Just wanted to say two things, thank you for the review & for confirming the game runs well on PS5 (my copy of Monark is preordered on that platform). Glad you covered all areas of the game from story, game difficulty, the level singularities & the room puzzles mechanics. Edit: Also, appreciate you explained the spirit leveling up system as players not in the know about how it works would get thrown off & can mess up their enjoyment.
As much as I’d love to take credit, credit has to be given to the folks at NIS America who provided me the review codes I needed to be able to do this! Without them letting me do so, I wouldn’t be able to report on that! But I will take credit for everything else, and thank YOU for that! 😊
Glad I picked up on PS5, not sure why it can’t run smoothly on Switch. Good review as always. It’s going to go in the back log as I’m excited for Horizon
Well… decades old engine. ( probably some engine with roots on the PS2, and I wou be surprised if it’s roots are the PhyreEngine. Like with Ys games) I’m definitely playing on the PS5.
@Eries Aston sometimes the act of buying thing is cathartic to people and has nothing to do with the game! I'll admit that that happened to me a decade or so ago! Wow, now I feel old!
This gives my massive Caligula Effect vibes, from the minimalist style, white color motif, character designs and models, battle system, down to the concept of being trapped in a high school setting. I wonder if that game's developers made this too.
personally i have no problem with newer games looking like ps2 games. there are many ps2 games i still think look amazing and the art style makes them look better than some modern games. kingdom hearts 1 and 2 for instance, look much better than kingdom hearts 3 to me. kh3 may have a much higher polygon count, but the art style just makes the characters look off, not nearly as good as they looked in kh2. there are even ps1 games i think still look amazing to this day. maybe that's just a me thing but i can go back and play an old, "outdated" game for the first time, and be just as impressed with it's visuals and art style as i am when i play a new modern game for the first time.
So glad your watched your review! I was debating whether to get this or Caligula effect 2. I’ve decided to go with this one first after playing the demo and watching your review. The story seems interesting, and I like the quizzes they give you throughout.
Hi Alex, My copy won't arrive for a while and I haven't had time to play much of the demo. Looking at your combat footage, it reminds me visually a bit of another Lancarse/FuRyu collaboration: Lost Dimension. I wonder .. ?? Is Monark possibly an evolution of that older battle system? Or is that just a visual similarity?
You’re not off the mark! Many who have played Lost Dimension have seen the very close similarities between both! Unfortunately I haven’t played it, so I can’t definitively say that it’s an evolution of said battle system, though I can tell you that it plays really well, even with grinding involved!
I have been looking forward to your review on Monark! Personally still haven't gone back to complete the demo, I think what put me off was not understanding "Madness" and "Death Calls". Ill come back around to it at some point I'm sure.
I loved the demo and I don't regret my decision to preorder at all. It may not be for everyone but I loved the gameplay, story concept, music, and art direction. I can see it potentially being one of my personal top games of the year
Thanks for the review :) I’ve watched a couple so far, and although there’s definitely mixed reactions, Im picking it up since I loved the demo. I love the psychological horror elements, but the combat was what really sold it for me. The only thing Im a bit hesitant on is the characters and the seemingly repetitious gameplay loop, but Im looking forward to seeing how the plot develops.
I think the seeming repetition of the gameplay loop was what kept me going, honestly! That’s of course in addition to the story. Sometimes the familiarity can be a good thing!
@@BacklogBattlehaha definitely, I’m pretty sure i’m going to enjoy it also. I was already grinding in the demo just for fun so I think it’s going to be right up my alley hahah
Been looking forward to this review. I’m still on the fence. May pick up at some point. Definitely not a day one purchase for me. At least you helped me confirm that I’ll aim to get it on PC because of performance, was contemplating getting it on Switch.
Great review. I unfortunately will have to play on the oled switch so ima have to deal with it lol anyways thanks I can see this as a Sleeper hit of the year. 🔥 🔥
So by unlearning skills you go down in levels it sounds like if levels are based on skills unlocked, if that is the case is this one of those games where with good skill you can intentionally be "under leveled" and win via strategy or is this one of those games where the level scaling means if you aren't in the general ball park you will get curb stomped in one hit? I know some games go for the "if you are skilled enough you can beat the entire game at level 1 but it will be extremely hard" and other games go "you need to grind or you will get one shot regardless of skill"... while most turn based games fall under the second category it varies in degrees like some games you can be 20 levels lower then you should be and have a slim chance at winning while other games if you are 5 levels to low just go home you have no shot... so just curious where this falls on that spectrum if you level is based on your unlocked skills but you can unlearn your skills thus un leveling yourself (I assume).
