REYNATIS Review (PS5) | Backlog Battle

[@BacklogBattle]

ERRATA: Penny Blood: Hellbound is NOT the spiritual successor to Shadow Hearts. It is a spin-off title, co-developed by Natsume/Atari! ORIGINAL POST: Are you going to pick up REYNATIS after watching this video? Let us know in this poll! kzbin.infoUgkx52hHFGIwC4pId8o5GQlFCS4aLj7YY4b6

[@theonlymattthatmatters]

The only reason I cared at all was because I got excited about PennyBlood finding a publisher.

[@kevinjones7870]

Have you heard anything about Penny Blood's release? I heard about it over a year ago but nothing since. I was looking forward to it as I really enjoyed Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts Covenant

[@theonlymattthatmatters]

@@kevinjones7870 Most recent update, which was this month, says that they were meeting with potential publishers and some of them were people they have worked with in the past. That’s as much as I can tell you myself. Hopefully things get worked out. I’m sure it will come out regardless of what happens but hopefully they can find a bit of support.

[@shin-oni4223]

@BacklogBattle the Switch eshop is taking pre-orders but the Playstation store isn't

[@KanameYuuki]

I hope one day FuRyu manages to reach their ambitious goals with their games and finally hit the perfect spot with their development capacities and budgets.

[@brandonsclips7741]

I played the demo and its got the vibe of an early 2000s, jank, 5/10 PS2 action game that white dudes with bad haircuts will be making video essays about how its a hidden gem, 15 years from now. And I mean that as a compliment. I really dig it.

[@electroelysium2281]

@@brandonsclips7741 don't you dare talk about Champions Of Norrath and Champions Return to Arms that way !!!

[@SilverShion]

Furyu games will always have a place in my heart. They are last remainings of the PS2 era where not every game was a safe bet.

[@somethingrighteous]

I played the demo on switch, and although I can see the obvious flaws (like the budget shortcomings and how battles could be super easy), I definitely am gonna buy it. Yeah, it's full price which is kinda steep, but theres a charm to it that I think gives me feels of a lot of flawed but memorable games that I've played before, and I think we need more games like that. We need the AA games that are taking a risk even with shortcomings and I think this is one of those games. Will it be my favorite? I dont know, but it good enough for me to give it a shot.

[@BacklogBattle]

I’m definitely curious to see how you’ll feel after playing the whole game through!

[@JohnRambo1947-July-6th]

​@@BacklogBattle I am curious as well

[@borrellipatrick]

Furyu games sorta always review poorly or mixed. But I keep buying them and enjoying them 🥲 Just with switch versions of their games, they only get sales digitally.

[@makoto1234]

does the switch version run well? from how fast paced the game looks I was worried it might have awful frame drops

[@leadersumin]

I was just thinking recently that I hope to see your review for this to see what it's all about! Your reviews are my favorite because of how informative and well-spoken they are ☺️ thanks!

[@BacklogBattle]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@iceclkeyheart3060]

get the feeling this is going to become one of those games that I'm going to love but talking about it anywhere on the Internet is going to be a miserable time.

[@Testiskulls]

Preordered limited edition for going on half a year now. Please don't disappoint me!!!

[@jeffcarrier9808]

Well I'm glad I clicked on this now... seeing their previous games listed to open the review really tells me I should be paying attention to this title afterall.

[@BacklogBattle]

Glad that helped a lot!

[@FriendsAndGamingYT]

The social media aspect being used to get you tracked down is a really neat idea! Like the fame looks good in my opinion, I think we've gotten to the stage where it's rare for a game to look bad!

