What is 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim? (Switch)

Check out the latest and greatest browser made for gamers available right now! Opera GX is available for both Windows and Mac and free to download: mtchm.de/i5tuv
Follow me on Twitter: / crawling_nyarly
Consider donating on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/nyarly
Subscribe to my Twitch channel: / nyaarly
Originally released in 2020 for PS4, Vanillaware's latest game; 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is now available for the Nintendo Switch! This game didn't sell too well upon release but now it is getting a second shot at success with this re-release! In this video I analyze this game to see if it is worth your time and money!
Intro by Lyric: / @lyric3595
Background by Leehzart: / leehzart1
#13SAR #Vanillaware #AtlusFaithful

[@Nyarly]

Check out all the cool features in Opera GX; the best browser made for gamers available! mtchm.de/i5tuv

[@salsamonkey65]

If you're even a little bit into visual-novel adjacent games, this is an absolute no-brainer. Wonderful cast and thought-provoking narrative. The Switch is also probably the best way to experience these kinds of games anyway.

[@alexterieur8813]

Best way for my wallet is to experience it on anything else than a switch 😅

[@salsamonkey65]

@@alexterieur8813 yeah, Nintendo is really stingy with the discounts...

[@retrig202]

Ehm, fine, then play it on PS4/5? It doesn't matter how you play it, it's essentially the same on both consoles. The only people losing out are those not playing it.

[@alexterieur8813]

@@retrig202 i will at some point!

[@charlestrudel8308]

@@salsamonkey65 when it's not their games, nintendo don't control the discount... So i really dont know why this argument is valid for a multiplatform third party. (even an exclusive published by ubisoft on switch named mario and rabbit kingdom battle is at discount of 75% a lot on the eshop.)

[@icedcapplord710]

This game had no right being as good as it was with how many gameplay genres and characters it had to juggle and seamlessly integrate into the experience. Easily Vanillaware's best and I hope it finds a healthy, new audience on Switch

[@aaronaaronson8312]

Fantastic game, I really hope it sees more success on the Switch, it absolutely deserves it.

[@retrig202]

It was actually incredibly successful on the PS4. Initially it sold poorly, but word of mouth got out, and the number of sales exceeded what Atlus and Vanillaware had dreamed. Awesome that they'll get more sales on the Switch, and more people can experience this incredible game.

[@gejamugamlatsoomanam7716]

@@retrig202hope the devs go bust. How dare they betray playstation

[@retrig202]

@@gejamugamlatsoomanam7716 lol

[@Msatk342s]

This game quickly became one of my favorites of all time, using video games as a medium whilst being heavily inspired by cinema to create a well though-out narrative that is strengthened by its' medium. Gameplay is fun and addicting, and I really couldn't put it down while playing it. Even when I wasn't, I was constantly thinking about the story and the ramifications of whatever new information I'd just gotten my hands on. It's just a fantastic experience.

[@zankudragon]

Holy fuck, this man just said that Destruction Mode is the real meat of the game. I've never heard such an incorrect statement about this game. Didn't think it was possible to be that wrong.

[@knowwhoiamyet]

I was absolutely floored by this game. I picked it up after hearing some good things about it a while back on PS4. It took me a little bit to understand what was going on, but piece by piece it came together... And then was like "Nah everything you knew is wrong." Over and over and over. The way you as the PLAYER begin to piece things together and understand things... Only for the next part of a character's story to pull the rug on you. Amazing. The number of times I second guessed myself, only to be right the first time... OR SO I THOUGHT, and then my second guessing was right- BUT THEN IT WASN'T and- It was good. The characters were fun, the story was cute and gripping and stressful. I had no idea what was going on right up until the end, but somehow it managed to all make some semblance of sense in the end. I cannot recommend this game enough. The gameplay elements are light, but the storytelling is fantastic.

[@Hilly_LittleFeatheryCorner]

Came here after watching Gab's video on her 13S: AR is GOTY video. After watching that video and this, now I really want to play this game. I remember when the first trailer came out for 13 Sentinels on the ps4, for some reason I thought it was a point and click. 🤣 Glad it was something waaaaay more cooler. I also noticed this after watching a number of your review videos. I love it when you highlight music (you got me a great find in your SMT V review) , it makes me hyped up that I end up adding it to my work playlist.