Dope review man, I’ve don’t think I’ve ever played a Demo that made me hate a game so much! I was hyped before 15mins in I was like, I hate this so much!
So Monarch is the definition of a double edged sword like on one hand, the ideas in play are indeed interesting but on the other hand, if you don't have a PS4 pro, ps5 and PC, then the game will run like ass on switch and PS4. It also doesn't help that the game doesn't look all that impressive when talking about visuals, voice acting to a degree and some parts of the soundtrack as well as puzzles. And then there is the slow as molasses progression of the plot with the fact that former SMT devs used to work on it will make people feel cheated if all of that is not up to snuff. However, the combat itself is pretty interesting, the vocals for bosses are dope and the game has multiple endings so it does all depend on whether or not you are willing to play the game due to those factors along. This was a very soild review as usual Alex and I am most likely not get this one but it was interesting to hear about your overall thoughts!
Thanks for the video! I think this convinced me that I do want the game, but I am going to wait for a sale. There are so many games coming out soon I am looking forward to, like Elden Ring and Triangle Strategy. So I think its probably for the best I wait anyway.
Watched the whole review, and while the game obviously has interesting aspects, you pretty much convinced me it wasn’t worth my time. There are just way too many great RPGs to get through, and it seems like it takes a long time for this to get interesting (and even then, the story/gameplay sounds a bit tedious to me). Not to mention I still need to finish Caligula 1 and 2. I hope anyone playing this enjoys it tho! Thanks for your time reviewing it!
It’s definitely a shame it didn’t turn out the way people expected it, but the genre is getting so competitive! Devs have to put their best foot forward!
I have a soft spot for these single-A titles like this. They understand their lack of budget and time, and actually complete their goals. Their previous title, Lost Dimension, accomplished this quite well, and is worth a play if you have the time. They took a lackluster tactical JRPG and added a death game element with a huge amount of paranoia and turned out a solid game. Not every game can be made by EA or Activision, and that's a great thing! My only real complaint is the price point. At $40, this would be a no brainer and easy recommend for anyone. However, that $60 price point seems a little unearned. While I know there's supposed to be a bunch a goodies included, I doubt there are $20 worth. One thing you pointed out I really liked was the use of black and white themes. I'm sure this wasn't by accident. Your Ego is the part of your mind that exists in shades of gray between your Id and your Superego. The color scheme represents this perfectly. I also how this makes your phone interface clean and easy to use. I wish my own phone looked like that! Great video. I like the subtle mention of your awesome new laptop. Good work! You earned it!
Yeah, Lost Dimension's traitor system was fantastic. Having to carefully consider who to use Vision Points on to deduce the traitor, and the sense of dread every time the judgement room opens, leads to some of the most nail-biting moments I've experienced in a while. And if you ever run out of Vision points before figuring out the traitor's identity, it's all the more nerve-wrecking. It's a prime example of a game eliciting negative emotions from the player and having it benefit the overall experience. And I actually applaud LancArse for preventing players from reloading their save files to circumvent any mistakes made along the way.
@@NintendanGX If Lost Dimension didn't have the traitor system, it would have been a boring, substandard game. Adding that in made it so good and probably didn't cost much, since it didn't require custom assets or complex design. It just goes to show how good writing and mechanics can make a game more than graphics and money.
I love that you noticed the laptop mention! I've always said that if I ever got sponsored that the way I incorporate them into videos would be organic and doesn't feel forced! I'm learning, but I'm thankful of this! The price point was a big sticking point for me as well, but I couldn't necessarily just base it off of pricing because reviews can be seen even when the price drops, which is why I went with how I framed the game in this video. Given that I try to see the best in games as much as I can, I felt it was also important to be honest about what the general consensus was, address that as part of the video, and talk about some of the points one by one. Just one of the many ways I try to think of delivering reviews to everyone!
Thank you for this. I think I'm in the minority when I say that the graphics and performance issues don't ever bother me too much if the gameplay is solid. However, still making me consider that I should pick this up for PS5 rather than Switch. Apart from losing the portability aspect, do you think that is a wise choice?