[@Queenofthesevenseas]

Very valid spot ont to the point fair review of the game thanks❤ I had very similar thoughts as well I ended up playing through the demo 4 times initially and then 3 more times after that just because of the topics you have touched on. Only issues for me personally ( and this could very well just be me🤔) while playing on the switch I had many times where I actually could not read the subtitles at all😅 the standard white small subtitles really do not blend well with every type of game. I really wish you had the option to change ether the colors or the text size. I mean even black subtitles with an appropriate text bubble would be better then what’s available in the game. ( to be fair I feel that way about a lot of games that have subtitles as an option) secondly I just had major major problems connecting to or liking ether of the main characters at all😩 had to play a game when you really don’t like the main characters that much. The only reason I played the demo so much was because I wanted more time with the summoner girl you were introduced to at the tail end of the demo ❤ ( now if she was the main character I’d definitely be more interested) Still I’m interested enough in the game that I’ll actually still be picking it up. I’m just a bit disappointed because the game has a lot of potential to be good and it’s sadly not. I do however feel that even though Reynatis is unpolished and rough in may areas it has the potential to be a hidden gem down the line.

[@marcosereno6577]

I played the demo on PS4 pro and while I really enjoyed it, the technical performance wasn't great. Not sure if it performs any better on ps5 but I'll wait until I get one to buy this. It made me very nostalgic for the sort of games we used to get like this in the PS2 and PS3 generations

[@IrrelevantBecauseReasons]

We need Caligula Effect 3! By the way, you need to check Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza haha XD

[@rossofinale]

In terms of polish, I’d say Crymachina might have been Furyu’s best with Caligula Effect 2 being a close second. Haven’t tried Reynatis yet but there are some good attempts with this game I’ve seen but yeah you’re right, Furyu is still looking for that sweet spot and I genuinely believe they’re getting pretty close to finding that. They have amazing games under their belt that people should try out once you see past the roughness of it all.

[@NintendanGX]

I played the demo, and taking into account its flaws, I still enjoyed my time with it. Saw plenty of promise in its combat and unique overworld mechanics. FuRyu games tend to have some elements that overshadow their shortcomings, whether it's Monark's incredibly human and empathetic characters, or DioField's intriguing world-building and succinct pacing. Based on what's been said in the review, I might wait for a sale though. Not sure I could get full price's worth enjoyment out of it, plus I've got plenty other new releases to keep me occupied until then, especially action RPG's.

[@JuliaSin]

I couldn't even get outta the demos tutorial on story mode. It felt so clunky and was responding to my inputs at all. That isnt okay on a ps5

[@sikevillain]

Thanks for the review, I remember picking up Monark from them and thinking it was a decent game. I still liked it but it got bogged down by some really grindy game mechanics towards the end ; tryna unlock the true ending lol i like FuRya ambition & hope the best for the younger devs.

[@BacklogBattle]

That's all we can ever hope for!

[@mrsquee9280]

@@sikevillain Monark had one of the biggest drops in quality from start to its endgame of last gen, what started as a really promising game quickly turned into one of the most unnecessarily grindy games I’ve ever played

[@sikevillain]

@@mrsquee9280 it was such a shame, I liked the combat system and some of the characters seemed interesting enough but wow what a way to kill the enthusiasm for the game completely with that endgame..

[@Ayoo_Arc]

Same the grindy game mechanics is what made me drop it. Other than that I enjoyed the game, The Characters, the story, The battle/combat system. The MUSIC was peak.

[@ij7697]

you mentioning pennyblood made me go check my backing and i saw the updates… the comments.. and a little sad bout it 🙁 i like how armed fantasía looks as well but i liked the art style and the setting of penny blood slightly more. hope a publisher picks them up soon 😞

[@ernestt8398]

I wish they gave us an option to charge our own MP as waiting for enemies to attack us to recharge MP felt very clunky The gameplay mechanics like hiding and stress meter didn't feel fully realized either :( I really wanted to like this as I love KH and TWEWY too

[@ernestt8398]

The game opening didn't have much hooks - mostly exposition The side npcs and people on the street are also very flat 😩😭

[@bleachmys0ul]

To be fair, the only legitimately good RPG FuRyu has ever published is The Alliance Alive, and I've also heard that The Caligula Effect 2 is a pretty decent game that is a big improvement over the first one. But yeah, FuRyu is notorious for their overly-ambitious mid-tier games and it seems that Reynatis falls under that category. Thanks for the fair review, BB.