[@Hilly_LittleFeatheryCorner]

Update, I got the game a few days ago

[@jeezycreezy4220]

Vanillaware are masterful storytellers! I platted the PS4 version and am looking forward to going back on the Switch (once I finish Chrono Cross for the first time in about 15 years).

[@TempestDacine]

Man watching this makes me wanna replay the game again

[@ancientspark375]

Yeah, my experience is that the difficulty progression was actually easy even into the 3rd world. It sounds like difference in spending metachips though, because there are a few tactics that are insanely overpowered.

[@alexandraoytan2447]

Wow. I barely knew anything about this, but this review makes it seem like something I would really like. The visual presentation goes all in on the parts I care about while leaving aside the parts I don't. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@ItsDatOneGuy]

Yo I literally just got this for my ps on Thursday and still waiting for it to be delivered.

[@retrig202]

Enjoy it. You're in for a ride. Stoked for you.

[@amirgarcia547]

“13 Sentinels: *AYE-GUS* Rim.” Welp, that’s how you know this video was made by a Persona fan and not a Xenoblade fan.

[@trulypatrice]

This one is definitely on my list. Thanks for the review!

[@Eviltwin1]

Def recommend and agree. The story is AMAZING, and i do like the combat too and as he said the Music is SO good, i definitely listened to it outside of the game and still do. So underrated its a shame a bunch of people missed it.

[@pinkraven7043]

13 Sentinels is definitely a great Sci-Fi Mecha/Mystery VN. It just has one GIGANTIC flaw for me that I can’t entirely move past. The game does my favorite kind of story telling right- the type of story where things become more connected and logical the more you experience different POVs. The flaw I can’t move entirely past is how the story writes romantic relationships. (SPOILERS) For example, Iori and Ei. They meet once and barely have a real conversation. And suddenly they’re attracted to each other to the point where it affects their motivations? I, the player, was supposed to be interested in their relationship enough that I could understand why Ei would have some doubts about his intended mission. But in my opinion, his relationship with Iori lacked any real chemistry, especially considered that Ei has more serious stuff to care about *like his amnesia.* Then there’s Megumi and Juro. I’m sure I’m in the minority- but I HATED Megumi. Her entire story line and branches gave me the impression that she’s incredibly selfish. But the story frames her actions as a result of her heartbreak and therefore it’s pitiful. The story wants us to pity her because she wants her old relationship with Juro back. The problem is that we only get a few minutes of what Megumi and Juro’s relationship was like before the “new” Juro came around. And it isn’t really anything substantial. If the story wants me to pity Megumi, then it should’ve done more to show why she and Juro are meant to be the end game couple. Instead, most of her time is spent with the “new” Juro, who doesn’t share her memories. So she comes off as selfish at best and a creepy stalker at worst. It’s not enough that the story tells us Megumi loves Juro. “Love” isn’t just a word to be thrown around just for the audience to be expected to buy it. There needs to be CHEMISTRY and MEANING to the relationship. Megumi and Juro had none of that, and I hated how the game was trying to portray it otherwise. It’s a Japanese VN, so I’m not going in with expectations for it to be “realistic”. I play Otome games, so I know a lot of VNs cut corners in the “get to know you” part of romance because people want to get to the good stuff. My problem with the romance in 13 Sentinels is that the story wants me to take it all seriously because it’s integral to these characters, but I can’t because there’s so little chemistry between most of the pairs.

[@knowwhoiamyet]

Regarding your issues with Megumi, I think the way that you felt about her was intended. I never got the impression that I was supposed to like her. I got the impression that I was supposed to be unhappy with her actions, but had to play it out to see what was going on from another perspective. While the sense of pity could very well be there, I think that her selfishness was very, very prominent and the entire point of playing as her. To see her obsession take form.

[@pinkraven7043]

@@knowwhoiamyet I’d agree if the story didn’t reward her behavior by giving her exactly what she wanted. Regardless of what she did, Megumi still ended up with Juro and her best friend forgave her. And then the game’s story reinforces that Megumi and Juro have and always will be drawn to each other. If her selfishness was intentional, then my problem is how the story wants you to recognize her selfishness and somehow still be happy that she got what she wanted in the end.

[@mayaha200]

100 agree with you! That the only weak point of this story. But despite the weird romance that does not work, the plot is good. So it's say something about the story. I also an otome reader myself, so I totally get what you mean. But some otome do the romance very good. At least they trying too as much they can without becoming too boring. Cause let's be honest romance in the real world is boring, hard work and most of the time suck.

