Revenant Saga
- March 1, 2017
- Exe Create Inc.
KEMCO brings a nice throwback to old-school JRPGs with Revenant Saga, but does it all congeal?
Become a Revenant and find the truth beyond revenge in this gothic fantasy RPG with stunning 3D battles! Boasting a story that blurs the lines between good and evil, a refined 3D battle system, and plenty of content to go around, this is one title not to be missed!
Reviews
- The artwork is visually appealing and colorful.
- The game offers a nostalgic 16-bit feel that resonates with fans of old-school RPGs.
- Combat is fast-paced, and leveling up is quick and easy.
- The story is generic and lacks depth, making it uninteresting.
- Gameplay can feel clunky, with issues like fast-moving sprites and confusing designs.
- The game is overly easy, with minimal challenge and linear progression.
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story is generally perceived as generic and uninteresting, with many players finding it difficult to engage due to fast-paced text and clunky gameplay. While the artwork is praised for its colorful and appealing design, the narrative lacks depth and originality, often feeling like a basic template for a JRPG. Side quests are noted to be silly, occasionally providing humor, but overall, the storytelling does not leave a lasting impression.
“The artwork looks nice and the story seemed interesting, but the game itself is a bit clunky.”
“It's kind of hard to get into the story when the text just flies across my screen, so I can barely read it.”
“The story is like a step-by-step guide on how to make a JRPG... absolutely nothing outstanding.”
“Nice colorful graphics, but a very simplistic and childish story.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their nice and colorful artwork, though some reviewers note that they are simplistic and reminiscent of a childish style. However, there are criticisms regarding the clunky gameplay and repetitive use of graphics and soundtracks in certain dungeons, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The artwork looks nice and the story seemed interesting.”
“At least the artwork is good though.”
“Nice colorful graphics.”
“The final dungeon, which has two parts, and the post-game dungeon, also with two parts, both feature the exact same soundtrack and the same graphics assets.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the overall visual experience disappointing.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in the game can be both rewarding and tedious, with opportunities to earn significant points from specific enemies, but it may also feel excessive at times, requiring considerable effort and time investment.
“Some grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“After you get your ship, you can visit some places for easy grinding, like metal enemies that give you over 1 million points with the right equipment.”
“Some grinding is required.”
“It can be a bit grindy at times.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, with mechanics that make progression feel effortless, allowing players to easily accumulate rewards, such as gold from defeating a large number of enemies.
“The game mechanics make this a walk in the park.”
“Some of these tasks are fairly easy to accomplish; for example, the gold for monsters defeated is around 3,000 enemies, which you will easily hit in normal gameplay.”
“In fact, the game mechanics make this a walk in the park.”
“Some of these are fairly easy to do; for example, the gold for monsters defeated is around 3,000 enemies, which you will easily hit in normal gameplay.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the plot and challenges. However, some players noted a lack of variety, as both the final and post-game dungeons feature the same soundtrack and graphical assets, which detracts from the uniqueness of those areas.
“Great music! I quite liked the plot, and there was some good challenge without being ridiculous. It didn't get meta or screw you over with false endings (there was a neutral and a true).”
“The soundtrack really enhances the overall experience, making each moment feel more impactful.”
“The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that keeps you engaged.”
“One major issue is that the final dungeon, which has two parts, and the post-game dungeon, also consisting of two parts, both feature the exact same soundtrack and graphics assets.”
“The repetitive music in the game really detracts from the overall experience, especially during the final and post-game dungeons.”
“It's disappointing that the soundtrack doesn't change between the final dungeon and the post-game content, making the experience feel stale.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be poorly optimized, leading to performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
“The game is badly optimized.”
“Performance issues make it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
“Frequent frame drops and stuttering ruin the overall experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity, particularly in the side quests, which are often described as nonsensical yet amusing. This blend of stupidity and humor adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The side quests are absolutely ridiculous, but they can be hilarious at times.”
“The humor in the game is so unexpected; it caught me off guard and made me laugh out loud.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with jokes that land perfectly in the most absurd situations.”
Critic Reviews
Fun, yet flawed, fantasy – Revenant Saga review
Revenant Saga is a by-the-numbers JRPG that will scratch your itch for a portable 90s-esque game with its charming characters and entertaining turn-based combat. However, those that want a meatier role-playing experience should look elsewhere for their fix.
60%Revenant Saga Review
Overall, Revenant Saga is decent for what it is: a low budget RPG to help pass the time. It's not wholly unremarkable, thanks to its charming cast and solid battle system. The storyline also has a couple of interesting moments. Is that worth the ten or so hours it takes to see the main quest to its conclusion? That depends on if the player has the patience for dealing with stress free and mundane trips through towns and dungeons. All in all, this game is inoffensive, but not terribly compelling.
50%Revenant Saga Review
Revenant Saga sets out to offer a simple, throwback JRPG on Switch, and while it certainly ticks those boxes it doesn’t actually end up being very fun to play. An unremarkable story, uneven presentation and interface issues hold this already unambitious effort back, and while it brings some excellent ideas to the table — like battle Transformations and single-handed control — they’re not enough to recommend the experience. If you’re starved for an old-school RPG on the Switch, I Am Setsuna is still your best bet at the moment — otherwise, the 3DS’ treasure trove of turn-based adventures awaits.
50%