[@redcronojm]

Graphics look kinda messy, like i kinda wish it could use a cel shaded artstyle. I feel like the gameplay would make sense when you have party members you can switch after your magic runs out.

[@mechaotakugamer]

Sorry but screw the critics, I can't wait for this game. I love action rpgs good or sometimes bad

[@eazybuxafew]

I’ll prob pick this up on sale in 2025. I enjoy / appreciate the smaller budget JRPGs of FuRyu. Def want to check out most of their games

[@dragowolfraven3806]

I finished Crystar & Crymachina despite the flaws. I will be picking it up for the Switch on the 27th.

[@paledrake]

Loved Crystar, only thing bad about that game is the repetitive gameplay. Story, music, VA, visuals were all great. I recently got Crymachina on a sale, gotta try it out when I get the time.

[@sebbyterasu78]

I bought the game and have gone through a great deal of the game and I have tonsay that the ambition is there but the execution leaves alot to be desired. However? I think the games faults are more a lack of budget than skill from the developers. NIS is considerably more frugal than other JRPG companies like BANDAINAMCO, Square Enix or Atlus. If FORYU (pretty sure I'm butchering the name) had a generous budget, all the criticisms I have would be greatly remedied. I rated it 6/10 on my personal scale so far and I do not think I'll be replaying it when finished. Still happy to have contributed by purchasing the game. I only wished it could've up to its lofty ambtions.

[@PabloClobares]

Great review Alex! I am looking forward to this game even with all its flaws!

[@newdivide9882]

I’d buy this just based off Sari’s character design alone were it not for the $60 price tag and the fact that it doesn’t run well on switch for some reason

[@GrindingMadness]

I agree with @somethingrighteous. It really does have its charm to it. I'm only saying/playing it from a PS4 demo. I'm intrigued.

[@derronpatrick2470]

I own this and love it. Yes it has flaws. But there are some features that are awesome. Like getting all three of them on the field at one time. For a short duration. Didn’t have to but adding fast travel. The graffiti skills. All your characters also gain ultimates. But should they have charged 60 no. In all honesty. But I rocking with it.

[@Awsomegoku]

nice review Alex! yeah this is a wait for a sale kind of game for me. is it bad that i see Furyu's games and they always look interesting but i never actually end up buying them?😅

[@BacklogBattle]

I liked Caligula Effect 2! They actually did a really good job with that one!

[@seanspear6224]

FuRyu first game I played was unchained blades on 3ds

[@Xtraflossy]

Actually now im more excited for a shadowhearts sucessor.

[@man-gaming]

Tried the demo. LOVE IT. Will definitely buy for switch

[@obake6290]

Thanks for the fair review! Sounds like the usual Furyu fare - not as good as you think its' gonna be. Pretty much what I expected, but still unfortunate. Ah well, plenty of other games to play! A couple nitpicks, really not that important: Penny Blood is the (hopefully still) upcoming spiritual successor to Shadow Hearts co-developed by Studio Wildrose, Yukikaze, and Shade. Penny Blood: Hellbound is a roguelike spinoff from Natsume Atari currently available in Early Access. Talking about Yoko Shimomura and no mention of Legend of Mana? Heresy! I guess you gotta stop the list at some point but still, that one hurts.

[@HybridAngelZero]

I can't help but root for Furyu, even if the games they release are so often flawed. In a way, I feel like they keep that scrappy, PS Vita spirit alive. I'm looking forward to Reynatis, I'm actually gonna check out the demo later today!

[@BacklogBattle]

They’re the equivalent of “the little engine that could”

[@MrSupersmash93]

They are basically Tokyo RPG Factory but more successful.

[@BacklogBattle]

@@MrSupersmash93 to be fair, they do release ALOT of games every year!

[@allpackagaming9811]

Its a great game in my opinion. It does what it needs to well. And i like that it has a more ps2, ps3 feeling to it. Its unique and not afraid to experiment and try new things. Even it doesn't 100% work. Its a AA game thats better than most AAA releases in the last 10 or so years.