[@TStvonline]

Fantastic review! Kept my interest and now I'm picking this up!

[@kitepryo]

I picked up this game last week and I am really enjoying the story. So good. I am glad that I got this game.

[@tomo8940]

An underrated masterpiece that got snubbed by TLOU2.

[@potatoesblink3299]

This masterpiece was going to get snubbed anyway by any mainstream AAA title at the time, not just TLOU2.

[@retrig202]

Believe it or not, it was extremely successful on the PS4, and sold more than Atlus and Vanillaware had hoped for. Initially it sold poorly, but word of mouth got out, and it sold a (relative) shiz ton of copies.

[@pj2010wm]

I think I know the dificulty spike that your talking about, when there was a girl singing in space, that was the mission I found most dificult.

[@Amelanduil]

Friendship ended with Platinum Games, now Vanillaware is my best friend

[@HybridAngelZero]

I picked this up last year on PS4, and while I haven't played it much yet, I'm still glad I did. I really hope the "Switch Effect" (RPGs that get ported to Switch seem to sell much better than other consoles) ends up in full effect here

[@purplepond760]

Haven’t watched this vid yet but already it’s nice to see someone explain what the game is, as I’ve heard so much about it but don’t really know what the hype is about

[@Hanokaze]

I didn't find the Destruction mode to be all that interesting when I played through it on the PS4, but the writing is top notch. I hope the game gets the attention it deserves on Switch.

[@Canadiansamurai]

Still waiting on an english release of Princess Crown, Atlus!

[@Strativari]

Hey, heads up to anyone who sees this. As of the time of me writing this comment there is a massive sale going on for atlus on Nintendo, I just got smt strange journey, devil surviver oc, and smt IV for like 25$

[@retrig202]

YES. Anyone that doesn't have their physical copies of Atlus games on their 3DS needs to pounce now on the digital purchases. I think the deadline is the 17th? 14th? Pull that shit out of the closet if you don't use it regularly.

[@erbsenkrieger]

Gonna wait for a discount but definetly getting it

[@Smashking27]

Area 3 Wave 2 is a massive difficulty spike, especially since the next few waves are a lot easier in comparison. I did clear it on my first try, but it was a struggle.

[@notyoursavior78]

I didn't think I would like this game as much as I did, but I really did enjoy it. I picked it up cheap for the PS4 around the winter holidays last year. Some of the story paths get frustrating or circular without being as easy to figure out initially, but a quick look online or some patience and they will be figured out. The battles are enjoyable and very lenient on normal difficulty. I surprisingly got 'S' on every battle easily except for one of the late ones was very difficult to 'S'. So this is a good game to just chill out with and play though a lot of the moments of the story are very serious. I'd recommend this game for its interesting characters and story. Battles are fun too, actually happy they were pretty easy and not as stressful as I thought they could be. The game is not an all time favorite but certainly very memorable.

[@drbonehead]

Thanks for the great, detailed review!

[@ruben_skyline_]

PLEASE PLAY THIS GAME EVERYONE. SUPPORT THE DEVS AND HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE

[@BoastfulCookie]

The music sounds like a producer called Nhato to me. He does a lot of that electro-trance-orchestral style!

[@BlackFantasy470]

I've played the demo from the japanese PSN when it was available and liked the combat. I didn't end up buying it because... I don't even know why. After watching your review I ordered it for my Switch because the PS4 version isn't available for Prime shipment anymore.

[@PKDeviluke25]

The game is amazing, go into it as blind as possible. Some spoilers can just ruin some revelations that happen in game.

[@carhighh]

Pretty sure youtube unsubscribed me, great review glad it got in my recommended so I could notice

[@JosueDeLaRosa02]

Nyarly a great topic for a video could be atlus games on 3ds since the eshop is gonna go down it would be cool if you could talk about Megaten games on the 3ds

[@chrishunter9185]

I'm not into Aegis Rim, but it is a very ambitious game. And you can tell it delivers

[@Pike27]

*Talks about dates and that the pilots are from different eras* "That's all I can say without spoiling" Oh well...

[@CCYami]

Lets hope it gets a PC port at some point.

[@robo567]

i’m sooo ready to finally play this after finals

[@madao5626]

ooo ive been meaning to play this

[@LoomDoom]

Nyarly makes Dragon Crown’s character designs sound like a bad thing, Sorceress’s design is S-tier! Anyways, this was a nice review. I’ll definitely be picking it up on Switch after all the high praise everyone has given it.