I think that's the best, especially if you don't want weird unexpected performance hitches. The performance on base PS4 is enough to give me pause whenever I try to recommend a weaker platform than a PS4 Pro.
Great question! It performs like it was on the PS4 Pro, so you get great performance as well! I should point out that the PS5 version is a free upgrade, though you're gonna have to start from scratch since there's no way to transfer saves between platforms :(
Its missing the one thing Persona and SMT games have and thats the open-esque world you get to explore and or the longer dungeons. It feels like a very lite version of both. The "dungeons" are the floors of the school, there's no social links, and the MC is pretty one dimensional. I get that it was a small team that made it, even so, they missed on some of the biggest motifs in ATLUS games. Spirit being the universal trading chip is easy to understand, especially with how rudimentary the leveling tree is, so that's fine, ultimately they failed where it really mattered.... The MC doesn't get to breathe into the world, while I do like the look and the fact that he isn't a butt monkey, I didn't want another Aiden Pierce cardboard cutout. Also the entirety of the game taking place in a school was the other major problem, Atlus knew even back then with P3, that they're gonna have to change settings to break the monotony, even if its a small shop, mall, or city block. This presents more like Digital Devil Saga, which is a fun series but nowhere near the Persona series that its trying to emulate, everything about this game definitely feels above average, but only just. 6/10.
After all the negative reviews I've seen for this game, glad to see Alex also thinks this game is very enjoyable if you have an affinity for the kind of content it offers
It's a challenging game to review given that it does have its shortcomings, but there are legitimate parts that feel really good. I'm hoping that it came across in the review!
Another great video, and a great way to start my day Alex! I know it has some issues performance wise on switch but i just prefer portability so thats the one I went for with my preorder. I’m not one who cares about performance as much anyway. Can’t wait to play. Again, great video!
Performance aside, I think it's perfect on the Switch! It's so easy to just find a non-Misty floor and get to save there! I'm so glad they didn't go with a Save Point style system!
Thanks for the review as always. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but looks like switch version is slightly better than PS4 version? Not that it matters since I only have a switch, so I will wait for a sale to pick it up :)
I didn't play through the Switch version, so I can't really fully vouch for that platform. But the base PS4 version is troublesome and problematic still!
Caligula part 3 basically. Hated Caligula due to needing to use auto battle a lot since battles were a slog. Monark had potential, but swapping characters so much feels dumb
I enjoyed the demo and cinimatics kinda gave me a persona 1 vibe and style. So i think i will definitely picm this up probably not this month because its a beast, with horizon forbidden west and elden ring. But i think i would still dig the story. Than again im pretty patient towards somewhat grindy games so i could understand how other people might get bored.
Yeah kinda has an early 2000s look to it but a little cleaner. Could just be the style and my personal opinion though. Also the fact in runs poorly on ps4 is q bit of a bummer.
Still think that this game should've went with a Caligula Effect like artstyle because the game looks ugly. Gameplay wise if you loved Lost Dimension (like me) you will like it. Will buy it whenever it goes on sale for either switch or PS5.
Great review, and it's a nice surprise to see it a whole week before the game launches, which along with the demo, should help people make a more informed decision when pre-ordering it. Since I own both a PS4 Pro and PC, I decided to go with the former option (assuming there's no weird censorship forced upon the devs by Sony). Aside from the initial hook of former SMT devs working on the game (though I can't seem to verify WHO they were, what their roles were or their overall significance on those games), what interests me the most about Monark are the Ego system, the combat that seems to iterate on Lost Dimension's gameplay quite heavily, and that it seems to be dubbed by Sentai Filmworks (as I've already recognised Brittney Karbowski and Andrew Love's voices). The Ego system in particular seems to be a fun reinterpretation of SMT's moral alignment system. While I'm not a fan of fights giving me more ego points (as it doesn't actually reflect my own psyche or morals), I was on-board with the idea of answered questions throughout the game boosting one of my seven deadly sins. It was interesting to find out my biggest sin was Envy, as it's not the most flattering of the 7 for sure, but it was a lot of fun to discover that and reflect on myself. One area modern SMT games struggle with is the ability to blur the line between good and evil (with the neutral option being the objectively-best outcome), and with Monark's villains (or at least the first villain) having more to them than their antagonistic relationship with the main characters, I hope I can find here what I couldn't from those games in some small way. The graphics are disappointing, but not quite a deal-breaker for me. I will say that I'm surprised the game can't run at 60fps on Switch, given how simplistic and undemanding the visuals are. I'm lucky that I have two alternatives to circumvent this issue, but even then, I can't help but wonder why they didn't cell-shade the game to really bring so-bin's great art direction to life in-game. Maybe they should've used Unreal Engine to accomplish this, as last year saw countless great Japanese games made with that engine, all with a distinct anime aesthetic. In a way, the underwhelming graphics do accentuate the game's other qualities, and give it this mid-tier charm. You can tell this isn't a cynically-made product, but a work the developers are genuinely passionate about, enough to bring their vision to light despite the limitations they face.
