Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)
Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Review, 10 years ago, a colossal earthquake devastated Tokyo and changed the lives of its inhabitants forever. The city has since been rebuilt and life has slowly returned to a semblance of normalcy. However, behind the veil of this newly rebuilt metropolis lies another world, one with a sinister secret. The earthquake that originally destroyed Tokyo was actually caused by the emergence of a mysterious and lethal shadow world known as Eclipse. Now, action must be taken to thwart the legions of Eclipse and ensure the protection of peace!
Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Review Pros:
- Decent anime-style graphics.
- 6.7GB download size.
- Camera settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
- Can remap the controls.
- 200 yes 200 save slots.
- Game settings – enemy icons, maintain target lock and EX skill cut-ins.
- System settings – active voice, mini-map behavior, lock condition, vibration, and brightness slider.
- Five game difficulties – Easy, normal, hard, nightmare, and calamity.
- Action RPG gameplay.
- Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
- In-game cutscenes and character interactions.
- Japanese voice work with subtitles.
- Unlock new modes like a boss battle.
- New characters get a cool nameplate pop-up and character profile intro.
- You can fast-forward conversations and text-based interactions.
- Skip mode can be turned on which basically acts as a skip cutscene option, you see the cutscenes fast-forwarding in the background and can resume the scene with a button press.
- You can save and load when you want via the menu.
- A full 3D game world with you having 360-degree camera control.
- The map fills in as you explore and you have a mini map and full map.
- Throughout the game, your character will narrate his feelings and discoveries.
- The game moves at a good speed and performs well.
- There is a special anime opening scene that looks fantastic, and it feels like you are watching a TV show complete with music.
- Handy auto and fast-forward buttons for the many text and character interactions.
- The game splits the story up into chapters.
- Free time is when you can go off and do whatever you want.
- Niar is your smart device and fills in as you play, you can unlock new modes and use the device for mission management, mission logs, friend interactions, and help.
- Click the left stick and the game plays out in high-speed mode where interactions are faster, you move faster, etc.
- Talk with students and interact with them to add them to your friend’s tab and learn about them.
- Fast travel can be used on the big map to any discovered location.
- It feels and plays like a Persona game.
- Fantastic locations.
- Anything that can be interacted with or examined will have an icon.
- You can choose to end your free time early at any time.
- In real-time combat sequences, you can perform combos and dodge attacks.
- Before a mission, you can save, and edit your party and equipment. You get told how many of each enemy element type there is so you can take the right items.
- When in a dungeon with your party, you can press a button and instantly change which character you are.
- Earn EXP and level up to increase stats.
- Combo counter.
- Find and equip new clothes for each party member.
- Damage numbers and criticals pop up as you fight.
- Shortcut inputs on the d-pad.
- Find Breakable objects and loot chests.
- Enemies can randomly drop items.
- The elements of weapons and attacks are used like a rock-paper-scissors system so certain elements beat others and vice versa.
- Kill bonuses add points and rewards to your Dungeon score at the end. There is element kill, overkill, chain kill, aerial kill, and ex kill each with their own set of requirements and bonus effects.
- The enemies tab on your NiAR device acts like a beastiary filling in enemy details like weaknesses and exp as you kill them.
- Fast-paced combat.
- You see enemy health bars and what elements they are.
- Handy lock-on button for combat.
- Brilliant soundtrack.
- Special attacks can be done and the bar needed to use them replenished over time but normal attacks speed the process up.
- All party members earn exp when in the dungeons.
- Gift cubes appear after you beat a boss’s greed and contain rare materials, it looks cool.
- Small and big boss encounters.
- End of Dungeon or stage breakdown showing time, max combo, bonus kill types, damage dealt, treasure found, final score, and a rank.
- Relics act as a save point that also heals your party and lets you do item management, and buy and sell items and they are found in dungeons.
- X strikes are huge over-the-top Anime intro like cutscene attacks that do mega damage, you slowly build it up with attacks, and each character has their own unique X attack.
- The character viewer menu option lets you view and dress up any character with unlocked items of clothing.
- A good solid story full of many side quests and interesting characters.
- Read books in the school library to permanently increase certain stats.
- Replenish strike points partially by going to the bathroom in school.
- It’s a game that is very easy to go back to after a break.
Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Review Cons:
- No English dub for the voices.
- The map is not the easiest thing to use and understand.
- Long opening to the game that’s very text-heavy.
- A lot to take in with it feeling like you are constantly getting bombarded with new info and mechanics.
- The people in the world are way too friendly.
- Remembering all the different kill types is tricky.
- You don’t always pick up all enemy drops in one go, the radius of pick-up seems erratic.
- Learning to dodge and block is not always great.
- When fast-forwarding a cutscene you can easily miss tutorial pop-ups.
- Knowing where to go is not always clear, especially in school.
Related Post: Retro Drive Revamped Demo Review (Steam)
Tokyo Xanadu eX+:
Developer: Aksys Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Store Links –
-
8/10
-
8/10
-
8/10
-
9/10
-
9/10
Summary
Tokyo Xanadu eX+ offers a visually appealing experience with its decent anime-style graphics and a special anime opening scene that feels like watching a TV show. The game is a 6.7GB download and provides extensive customization options, including camera settings, control remapping, and a variety of game and system settings. Players can enjoy up to 200 save slots, which is quite generous. The game features five difficulty levels, ranging from Easy to Calamity, catering to different player preferences.
The action RPG gameplay is complemented by tutorial pop-ups, in-game cutscenes, and character interactions, all voiced in Japanese with subtitles. Players can unlock new modes, such as boss battles, and new characters are introduced with stylish nameplate pop-ups and character profiles. Conversations and text-based interactions can be fast-forwarded, and a skip mode allows players to quickly bypass cutscenes. The game world is fully 3D with 360-degree camera control, and the map fills in as you explore, providing both a mini-map and a full map for navigation.
The game moves at a good pace and performs well, with handy auto and fast-forward buttons for text interactions. The story is divided into chapters, and during free time, players can explore and engage in various activities. The NiAR smart device serves multiple functions, including mission management, logs, and friend interactions. High-speed mode can be activated for faster gameplay, and fast travel is available to any discovered location. The game has a Persona-like feel, with fantastic locations and interactive elements marked by icons.
Combat is real-time and fast-paced, featuring combos, dodges, and special attacks. Players can save and edit their party and equipment before missions, and switch characters instantly during dungeon exploration. The game includes a rock-paper-scissors system for weapon and attack elements, with kill bonuses adding points and rewards to the dungeon score. The NiAR device also acts as a bestiary, detailing enemy weaknesses and experience points. The soundtrack is brilliant, enhancing the overall experience.
However, there are some drawbacks. The game lacks an English dub for the voices, which might be a downside for some players. The map can be challenging to use and understand, and the opening sequence is quite long, which may deter some players.
In summary, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is a well-rounded action RPG with a rich set of features and customization options. Its anime-style graphics, engaging combat system, and extensive game settings make it a compelling choice for fans of the genre. Despite some minor issues, such as the lack of an English dub and a complex map, the game offers a satisfying and immersive experience and is a surprisingly accessible and fun RPG.