[@retrig202]

Masterpiece. Please, for the love of god, do not watch any spoilers or look at guides or anything. Fire it up to the title screen, press a button so you can hear the music without the wind over the top, and bliss out. Also, I question whether Nyarly has actually played this based on the way he pronounces Aegis ;) Edit: The English voice acting is fantastic.

[@MatthewG1247]

I enjoyed your review of this game, despite the length.

[@Lexyvil]

I highly encourage everyone to get this game!

[@mes0gots0its]

Possibly one of the most underrated games of all time. If you're watching this video and have any interest in sci fi whatsoever, give this game a shot. You're very likely to have a great experience.

[@InktheImpassive]

Tending to forget that these are high school teenagers piloting giant robots and fighting in a war.

[@persomiissleepy]

I picked up this game after a long time. Note to self I need to continue it.

[@PaunchoSmithPNGTuber]

Got this a while ago for PS4. Liked the narrative half of the game; didn't care for the RTS stuff (it's why I never bothered to finish it, just not a style of gameplay I personally enjoy). Will probably start a fresh file and bump the difficulty to Casual so I can steamroll through those parts and get them out of the way.

[@alexterieur8813]

Big atlus sales on the 3ds eshop!!!

[@OwnD1]

This game needs to sold more. Vanillaware absolutely killed it

[@Screwy]

I'm not sure if you heard after the fact, but the Switch version rebalances some stuff like sentry counts and other aspects (apparently in an effort to make it harder?), so this is a big case of "your mileage may vary"

[@Codex_0613]

I've only played the switch version but the game is still very easy. I was able to get S ranks on every battle without even trying.

[@MajraMangetsu]

The game IS out ? Because if so I'm buying it the moment I have money.

[@VXMasterson]

Yes

[@MajraMangetsu]

@@VXMasterson LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

[@bhamey1785]

If it gets big on switch, hopefully a pc port would soon follow

[@jeremiahlamb3100]

I played only had to grind up one or two battles. Grinding consisted of doing one battle to get more meta chips.

[@saloz9483]

Yea I cant see myself getting into this as its basically a VN with "combat" thats just flashing dots. Though I can tell this is a passion project since its super nich as they come so it wont be making gangbusters but they did put some money in this as you can tell by the walking around segments.

[@messihr]

Not bragging or insulting anyone, but I literally never last a match, I never healed and I never got lower than a B rank (almost always got an S rank). Still fun though.

[@bruh.moments1984]

It’s a great day when Nyarly uploads

[@lancezheng504]

The combat is honestly just alright, it's good enough but nothing special. What really makes the game great is the story. I binged the game during Christmas break a few months ago. I couldn't stop thinking about the story before I beat the game. I can't help but wonder what's the truth behind what I was seeing. This may not be the best comparison, but I'd say this game is like Odd Taxi and Tengen Toppa were thrown into a blender and the product somehow turned out great. If you've seen both shows then you know this sounds like an impossible mix, and that's why you should give this game a try and see for yourself.

[@KaoruMzk]

A port of a game I already played on PS4 years ago. I don't understand why the gaming publications are treating as if it was new. Same thing happened with Crystar too, now that I think about it.

[@retrig202]

You didn't play it "years ago". You played it a year and a half ago at most. The Switch audience is much broader than Playstation is, and this is a chance for it to get into way more hands, and for way more people to play it.

[@ThisIsABadIdeaSrsly]

Gameplay seems convoluted. There's a lot going on

[@LuizSilva-ul1ee]

This game is amazing. The last act in destroy mode has a great difficulty spike, and the last mission in particular is Vietnam flashback material, it was the first time I lost my units

[@brimple]

this game goes so hard

[@EduSolsa]

I heard good stuff about this game and I am interest, but there are also others games that got more my attention, so it end up being low on my wishlist. =/ But thanks for the review

[@MarioLuigi0404]

>pre ordered the Switch release because I've heard it's amazing but can't play on PS4 >expect it to get here maybe a day or two after launch >get shipping notice >"Expected arrival date: April 18" Pain

[@darktyrantkingsonicofhell8117]

long story short : the most complecated game story till now

[@AceWing905]

I agree with almost everything you say in this video but in the analysis section you put up screens full of spoilers This is counter productive to say the least if you're trying to get more people to play it

[@samwill7259]

Man I need to play some mech games. I always mean to give at least one a shot and then life always...happens, in that annoying way that it does.