Thanks for the comment as always! I'd like to address a few of the things you mentioned, so I hope you don't take this as a clap back of sorts! First off, voice actors aren't specifically tied to a particular group or film studio. Much like other actors, they have to audition for roles and a hired production studio is responsible for their performance. For example, PCB Productions is responsible for many of Atlus and SEGA's games. And if you look at both of the actors you mentioned, they've worked with other anime publishers as well. And given that Sentai Filmworks - to my knowledge - only works on anime, it's unlikely that they produced the voices here. As far as the engine goes, Furyu is known for making games that look very much like this. Very low budget engine and asset creation in favor of getting a game out. Caligula Effect and Crystar are a good examples of Furyu games. Additionally, they do publish these games in Japan, so they are both developer and publisher. The trouble with Monark is that they brought in Lancarse, who made Etrian Odyssey and Zanki Zero. And a quick peek at either will make you realize that they do have some really good art design talent. Which begs the question of how were they used for this game? This is why I don't necessarily believe that a jump to Unreal would make their games look better, as their base design is fundamentally simple and, for all intents and purposes, low budget. I do wonder if due to the low budget, they can instead deliver a pixel art game that allows for a lower budget and still make a splash. That's something I think about with Furyu, as they seem to get overstretched by trying to deliver 3D assets that are just underwhelming at times.
@@BacklogBattle It might not be Sentai as a company, per-se, but all of the usual voice actors who dub for that company are present within this game, which is a comparatively rare occurrence to other dubbing circles (like all the high-profile LA voice actors you hear working for different anime and game dubs, or the New York actors for Sonic and 4Kids during the mid to late 2000's). I know there's a lot of crossover between Sentai and FUNimation though, both being based in Texas. And some of those actors might get an extra role here or there in places most wouldn't expect (like Andrew Love doing additional voices for Borderlands 3, or Dave Matranga playing as one of the villains from JoJo Part 5). During the late 2010's, we also had some voice actors synonimous with FUNimation, working on games that were dubbed almost exclusively by the LA actors (Collyn Clinkenbeard as Elma from Xenoblade X, Ian Cinclaire as Berkut from FE Echoes, and Jerry Jewel as the Anguished One from Devil Survivor 2). But to hear a game whose cast comprises exclusively of actors synonymous with Sentai is certainly a first. As for the visuals, I do see how the character models alone are on the simplistic side compared to other games with anime-style visuals. Even so, I think Unreal's dynamic lighting and some graphics filters could've gone a long way in helping to mask this game's limitations. Because as it stands, this might have been less jarring on a portable platform like the 3DS or VITA, but when the lowest bar set is the Switch, and when most areas are relatively small and segregated by loading screens, it is a bit baffling the game ended up looking like it does.
I played the demo and pre-ordered the game. I enjoyed the demo and the story style of it so I'm okay with my purchase. TBH I didn't know SMT releated people worked on it. I mainly got it because I like the direction and think its going to be a fun little jrpg.
And thank goodness that there’s a demo! This is one of those times that it would really help folks! I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it though!
Idk I just got it (thank god for GameFly) I played the demo but the game seems overly hard in a ridiculous way but the story seemed awesome. I have played a lot of the fire emblem games and this sadly just isn’t hitting with me it’s way to hard
I find it similar to many other tactical games where the actual positioning of your units matter a lot more than just the grind, kinda like Triangle Strategy. There are some fights that are tough, I'll give you that. But hang in there and don't give up!
