Redemption Reapers is out now and promises an exciting tactical RPG with an engaging story and a spectacular cast of characters. But as good as the game looks on its own merits, you won’t believe the team behind it.
Professional credited staff working on Metal Gear, Fire Emblem, Okami and more classic games are present in the Redemption Reapers credits. As such, what started out as an exciting team-based RPG has us eager to learn more.
But first, Redemption Reapers is a top-down tactical RPG where you take control of a party of five unique characters from the Ashen Hawk Brigade as they overcome huge obstacles on their journey. Redemption Reapers takes place in a dark fantasy world, so they will have to fight their way through Mort’s legions to protect the citizens of the land, while discovering the dark past that has led to a world in disarray.
It is these five characters that you will spend most of your time with throughout the game. Sarah the Mercenary, Glenn the Knight Captain, Lugh the Assassin, Urs the Barbarian, and Karren the Hunter have unique weapons and abilities that they bring to combat, as well as their own backstories that add depth to each member of their party. On top of all that, there are special, unique blunt attacks that require strict activation requirements to pull off, but can decimate enemies if used correctly.
Each character can carry up to five weapons and two accessories at a time, allowing you to change your equipment depending on the enemy you’re up against. Each type of weapon has specific qualities that you will have to take into account.
For example, daggers can be used more frequently than other weapons and have higher accuracy. On the other hand, a halberd has a high critical hit rate. Smart players will have a horde of useful weapons on hand to adapt to the situation.
The game’s story and direction was handled by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, known for his work as a producer on Ender Lilies. This was a 2D dark fantasy RPG that those who played it loved, largely thanks to its exceptional story and world building. If Redemption Reapers has nearly as good a narrative as Ender Lilies, then it’s going to be great.
But that is not all! Responsible for scenario writing is Tomokazu Fukushima, who you may know as a recurring name in the Metal Gear series from his writing and research. With the pair working together on Redemption Reapers, you know for a fact that there are going to be interesting twists throughout the game.
What about the game itself? Well, as a TRPG, you take control of your party and engage in tooth and nail fights with hideous enemies through a turn-based system. You will have to manage action points, abilities and recovery options while taking out as many enemies as possible. As such, a slower, more thoughtful approach to combat is necessary if you want to get it right.
TRPG fans will be happy to know that Masayuki Horikawa is a game designer on this game, having previously directed Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. As such, he can be sure that the combat and balance of each match will be set to a high standard. If you consider yourself a fan of party-based RPGs, this should excite you.
The Mort as an antagonistic force is incredibly daunting and requires tactful strategy and appropriate countermeasures to bring him down. Fortunately, Redemption Reapers allows you to level up your characters, improve your abilities, as well as equip and upgrade weapons and accessories. You’ll want to pay special attention to the abilities you upgrade, as they’re not only crucial to surviving as you progress through the game, but also allow you to customize your personal playstyle.
If all of this sounds a bit too overwhelming, then you’ll be happy to hear about Spirit Veins that are scattered sparsely across each map. These restore a large amount of HP when touched, as well as replenishing the number of elixirs available, making them incredibly useful in deadly battles. That being said, they disappear once touched, so you’ll have to think carefully about who will use a spirit vein when you find one.
Finally, if you watched the trailer above, you’ve surely noticed the stellar musical score that accompanied the action. There’s a reason it’s so good! A composer who has worked on Okami, the Bayonetta series, Fire Emblem Awakening, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Rei Kondoh brings his talents to Redemption Reapers for a stunning orchestral score.
The game is out now on Steam, and people are already flocking to get a glimpse of the mystery and exciting excitement behind Redemption Reapers. If you’re like us, you’ll be racing to join them and see if the star-studded cast of the development team has produced a real gem here.
Redemption Reapers is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC. You can download the game on Steam here!