[@RinsMelody]

This game looks really nice but the gameplay looks kinda iffy to me? Not sure if I wanna pick it up even though I love story based games

[@cheese3277]

nyarly

[@PokemonaMoni]

An amazing game that's what it is

[@alpha_c.]

eye giss

[@mayaha200]

Disagree a lot destruction is the meat of the game. The meat of the game is the story!! In other words it a visual novel with gameplay to keep the story going. You play destruction to continue the stories, not the opposite. We need more visual novel + gameplay like this one.

[@BowserGuerrero]

13:32 What's coming out????

[@gm0381]

What’s the outro song?

[@michellima5280]

Why don't you talk about your favourite megaten soundtracks?

[@femorllarina9395]

I was getting a PS4 just for this game until it was announced for Switch, now I can't decide which console I should buy. Stupid 13 Sentinels

[@darkstrong4553]

It is pronounced [ˈiːdʒɪs]. Don't really know if they pronounce it correctly in English dub, but that's how the word is pronounced correctly, and how they pronounce it in Japanese dub

[@Rappylisk]

That's fair, but the way Nyarly pronounced it is the correct way from the original language, which I want to say is Latin.

[@darkstrong4553]

@@Rappylisk it is Greek. And I guess, you would be right in this regard. But it is still not the way you would normally pronounce the word in this case

[@Rappylisk]

@@darkstrong4553 Ah, that's right, I always mix those two up for some reason. And like I said, totally fair. I just think it's interesting that, aware or not, he's stumbled upon the original pronunciation.

[@darkstrong4553]

@@Rappylisk I think he took it from Aigis from Persona 3. Which was actually a more accurate spelling of the word. SMT has actually really good preparation of foreign names. At least in original Japanese dub

[@Rappylisk]

@@darkstrong4553 Yeah, that's probably it. Just another reason to love SMT lol.

[@Superson1c5]

Please tell me you haven't abandoned p5 velvetless.

[@yumichiru]

another comment telling u to play the game

[@ilyamuromez6412]

You said 1985 and not 1895

[@zelexen]

doesnt make sense that ps4 version runs worse tho o.o...

[@felipecastellanos1485]

"questionable character design" ... what an unnecessary and stupid comment.

[@gejamugamlatsoomanam7716]

Better on ps5

[@HemborgerChariot]

why are you calling it Aigis Rim? They literally pronounce it ee-jis in game.

[@retrig202]

Exactly ;) He's mispronounced it in all of his videos. Has he played it? :D EYE-GIS RIM!

[@DanteCrowlley]

A lot of RPGs I can play thnx to emulators, I don't feel any appealing to buy a Switch n mostly RPGs seems stuck in PlayStation n Nintendo, specially ATLUS games I can't get my hands on most of them, officially, but I can eventually play it all on PC since waiting for ATLUS to actually release games on PC is a joke, now the others games who don't come to PC for whatever reason, it really triggers me since I'm a PC gamer

[@chrisjr6214]

Shouldn't confine yourself to just one platform if you can afford to.

[@retrig202]

As Chris said, not everyone can afford to, but if you don't have a Switch and PS4/5 (and a 3DS) you're really limiting yourself and you're missing out on amazing games. FYI, I was a solid PC only elitist for probably 20 years, and I regret it. I'm still playing catch up on all the awesome console games I missed.

[@vienna5526]

Wish this was available on PC.

[@shinbakihanma2749]

This is Vanillaware's first massive disappointment of a game. This game sucks. It's essentially a visual novel and RTS, which is to say, there is no real gameplay to speak of. I'm confused why anyone likes this game. The art style is nice, but its unfortunately, greatly toned down from their normally sexually absurd designs in their previous games. It's a visually beautiful snorefest. It should've been a side scrolling action beat em up, when you're roaming around the city, and either a mech fighting game, or shmup when using a mech. There was so much wasted potential in this title. What a waste. Avoid this game if you liked Vanillaware's other titles. This game is NOT FUN to play.

[@mc_sea]

Yeah, this game has some questionable localisations changes made to western releases as well. (I would post a link but KZbin has a tendency to take down comments with links.) It's a real shame since I was looking forward to playing this game.

[@angrylooweegee]

First comment