Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne Review (Nintendo Switch)

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- is a cultural phenomenon. The anime hit the world by storm in 2016 and is currently airing the second cour of its second season. The series follows Natsuki Subaru as he is transported into another world. At first, he thinks this “fantasy world” is what he always wanted, but he quickly learns its brutality. When he was transported to this world, he was blessed with an ability called “Return By Death”, where he returns to a “save point” each time he dies. These save points vary based on certain “flags” he clears. It’s a very interesting and unique concept that has entranced anime fans. He falls in love with a young half-elf named Emilia, who he promises to save during his first death, and they venture on their journey together. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne is a video game based on the anime series. It follows this basic premise and includes characters from the anime series, as well as new ones. It’s a visual novel/tactical RPG. Prophecy of the Throne is an enjoyable visual novel that crafts a brand new story from the existing material in a fun and unique way. Note: This review of Re:ZERO Prophecy of the Throne is based on the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

Presentation

Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne runs incredibly smoothly on the Nintendo Switch, except for some of the tactical parts of the game. The art style is charming and matches that of the anime, and the designs for the new characters fit right in. The music is solid, but a bit generic for a visual novel; this is okay though. Graphically, the tactical portions can be a bit pixelated, but it doesn’t take away from the experience, which is most important. The menus are easy to navigate and the flowchart is very easy to follow. There is also a world map that you can use to travel from place to place; I found it mostly useless, but, there was only so much time we had to get through the game, so there are probably some hidden items and whatnot crammed into the game. The map is simple, yet it works.

The game also has the option of playing with English voices or the original Japanese dub. This is one of the rare visual novels that actually gives players a choice. The English dub of Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne was not live when we played, so we didn’t get a chance to test it out, but if it’s anything like the Re:ZERO anime, it’s fantastic, as Re:ZERO has one of the better dubs in anime.

Story

The story of Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne is enthralling, taking portions of the anime and twisting it on its head. It also has a number of twists and turns that you would not expect. Characters meet, but in different circumstances than the anime. You can essentially think of it as an alternate universe. The game centers around the Royal Selection. The previous Royal Family passed away, and so the Kingdom is going through the process of selecting a new ruler. There is a prophecy that there will be five candidates, but suddenly a sixth candidate, Melty, shows up. The story centers around finding out who the “imposter” candidate is, if there is one, because the prophecy is absolute, allegedly.

The story also consists of a total of five loops. Subaru’s “Return By Death” ability triggers a new loop each time he dies. There are a total of 10 days in the game, with five loops. There are occasions where Suburu manages to clear certain “flags” and creates a new “checkpoint”, so instead of looping back to day one, you may loop to day three or four. The game is true to the anime and any Re:ZERO fan will enjoy the story. The game even has a recap of the beginning of the anime in the opening, so, the game is accessible to anyone. The character interactions shine and are true to the spirit of the anime, which is refreshing; Suburu is Suburu, Emilia is still Emilia, etc.

Gameplay

The tactical RPG portion of Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne is unique but surprisingly simple. There aren’t that many tactical portions in The Prophecy of the Throne, so each segment is diverse in its own way. The game allows you to make a choice about how you’re going to go about each mission. Subaru isn’t a fighter, so, these portions of the game focus on Suburu coming up with guerrilla tactics in order to defeat the enemy or accomplish some goal of some sort. In a fighting section, Suburu may decide to set a trap or use debris in order to slow the enemy down. In one part, he throws fire crystals at the enemy while the rest of your party fights. Each section also has a limited amount of phases. The meter beneath Suburu allows him to move for a limited time. Once that meter is depleted, a new phase begins. If you don’t accomplish your goal within the allotted amount of phases, you die and loop back to start the mission again (this does not count as a loop in the flowchart.) The gameplay is fun enough in the tactical portions and gives you a nice break from the endless text of the visual novel portion of the game. It’s very non-traditional, and this is part of what gives it its appeal. Some missions can take a bit to figure out, but they aren’t too difficult and are enjoyable.

Re:ZERO -Living Life in Another World-

Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne is an excellent visual novel, and a great addition to the Re:ZERO experience. The story is excellent, the character interactions are authentic and charming, and the tactical missions in the game give you a break from the visual novel portion of the game, making the “visual novel” dynamic. The presentation is solid, with great artwork, easy-to-navigate menus, and an excellent flowchart. Most of all, it’s a lot of fun. Re:ZERO The Prophecy of the Throne is a fantastic anime adaptation with some incredible twists and turns you won’t see coming, even if you think you do. It’s a must-play game for fans of the series, but also accessible to newcomers. If you’re a fan of anime and don’t play this game, you’re missing out.