On the surface, Scarlet Nexus may seem like a typical hack-and-slash action RPG, but its combat runs a bit deeper than that.
In fact, the game’s combat is one of its most addicting qualities. This is largely because of its unique twist on the action RPG format.
While not terribly difficult, the combat for Scarlet Nexus may take some getting used to in order to properly master its different mechanics. This article is intended to give you a brief overview of the system and help you fully enjoy this satisfying combat.
The Differences Between Yuito and Kasane
Before you can even get into combat, the game will prompt you to pick a storyline to follow.
Scarlet Nexus is unique in that it employs dual protagonists in Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall. The larger story is the same, but the unique perspective of each is different enough that you won’t want to only play one of the routes.
In terms of combat, Yuito and Kasane differ. Yuito employs a sword and fights with close range attacks and combos. Kasane, on the other hand, fights with floating knives, embracing a ranged approach.
Who you pick first is largely up to you but the type of preferred combat may play a factor into this decision. Again, it’s recommended to play through both storylines.
Combat Overview: A Mix of Physical and Magic
Once you’ve chosen a character, you’ll find that combat is based on physical and psionic attacks, this game’s version of magic.
Physical attacks are pretty straight forward and don’t require much in terms of learning specific combos. There will be occasions where you may have to input two buttons for an upward strike combo, but those are fairly simple.
The exciting part of this combat is the psionic abilities. Both Yuito and Kasane have psychokinesis abilities that allow you to throw objects at opponents. As the game wears on, this ability will deepen slightly and allow for some fun uses of this power.
Using both psychokinesis and physical attacks is where you’ll have fun making your own combos. Players can charge in with physical attacks, following in with psychokinesis attacks as the player recovers or dodges.
One simple combo to learn early on is the follow-up attack, which deal additional damage. You can initiate this after doing either a combo of melee or psychokinesis attacks and using the opposite to follow up. The game will slow down slightly when you can do a follow up attack.
For example, if you’ve used a series of melee attacks in a row, quickly use a psychokinesis attack for increased damage. The same goes for a series of psychokinesis attacks followed by a melee attack.
This is a really smooth combat system that is a lot of fun because you can really make your fighting style your own. Remember, there is a gauge for you psychokinesis abilities so you won’t be able to use it constantly.
Don’t Forget to Dodge
Defense is just as important as offense in Scarlet Nexus. There is a dodge ability that will come in handy throughout combat.
You’ll get the ability to use the “perfect dodge” ability fairly early on. If you time a dodge correctly, time will slow for a few seconds, allowing you to get the upper hand on the enemy with a calculated next attack.
Combat is fast and furious as the game will throw numerous enemies at you at once. Dodging allows you to find a good position among them and set up your next line of attacks.
In the early goings, you’ll learn how to intercept objects with psychokinesis. Enemies will regularly throw debris or status-inhibiting objects at you. Initiating the perfect dodge will allow you to catch the thrown object and hurl it back at your enemy with added damage.
The SAS System and The Power of Friendship
Another unique part of this system is SAS (Struggle Arms System). This ability allows you to tap into the powers of your companions, even if they aren’t in your active party.
There are plot points surrounding SAS so I won’t spoil any of that. I will just focus on the gameplay aspect.
Each of your companions has their own ability. Below is the list of potential companions and what they can do:
- Shiden: Electrokinesis — electrically charges your weapons and objects thrown via psychokinesis.
- Hanabi: Pyrokinesis — imbues your weapons and objects thrown via psychokinesis with fire.
- Arashi: Hypervelocity — allows time to slow for a bit while the player moves at regular speed.
- Kyoka: Duplication — duplicates the objects thrown with psychokinesis. Throwing one object results in throwing two when duplication is active.
- Kagero: Invisibility — turns the player and team invisible for a short amount of time.
- Tsugumi: Clairvoyance — allows the player to see invisible enemies and to see through poor viewing conditions. Perfect dodges are also a bit easier.
- Gemma: Sclerokinesis — a defensive ability that causes the user to not take any damage when hit. The amount of time runs out quicker the more the player is hit.
- Luka: Teleportation — allows the player to quickly close gaps between enemies and quickly retreat via instant teleportation.
Additionally, Yuito and Kasane can become party members for the opposite one depending on who you pick. You can use the other’s psychokinesis ability through SAS to through a flurry of objects at once instead of just one.
Each of these abilities are only available when the character is in your party. Additionally, you only have a limited amount of time with each one as you are only borrowing the ability from your companions.
Who you pick at the start will determine which party members appear more regularly. An example of this is Arashi, who plays a big role in Kasane’s story, but not as much in Yuito’s narrative.
You can only activate one at a time as initiating another while one is active will cancel out the active ability. Later in the game, you can unlock skills that allow you to use more than once at a time.
Each of these abilities can grow, but you will need to improve your bond with your party members. The primary way to do this is during the standby phases.
As the story runs on, you can experience bond episodes with these characters. They relate to the story and only appear at the designated plot point. These episodes allow you a graphic novel-like interaction with your companions. In some cases, it’ll be a short, playable mission.
These bond episodes provide some great depth to your party, but lean heavily into a Shonen anime episode. Some will really enjoy that while others will not.
Another way to grow a bond is give gifts to your companions. Go to shops and exchange your loot for gifts you can give to your party members. There are varying degrees at which a gift will improve a bond.
You’ll notice some gifts have a heart next to the designated character. A white heart offers a slight boost in bond while a red heart gives a bigger boost. No heart does give a boost but it’s the smallest amount.
Giving gifts is easy to forget but can ensure you reach the highest bond levels with your characters. The higher the bond level, the more abilities they can offer through the SAS system.
Remember to Upgrade The Brain Map
Along with the SAS system, there is a skill tree called the Brain Map. As you level up, you get Brain Points for each level gained. These points will allow you to learn a skill.
It’s important to remember to upgrade these because they can be really useful. The skills range from boosting weapon and character statistics to learning specific combat skills.
It’s important to note that not all skills will appear initially. As the story progresses, you’ll gain new branches to the Brain Map.
It’s important to note that it’s likely you will not learn all skills the first time around. That’s not to say you can’t, but it would require a lot of grinding and combat to do so.
Miscellaneous Abilities
Scarlet Nexus will have a few miscellaneous abilities that will come through as the story progresses.
Brain Drive: Eventually, players will get a gauge next to their health bar that builds as they fight. Once it fills, Brain Drive will automatically initiate, providing the player with a state of increased focus with various combat buffs.
Brain Field: Think of this as the Brain Drive but in overdrive. Players can initiate this for large amounts of buffs. This gauge only fills during the Brain Drive state. While this intense stage is useful, it needs to be used with caution. Staying in it too long will result in the player’s death.
Brain Crush: As the game progresses, players will learn about the Brain Crush ability, which allows for a one-hit kill. Each enemy has a yellow crush gauge under their health. If the player depletes that gauge, they can enact Brain Crush. Boss enemies don’t die instantly, but rather lose a large amount of health.
Items: As is the case in other RPGs, there are healing items along with status clearing items. Be sure to visit shops regularly to keep a high stock of these to use during battle. Using them is seamless as you can set an item to a button and activate it as needed. You can also quickly scroll through items during battles.
Plug-ins: There are various plug-ins available to both the protagonist and party members. These range from power, health, and defense boosts to increase burn or shock abilities. Take time to equip them to your character and the party members. You can also upgrade the amount of plug-in slots available for each.
Weapons: Take time to upgrade your weapons as the game wears on. Each character has a specific item and you can upgrade each one. You can either do this at the store by buying them or exchanging for them.
Featured Image: Bandai Namco
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