Fate/Samurai Remnant

First, a video overview

https://youtu.be/oalnpQhw4-4

Taking on the spin-off of the Fate franchise without prior knowledge is difficult, considering how it spans across so many games and media projects. Fate/Samurai Remnant serves as a great introduction to the franchise, being a terrific action RPG in its own right that combines many different systems without feeling overwhelming, while still keeping its core combat system satisfying, especially for anime fans (and if you've noticed, it probably is).

The story of Fate/Samurai Remnant is set in 1600s Japan during the Keian Rebellion. A young samurai named Miyamoto Iori is drawn into a conflict called the Ritual of the Growing Moon, where seven men battle each other for the prize of wish fulfillment. Each of these seven "Masters" is given a Servant, a mystical being who fights alongside them, all based on historical or mythological figures such as Joan of Arc. Iori is given Saber, a Servant who suffers from amnesia and wields water, and they both must endure the machinations of the Ritual of the Growing Moon as more enemies invade their home.

Key Details
Release date:September 29, 2023.
Platform:Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and PS5.
Price: $59.99 USD.
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo

The combat system is the highlight of Fate/Samurai Remnant

Although Fate/Samurai Remnant is an action RPG, its combat system has a lot in common with Musou games, as you'll often face large groups of humanoid or monstrous enemies, with reinforcements arriving in waves as the battle progresses. Some elite units and bosses take significantly more damage, and larger enemies have a "projectile scale" that must be depleted before you can deal proper damage to them.

Fortunately, Iori has plenty of weapons at his disposal. You have two swords that you can upgrade as the game progresses, as well as different fighting styles that you can switch between during combat. Iori has access to magic spells, though these are powered by gems you earn in battle, which deplete when used.

The main gimmick of Fate/Samurai Remnant is the Servants, as you'll have Saber by your side for most of the game, as well as other Ravaging Servants that you unlock as the story progresses. You can have two Servants with you at a time, and they perform several functions related to their Kinship streak, which grows in battle. This allows them to perform powerful super moves and gives you temporary control over them in battle.

All of this may seem like too much, but the various systems work well together to keep the combat feeling fresh throughout the game. The brightly colored anime special moves are spaced far enough apart so as not to overwhelm the gameplay, as you'll want to keep them from interrupting your opponent's attacks. Juggling all of the systems in combat is all about maximizing all of your abilities while trying to survive an enemy attack. It's a fine balance, but Fate/Samurai Remnant pulls it off and the combat never gets boring.

There are some issues with the combat system, one of which is food. You can heal at any time by eating food, which is done immediately through the pause menu. This causes the same problem as Final Fantasy XVI: you can stock up on items before battle and outrun your enemies while healing. Fate/Samurai Remnant would be improved if there were limits to the amount of food you could carry, or if healing was tied to an animation that enemies could interrupt, as the current system makes combat much easier.

The dodge mechanics are also a bit of a mess. You can perform a dash by pressing R2, and if you dodge a punch at the last second, Iori can retaliate with a punch that does a ton of damage. The problem is that the jerk feels a bit late and you can't cancel actions, which forces you to play more conservatively than you'd like, especially in a flashy anime-style fighting game.

Balance between exploration and combat
Outside of battles, you'll be exploring various cities and locations, as well as completing quests, improving your workshop, buying new items, and interacting with NPCs. The design of the outside world isn't all that interesting, though it's limited by the setting, and many of the decrepit cities seem interchangeable.

Fate/Samurai Remnant utilizes a skill point system for Iori and Servants, allowing you to unlock abilities spread across several different trees. Your home/workshop can also be improved by spending money and finding rare items. Together, these aspects ensure that you're always gradually improving as the game progresses and you have a reason to keep fighting and completing quests.

There is also a world combat system, where cities are connected by power lines and you move Iori and his Servants around the board. You have a home base and link different city nodes together, fighting enemies for control of different regions and strategically cutting their ties, allowing you to destroy all of their units in certain areas. This mode is a lot of fun and offers a different way to divide up combat scenes.

Verdict
Fate/Samurai Remnant is a great introduction to the franchise. A few issues aside, the combat system is fantastic and manages the difficult task of staying interesting for long periods of time, something that games like this can struggle with. The story is also great and serves as a major motivator for you to pull out your sword as you advance towards the next mob of enemies.

кухулин, мусаши и котики <3

I am happy as a Fate fan