[@alumlovescake]

I would struggle to call it AA

[@allpackagaming9811]

@@alumlovescake good for you then.

[@ZerosGameInn]

I can't wait to get this, it just looks fun to me

[@threeswordssama]

I'm still going to give this a shot because it's a new IP and looks fun, but I'm nervous that this game will just be ok for me

[@Drekty]

I tried the demo. I have an issue with the combat, they made the suppression perfect dodge way too easy. It's so easy to just perfect dodge everything. I got into the habit of perfect dodge > liberation mode > spam attack until liberation runs out > go back into suppression > repeat It made every fight so easy, cause you can't get hit when in suppression mode unless you are actively trying to be hit. I know you said big bosses don't allow that slowdown, but the golem boss in the demo still did allow the slowdown, so it makes me wonder how often we will see those harder fights. In your experience did you see anything that would stop that strategy from working moving forward, anything to make it more challenging? I want to like the game, but if I actually solved the combat the way I think I did, I will probably have to pass.

[@BacklogBattle]

I haven't played the demo, but I did fight a golem boss that didn't slow down time. The bosses show up every other chapter or so (that's how it felt to me at least), but the majority of the time, you *will* deal with the slowing down of time to allow for others to perfect dodge. It's just built into its core design, I'm afraid.

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

I'm not overly familiar with Furuya, so I had no real expectations of this game outside of what was shown in trailers. I've played the demo and actually had fun with it, so I expect to have a decent time with this game if not an exceptional one. As I stated on another channel, I'm okay with the occasional game that isn't big on depth. Sometimes, I just want a simple adventure between bigger games.

[@MrSupersmash93]

So is the game more of a FF or a Kingdom Hearts/Twewy game? I also want to see Furyu do a Legend of Zelda or Castlevania type game.

[@BacklogBattle]

Neither. I don’t see how this game is any similar to any of those two.

[@MrSupersmash93]

​@@BacklogBattleoh never mind then

[@TranscientFelix]

Not feeling a lot of confidence from this comments section. Getting a lot of "it doesn't seem good but it makes me nostalgic for older games so I'm hyped for it." Not a good look for it.

[@lukasfogel7892]

The vibe of this game screams PS2 action game. I like the neon aesthetic, the combat is more enjoyable than most for me, and I truly have a soft spot for the dev. That being said, its probably not going to be a day 1 for me. I'll pick it up when I get the itch for some nostalgic vaguely clunky action

[@HologramSmam]

Hmm the developers behind Penny Blood are called Yukikaze, I'm not sure if Natsume Atari are attached but they are separate developers. Either way, Furyu games are pretty hit or miss for me. Inloved Alliance Alive and Lost Dimension but ehh... unfortunately think I'll pass on this one 😭

[@HologramSmam]

Ahh turns out they're co-developers? Interesting

[@obake6290]

@@HologramSmam Natsume Atari did/is doing "Penny Blood: Hellbound" which is a roguelike spinoff game, not Penny Blood the Shadow Hearts successor.

[@BacklogBattle]

@obake6290 Why can't these just name these things differently?! Thank you for clarifying

[@HologramSmam]

@@obake6290 ohhh I actually had no idea that Hellbound wasn't from Yukikaze 😭 confusing indeed

[@Dazza768]

I will call play this maybe around Christmas hopefully there will be a sale. Hopefully future updates can maybe remove some of ur dislikes about the game

[@kermitwithamustache3885]

