Redemption Reapers is out now, promising an exciting tactical RPG with an engaging story and a spectacular cast of characters. But as great as the game looks on its own merits, you won’t believe the team behind it.
Employees with career credits working on Metal Gear, Fire Emblem, Okami and more classic games are all featured in 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 group of five unique Ashen Hawk Brigade characters as they overcome adversity on their journey. Redemption Reapers is set in a dark fantasy world, so they’ll have to fight their way through Mort’s legions to protect the citizens of the land, while uncovering the dark past that led to a world in disarray.
It’s these five characters that you’ll 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 each have unique weapons and abilities they bring to combat, as well as their own backstories that add depth to each member of your group. Above all, there are unique special and hard-hitting 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 the same time, which allows you to change your equipment depending on the enemy you are about to face. Each type of weapon has specific qualities that you need to look out for.
For example, daggers can be used more frequently than other weapons and have greater 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 suit the situation.
The game’s story and direction were handled by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, known for his work as a producer on Ender Lilies. This was a 2D dark fantasy RPG that was loved by those who played it, thanks in large part to its exceptional story and world building. If Redemption Reapers has nearly as good a narrative as Ender Lilies then that’s great.
But that is not all! The scenario writer is Tomokazu Fukushima, who you may know as a recurring name in the Metal Gear series for his writing and research. With the two working together on Redemption Reapers, you know for a fact that there will be interesting twists throughout the game.
And the gameplay itself? Well, as a TRPG, you take control of your group and engage in fierce fights with horrible enemies via a turn-based system. You’ll have to manage action points, skills, and recovery options while taking out as many enemies as you can. As such, a slower, more thoughtful approach to combat is necessary if you want to do well.
Fans of TRPGs will be delighted to know that Masayuki Horikawa is a game designer on this game, having previously directed Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. As such, you can be sure that each encounter’s combat and balance will be tuned 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 frightening, requiring diplomatic strategy and appropriate countermeasures to bring down. Fortunately, Redemption Reapers lets you level up your characters, upgrade their abilities, as well as equip and upgrade weapons and accessories. You’ll want to pay special attention to the skills you hone, as they’re not only crucial to surviving as you progress through the game, but they also allow you to customize your personal playstyle.
If that all seems a little too overwhelming, you’ll be happy to hear about the veins of Spirit that are sparsely scattered throughout each map. They restore a large amount of HP when touched, as well as replenishing the number of available elixirs, making them incredibly useful in deadly battles. That said, they disappear once touched, so you’ll have to think carefully about who’s going to use a spirit vein when you find one.
Lastly, if you’ve watched the trailer above, you’ve certainly noticed the stellar soundtrack that accompanied the action. There’s a reason it’s so good! Rei Kondoh, a composer who worked on Okami, the Bayonetta series, Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem: Three Houses is bringing his talents to Redemption Reapers to an amazing orchestral score.
The game is available on Steam now, and people are already flocking to take a look at the mystery and heartwarming excitement behind Redemption Reapers. If you’re anything like us, you’ll rush to join them and see if the development team’s star-studded cast produced a true gem here.
Redemption Reapers is available for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PC. You can download the game on Steam here!