I'm so torn on this one. I still haven't played the demo yet, the graphics don't bother me either way (it reminds me of the Vita, in a good way, and that makes me happy) and the combat looks like a lot of fun... but the dreary tone of the game isn't vibing with me, and I can see myself just rolling my eyes and sighing having to deal with the madness mechanic. I'll definitely give the demo a try, and hey, maybe if I see it for $15~$20 in a few years I'll pick it up. Also, giggling at you naming your character Morgan Freeman xD
I waited for this game after learning it was supposed to be released with an all star development team behind it. Then the bad reviews left me surprised, everytime I consider buying this game I read something that convinces me not to.
Just wanted to say two things, thank you for the review & for confirming the game runs well on PS5 (my copy of Monark is preordered on that platform). Glad you covered all areas of the game from story, game difficulty, the level singularities & the room puzzles mechanics.
Edit: Also, appreciate you explained the spirit leveling up system as players not in the know about how it works would get thrown off & can mess up their enjoyment.
As much as I’d love to take credit, credit has to be given to the folks at NIS America who provided me the review codes I needed to be able to do this! Without them letting me do so, I wouldn’t be able to report on that!
But I will take credit for everything else, and thank YOU for that! 😊
Top notch video as always. Was on the fence about this but think I will continue working through my backlog. Thanks Alex 👍
You’re welcome! Glad to have informed!
Glad I picked up on PS5, not sure why it can’t run smoothly on Switch. Good review as always. It’s going to go in the back log as I’m excited for Horizon
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful! What parts interested you to it?
Well… decades old engine. ( probably some engine with roots on the PS2, and I wou be surprised if it’s roots are the PhyreEngine. Like with Ys games)
I’m definitely playing on the PS5.
Why did you buy a game for full price if you didn't intend to play it right away?
@Eries Aston sometimes the act of buying thing is cathartic to people and has nothing to do with the game! I'll admit that that happened to me a decade or so ago! Wow, now I feel old!
@@BacklogBattle Shopping therapy best therapy
I'm glad you started doing the pbs opening again
I'm very glad you noticed!
This gives my massive Caligula Effect vibes, from the minimalist style, white color motif, character designs and models, battle system, down to the concept of being trapped in a high school setting. I wonder if that game's developers made this too.
Yes it is! Although Lancarse did help, who made Etrian Odyssey and Zanki Zero. Though looking at this game, I really have no clue what they worked on.
personally i have no problem with newer games looking like ps2 games. there are many ps2 games i still think look amazing and the art style makes them look better than some modern games.
kingdom hearts 1 and 2 for instance, look much better than kingdom hearts 3 to me. kh3 may have a much higher polygon count, but the art style just makes the characters look off, not nearly as good as they looked in kh2.
there are even ps1 games i think still look amazing to this day. maybe that's just a me thing but i can go back and play an old, "outdated" game for the first time, and be just as impressed with it's visuals and art style as i am when i play a new modern game for the first time.
Great review as usual. I think this one is gonna have to wait and be a budget buy.
Thank you! I’m glad to have helped you make a decision!
So glad your watched your review! I was debating whether to get this or Caligula effect 2. I’ve decided to go with this one first after playing the demo and watching your review. The story seems interesting, and I like the quizzes they give you throughout.
Good to hear! I think the quizzes are thought provoking, for sure! And I'm really glad they released a demo! That's a big deal for this game imo
Hi Alex,
My copy won't arrive for a while and I haven't had time to play much of the demo.
Looking at your combat footage, it reminds me visually a bit of another Lancarse/FuRyu collaboration: Lost Dimension.
I wonder .. ?? Is Monark possibly an evolution of that older battle system? Or is that just a visual similarity?
You’re not off the mark! Many who have played Lost Dimension have seen the very close similarities between both! Unfortunately I haven’t played it, so I can’t definitively say that it’s an evolution of said battle system, though I can tell you that it plays really well, even with grinding involved!
@@BacklogBattle Excellent, thanks. I have a liking for pretty much all the FuRyu games, so am confident with this one too. 😀
i all ready preordered it but want to hear more positive review
Great review, Alex! Thank you, I’m looking forward to playing Monark…after Elden Ring…and Horizon…
Nice! Glad to have helped you make a decision!
I have been looking forward to your review on Monark! Personally still haven't gone back to complete the demo, I think what put me off was not understanding "Madness" and "Death Calls". Ill come back around to it at some point I'm sure.
Vanitas usually has the number that will stop the Death Calls! Madness is just a timer that ticks up every time you're in the Mist! That's it!