This game may have a lot of issues, and most people would write this off as a kusoge But it feels like it was made for me, it's such a obsucre PS2 era feeling action game with that gameplay and aesthetics, i can't help but vibe with it I expected only people who were already fami;iar with the game's inspirations can find good things to say about it, the target audience is way too small, most players won't find anything appealing about this I wouldn't call it a particularly great game, but for a few select people like me who miss that edgy visuals and simple designs from those old days this is gonna feel very nostalgic. Its absolutely not worth $60, but something about the low res textures, the janky hack n slash combat, nonsense wizard story just compels me. Reynatis is one of those games that captured the feel and aesthetics of a PS2/PSP era action Jrpg near perfectly, whether it was intentional or not They even got pre rendered cutscenes that look way better than anything in game, in general it has a lot of 2005-2008 energy Think that’s the main appeal of Reynatis, that it looks like a budget Square Enix game Verum Rex X NEO TWEWY but it plays and looks like a PS2 era action game, a very specific niche but appreciate that it exists I don’t want games to chase industry trends, I want more games that would fit right in the Xbox, PS2 and GameCube days would definitely love to play more games that look and play like these, or a sequel that would iron out some of its issues and polish its visuals and mechanics, though with how little it sold both in japan and in the west i find it unlikely. I am genuinely glad a game like this exists.

[@TheSonicbuum]

I should say I skipped out on Final Fantasy 16. Because in my opinion it moved a little too far from what I enjoy out of Final Fantasy games. And while this one is closer to something like Kingdom hearts, it's drawing a lot of aesthetics from Final Fantasy verses 13 and that's where my disappointment comes in because I would have love this more if the combat felt closer to Final Fantasy versus 13 and looked as graphically decent. That game came out years ago so I'm assuming they just weren't able to make something as high-end. But even if they couldn't, I don't like the aesthetics here either.

[@gortys3929]

Seeing glimpses of greatness in its imperfections makes me feel frustrated, that yet again, they wasted the potential…

[@nathanweissberg2010]

it looks like it's a psp game and not in a good way,everyting should have been 50% smaller to have more detail, and they should have mo-caped idle poses for the simple cutscenes

[@Redge.]

Seeing full-price games with PS3 visuals is an immediate turnoff. If it launched at $30, I would consider it, but when you have visually -impressive games like FF7 Rebirth and Astro Bot at the same price.. yeah.

[@VXMasterson]

I feel like Caligula Effect 2 is the only Furyu game I've heard spoken about positively

[@SilverShion]

The Alliance Alive is an amazing game.

[@paledrake]

Crystar is amazing, despite it's flaw in gameplay variety.

[@bef5582]

Bro what a disappointment, looks like a ps3 game

[@BacklogBattle]

That might be an insult to PS3 games lol

[@MathrosZiveon]

Don't forget this game full price is $60 on Nintendo switch. Much expensive than any Xenoblade games. Lol tried it on steam demo, immediately thought this was very cheaply made game. Like a filler game for NIS America between trails and Ys X that will be release next month

[@WolfPhoenix0]

I played the demo for a bit and quit early on. Combat felt clunky, artwork wasn't great and the entire experience just felt underwhelming. Too many fantastic games on my backlog to devote the time to this. Speaking of which, I'm playing The Plucky Squire and absolutely loving it!

[@BacklogBattle]

There are some critical reviews of Plucky Squire that I haven't read/watched yet, so I'm wondering if you had any critiques of it based on what you've played so far?

[@WolfPhoenix0]

@@BacklogBattle That's surprising to hear because I've had a very pleasant experience playing on the Steam Deck. There was one time where the frame rate dropped to like 1 fps but I think that may have been a one-off glitch. Afterwards, I adjusted my game settings based on the recommended ones from SteamDeckHQ and haven't seen it since.

[@WolfPhoenix0]

@@BacklogBattle That's pretty surprising to hear because I've had an amazing time with the game. There was one point where I got like 1 FPS but I think that was a one-off glitch. I adjusted my Steam Deck's settings afterwards to the recommended values and haven't had it happen since.

[@riyuphoenix4533]

I'm guessing no English Dub? I don't want any elitist BS saying Japanese VA being better, just curious if anyone knows or thinks they may do an English Dub.

[@BacklogBattle]

No English dub

[@riyuphoenix4533]

@@BacklogBattle abit off subject but I enjoyed TWEWY NEO storyline and gamplay. I thought the Dub was decent enough. I understand most companies cut the Dub due to budget restraints.