical RPG genre.
“The gameplay is challenging, and while the story is a long burn, the ending is awesome.”
“Every time you think you found something that works, you can expect a new mechanic that will challenge you to up your game.”
“The core gameplay feels very good, and I've been completely unable to put this thing down.”
“The gameplay is repetitive.”
“The core mechanics are inherently fun, but the replayability for this game seems to be terrible.”
“This hurts on the gameplay end as well because you can barely tell your units apart, especially when you’re looking at the top of their small in-game models for the entire map.”
- music35 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as fitting, moody, and reminiscent of classic compositions, drawing comparisons to renowned composers. Overall, it stands out as one of the game's strongest elements, with some players expressing a willingness to purchase the soundtrack separately.
“The music is really good, with a sorrowful theme that accompanies you through the campaign and reflects the situation the characters find themselves in and their past.”
“The soundtrack is one of the best things about the game; so much so that you will stay for the music, if not the game itself, as another reviewer mentioned.”
“But seriously, I'll go as far as to compare the music quality to that of Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, Keiki Kobayashi, Yoko Shimomura, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Harry Gregson-Williams, Ennio Morricone, and Hans Zimmer.”
“The OST itself is worth $25 at least in my humble opinion.”
“Came for the gameplay, stayed for the soundtrack.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed visuals and gothic aesthetic reminiscent of the PS2 era, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, some users express disappointment over the limited graphical options, particularly the lack of settings beyond 1080p, and critique the character designs as bland. Overall, while the visuals are considered a highlight, there are calls for more customization and color in the graphics.
“I like the graphics; they're very detailed for the genre.”
“The audio and visual aesthetics are great, and help make the battles feel real and engaging.”
“Graphically, the game is stunning.”
“The game lacks any graphics settings besides VSync and resolution.”
“Graphics: I expected better.”
“No resolution over 1080p or graphics options is kind of ridiculous at this point.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is largely optional, allowing players to progress through the main story without extensive grinding if they manage their characters well. While some players appreciate the inclusion of skirmishes for extra resources and leveling, others find the need for optional grinding frustrating and suggest that it could be better integrated into the game's structure. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some enjoying the grind as a fun aspect while others see it as unnecessary.
“I played the game without any grinding or trying to get achievements, and I ended up missing only two of them, which would have required probably 5 hours of grinding (no thanks) to get the level 40 achievement.”
“I don't feel like grinding as a mechanic is necessary in 2023+ or particularly fun.”
“Grinding is a pain.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features enjoyable core mechanics and some replayable missions, the limited playable cast of only five units and lack of a compelling narrative detract from its overall value. Although the addition of a hard mode post-completion enhances replay potential, many players feel it falls short compared to other titles in the genre, resulting in a moderate replayability rating of 6/10.
“If they add a hard mode then even more replayability.”
“I wrote this right before the final stage and after beating the game there is a hard mode, so yeah quite replayable.”
“Replayability not only allows the consumers to play the game more often, it generates a lot of discussions online like Fire Emblem, where people are still talking about different units in games released two decades prior.”
“While the gameplay has many great things about it, I had one fundamental disappointment: namely, that the entire playable cast consisted of only 5 units.”
“Among other things, the game also lacks the replay value of Path of Radiance or Shadow Dragon, due to its paltry playable cast.”
“Gameplay-wise, the core mechanics are inherently fun, but the replayability for this game seems to be terrible.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its gritty, grim, and bleak tone, effectively capturing a survival horror and zombie apocalypse theme. Players appreciate the moody and somber ambiance, enhanced by great visuals and an impressive soundtrack, making it a standout feature for those who enjoy a gothic or dark atmosphere.
“I like the atmosphere and the more serious approach.”
“Moody, somber atmosphere with an amazing soundtrack.”
“It's all great, making for a gritty game with a grim and bleak atmosphere.”
“I get that the devs were going for a survival horror, zombie apocalypse themed atmosphere.”
“Some people might not, but I adore that kind of atmosphere.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being weak, with reviewers noting that while the cut-scenes and character designs are visually appealing, they lack depth and foundation due to poor storytelling and world-building. The characters do not stand out as distinctly as those in other titles, leading to a less engaging experience overall.
“The cut-scenes are good, the visual novel elements are engaging, and the character design is impressive.”
“I like the character designs and the over-the-top blood effects.”
“The cinematics are appealing to the eye, showcasing strong visual elements.”
“Weak character development (story-wise).”
“Cinematics are appealing to the eye, but lacking in foundation due to poor storytelling, world-building, plot, and character development.”
“People criticize Fire Emblem Engage’s character designs for being too anime, but at least they stand out and are distinguishable. I can’t say the same for Redemption Reapers' characters.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a powerful cinematic ending that resonates with players, but the overall impact is diminished by the lack of depth in the enemies' motives and the story. While the art and combat are praised, the narrative's shortcomings leave some players feeling underwhelmed emotionally.
“I found the ending to be a cinematic emotional work of art.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on the Steam Deck, users have reported minor bugs and glitches that can be frustrating, particularly the lack of an autosave feature which can lead to lost progress during crashes or freezes.
“Runs great on deck.”
“Now runs great on Steam Deck.”
“I did find one bug, which is that if the game freezes or crashes, there's no autosave feature that allows you to return to where you left off.”
“Bugs and glitches are small but annoying.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game stems from its exaggerated inventory system, where players accumulate an abundance of items that they rarely utilize, creating a comedic contrast between the game's mechanics and practical usage.
“I always found it very funny because even if you got every weapon, accessory, and item, you would not even use half of that space.”
“The game's humor is spot on, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations that keep you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the characters have such quirky personalities, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While sequences eventually run more smoothly, users report occasional performance hiccups that detract from the overall experience of the well-crafted cinematic moments.
“Sequences run more smoothly later on, although there are still some minor performance hiccups that slightly spoil the well-crafted cinematic sequences.”
“The optimization really shines through in the gameplay, making for a much more enjoyable experience overall.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, resulting in a more fluid and responsive game.”
Critic Reviews
Redemption Reapers is a Tough Slog at First
Join the fight for survival alongside the Ashen Hawk Brigade as they struggle to fend off an invasion by the vicious Mort. Use turn-based tactics to keep your party together against difficult odds. Switch version reviewed.Redemption Reapers tries to evoke a sense of desperate, skin-of-your-teeth battle, but succeeds more in adding tension to its combat than its narrative.
60%Redemption Reapers (Nintendo Switch)
The tactical RPG Redemption Reapers doesn’t have any serious issues, but it does suffer from the little death of a thousand paper cuts. With a few minor adjustments, this could be a really good game. As it stands, it’s just an OK game with a very good soundtrack.
65%Redemption Reapers- Rather Unremarkable, Really
Good mechanics and presentation can't make up for Redemption Reapers' lacking plot.
60%