Monark is an intriguing arrival this week on Switch, an RPG published by NIS America with some key Shin Megami Tensei veterans in the development team. In our Monark review last week we gave it a recommendation, praising its combat system and concept while acknowledging the downside of rather basic visuals and repetition of enemies and environments.
With its EU / Australian release today (having arrived in North America earlier in the week) it now has a rather dramatic launch trailer to set the scene. You can check it out at the top of the page.
In MONARK, your world is plunged into madness when the mysterious Mist surrounds Shin Mikado Academy. In order to save your friends, you must enter the Otherworld to challenge the seven “Pactbearers” that are corrupting the academy. Develop your Ego through various psychological tests to enhance the power of your Fiends and embrace the power of your madness to gain strength. But take care not to delve too far, lest you risk losing yourself.
It's a busy week in terms of major game releases (you know the one we mean), but for fans of the old-school SMT and Persona games this is well worth a look.
Comments 10
Most of the aggregate reviews I've read can't seem to make up their mind. "Great combat, not so great story." "Story is interesting, but the combat gets grindy." Well, which is it?
@Magician
I think it likely means that the game is relatively middling on most aspects. Only way you can know for sure is by playing it by yourself I guess, does this one have a demo? Could probably use one.
E:There is so you could probably take a look at that if you're interested.
Far too derivative of Persona. Doesn’t look original or interesting.
"Take care not to delve too far, lest you risk losing yourself" I'm so sick of this theme used so often in games.
Like, you can't tell this to a student trying to graduate from high school. No, freshman - you are not created perfect and no one will pay you for staying a freshman forever. You must let go of your freshman clothes to put on your graduation hat.
@falkyn I think that quote was referring to the "madness" referenced in the trailer. Is this super common in games?
I know nothing about this game, but the trailer indicates the realm or mist or whatever causes most people to go mad, hence the "take care not to delve too far, lest you risk losing yourself." They also mentioned the concept of the Ego a few times, which is a little odd, but I'd be lying if it wasn't intriguing to me.
I'll take this over "you're the chosen one" in video games any day.
@BlueMonk Until Persona 5 or any mainline Persona game comes to the Switch, I don't consider this a bad thing because they fill a void in the library.
Trails of Cold Steel, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, and even Fire Emblem Three Houses get pretty close to scratching that itch for me, but I'm always on the lookout for more Persona-like games.
@Astral-Grain
Fair enough but I know I will just miss Persona 3.
I got bogged down in SMT 5. Meh….
@BlueMonk I hear you there, there's nothing quite like a mainline Persona game. It's pretty funny we still don't have one on Switch yet.
I got into the series at Persona 4 on the PS2, it didn't seem like anyone I knew had even heard of the franchise back then. I'm happy they've become more popular, but I haven't played Persona 5 so I'm not sure if they've gotten better or worse compared to P3 and P4.
I found a game on Switch called "The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa" and it has a system where you get to decide how to spend your days - including fighting/training or studying subjects to pass tests and therefore earn some money. It's still nothing like a Persona game, but I enjoy the similarities while also appreciating it for being a different but still fun experience.
I might pick this up eventually. There are so many good games and so little time. I mostly just want to support the company.
I have to wait for the sale for this one. The reviews are very mixed.
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