It’s no secret that your RPG needs to have something special to truly stand out in today’s gaming world. Reynatis has got off to a great start, with legendary composer Yoko Shimomura composing the RPG’s music and Kazushige Nojima credited as the story’s scriptwriter. It’s a strong duo that immediately Reynatis on my radar.

Modern Shibuya

At its core Reynatis is an action RPG that takes place in a realistic depiction of the Japanese business district Shibuya. In the world of Reynatisthere are wizards who can use magic, although not everyone has these powers. Out of fear of their power, powerful organizations have formed that try to suppress and free the wizards. It reminds me of the dynamics of Harry Potter or even the classic TV show Heroines.

It also looks like the developer, FURYU Corporation, has worked hard to bring the city of Shibuya to life, with details that anyone who has been there before will actually recognize, including shops and signs, with iconic locations like Shibuya 109 and Dogenzaka Alley. The city itself seems alive and bustling, with NPCs who spend their lives walking around the city but react to your actions. If the locals catch you using your magical powers, they will freak out and use their phone to alert the “magical police,” known as MEA, who will then hunt you down.

From a playful perspective Reynatis offers fast-paced action combat that lets you switch between characters in your party on the fly and even challenge them to perform powerful combos. A unique system allows you to switch between two modes – suppression and liberation – in real time. In suppression mode, you can dodge attacks and build up your magical power. Switching to liberation mode lets you unleash your stored magical power and deal massive damage.

Some more questions about the fight

Having had the opportunity to see the combat system in action in a few different environments, there does indeed seem to be some repetition and a general simplicity in the combat system. But if it’s as fast-paced as NIS claims, that seems to be partially intentional. Personally, I don’t mind a simpler combat system as long as it’s still fun, rewarding, and doesn’t feel boring overall. In fact, I actually prefer it in some games so I can focus on grinding, exploring the environments, or immersing myself in the story instead.

One of the most fascinating facets of Reynatis is that it is a collaborative crossover with NEO: The world ends with you. This is not a simple event or anything like that. Characters from NEO: TWOFY will appear everywhere Reynatisand are actually an essential part of the story. I’m always up for more TWEWYso this only increases my anticipation for Reynatis.

The only negative thing I can draw from the preview is that Reynatis only offers Japanese voiceovers. English subtitles are available, but I know some players will be disappointed that there is no dubbing option. However, if that is not a problem for you, Reynatis looks like a solid, fast-paced action RPG set in a wonderfully authentic recreation of the city of Shibuya.

I look forward to exploring the city myself when Reynatis will be released on September 27, 2024 on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.