Scarlet Nexusis an upcoming ARPG developed by the same talent behindTales of Vesperia.Alongside a confirmation that the game will be released on the new-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X, Bandai Namco has also revealed a number of features such as a fast-paced style of combo-based combat, an emphasis on story, and a setting described as “brain-punk”.
Although the full details surroundingScarlet Nexuswon’t be revealed until its Jul 04, 2025 release date, fans can expect a unique spin on the JRPG genre given the development team’s past experience withTales of Vesperia.WhileScarlet Nexuswill have no story connections toTales of Vesperia,Talesfans should find plenty of similarities in the writing and combat system to enjoy.
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Emphasis on Character Interactions
Following the success of theTalesseries over the years,Scarlet Nexusis Bandai Namco’s latest projectin the ARPG genre. Comprised of a team with previous experience inTalesgames,Scarlet Nexusis being directed by Kenji Anabuki who worked as the lead designer inTales of Vesperia.One of the most important aspects ofTales of Vesperiais the character interactions and it seems thatScarlet Nexuswill be focusing on something similar.
InTales of Vesperia,characters often interacted with one another through skits and side stories which helped give depth to relationships that would otherwise be ignored during the main storyline. Over time, the character dynamic between the main party members would develop smoothly and players would become attached to their individual backstories as well. The seamless balance between character development with the overarching narrative was one ofTales of Vesperia’sbiggest strengths.Scarlet Nexustakes inspiration from these character development segmentsby introducing a similar bonding system. Players are able to give gifts and interact with other party members in order to boost their friendship levels and in turn, their combat skills as well.
Improving on the Combat System
Kenji Anabuki has also mentioned that previous experience withTales of Vesperiahas also taught theScarlet Nexusteam to find a balance between the story and the battle scenes.Tales of Vesperiarelied heavily on the dynamic of a party as players could control four different characters in combat. Anabuki stated that this battle system inspiredScarlet Nexus’sthematic focus on characters connectingand how they team up.
At the same time, whileTales of Vesperiawas limited in its scope to a fantasy settingof swords and magic,Scarlet Nexusallows the development team to get creative with its cyberpunk setting and focus on superpowers. The combat is more refined and seamless as players are able to interact with the environment around them in order to defeat enemies. Not only will players be able to wield a sword, they are also able to throw objects from the environment with psionic powers, and alternating between the sword and psionic powers will help players pull off satisfying combos.
WhileTales of Vesperiawould shift in and out of battle sequences,Scarlet Nexusconsistently places players near the heat of battle as they navigate the world around them. This change helps reflect thecombo-based combat inScarlet Nexusand allows players to take full advantage of the robust combat system. The experience from working onTales of Vesperiaseems to have helped shape the development ofScarlet Nexusand fans will have plenty to look forward to once it releases.
Scarlet Nexuswill release on August 06, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