I loved the demo and I don't regret my decision to preorder at all. It may not be for everyone but I loved the gameplay, story concept, music, and art direction. I can see it potentially being one of my personal top games of the year
Sounds like a great combination of things! I’m just shocked the game’s performance was just unacceptable on base PS4!
Time to buy me Monark rn!
That battle system is super addicting, I'll tell you that!
Isnt the game coming outon the 30 march ? I cant get it in amazon before this date, in canada.
February 22nd, so Tuesday
Thanks for another great review. Based on what you said, looks like I’ll be picking this up on the Ps5, instead of the Switch, as originally planned.
Glad to be able to confirm this for you! It's sometimes difficult to ask publishers for extra keys to test other platforms, but I had to try!
We have too many JRPG’s this year so I’ll play this one at some point. Great review as always. 👍
TOO MANY! My mind is still reeling from that Direct last week!
Going to pick this one up on the switch 👍😁 thanks
No problem! I'm glad to be of help!
So, currently this, and Conception Plus: 12 Star Maidens is on sale, which one did you enjoy more? I can't decide between these two
Conception Plus!
@@BacklogBattle Great thank you!
With Furyu games, the story and music is usually good but the graphics are always crap PS3 level graphics despite being on current gen consoles
I still need to check out the demo
Yes you do!
Thanks for the review :) I’ve watched a couple so far, and although there’s definitely mixed reactions, Im picking it up since I loved the demo. I love the psychological horror elements, but the combat was what really sold it for me. The only thing Im a bit hesitant on is the characters and the seemingly repetitious gameplay loop, but Im looking forward to seeing how the plot develops.
I think the seeming repetition of the gameplay loop was what kept me going, honestly! That’s of course in addition to the story. Sometimes the familiarity can be a good thing!
@@BacklogBattlehaha definitely, I’m pretty sure i’m going to enjoy it also. I was already grinding in the demo just for fun so I think it’s going to be right up my alley hahah
@@BacklogBattle you should do a Review of assault spy best anime spectacle fighter ever and it was done by one man
Been looking forward to this review.
I’m still on the fence. May pick up at some point. Definitely not a day one purchase for me.
At least you helped me confirm that I’ll aim to get it on PC because of performance, was contemplating getting it on Switch.
It’s a tough game to review given that it’s all based on what people may like or dislike. At least I was able to give you all as much info as I can
Great review. I unfortunately will have to play on the oled switch so ima have to deal with it lol anyways thanks I can see this as a Sleeper hit of the year. 🔥 🔥
I actually think I’ve found the potential sleeper of the year elsewhere… and it’s coming out tomorrow!
So by unlearning skills you go down in levels it sounds like if levels are based on skills unlocked, if that is the case is this one of those games where with good skill you can intentionally be "under leveled" and win via strategy or is this one of those games where the level scaling means if you aren't in the general ball park you will get curb stomped in one hit?
I know some games go for the "if you are skilled enough you can beat the entire game at level 1 but it will be extremely hard" and other games go "you need to grind or you will get one shot regardless of skill"... while most turn based games fall under the second category it varies in degrees like some games you can be 20 levels lower then you should be and have a slim chance at winning while other games if you are 5 levels to low just go home you have no shot... so just curious where this falls on that spectrum if you level is based on your unlocked skills but you can unlearn your skills thus un leveling yourself (I assume).
Dope review man, I’ve don’t think I’ve ever played a Demo that made me hate a game so much! I was hyped before 15mins in I was like, I hate this so much!
It's a rough one to get through at times, so I totally understand! That base PS4 performance though was atrocious! Inexcusable, even!
So Monarch is the definition of a double edged sword like on one hand, the ideas in play are indeed interesting but on the other hand, if you don't have a PS4 pro, ps5 and PC, then the game will run like ass on switch and PS4. It also doesn't help that the game doesn't look all that impressive when talking about visuals, voice acting to a degree and some parts of the soundtrack as well as puzzles. And then there is the slow as molasses progression of the plot with the fact that former SMT devs used to work on it will make people feel cheated if all of that is not up to snuff. However, the combat itself is pretty interesting, the vocals for bosses are dope and the game has multiple endings so it does all depend on whether or not you are willing to play the game due to those factors along. This was a very soild review as usual Alex and I am most likely not get this one but it was interesting to hear about your overall thoughts!
I always appreciate your comments, and thank you for soaking in all this info! It's A LOT for a 14 minute video!
Thanks for the video! I think this convinced me that I do want the game, but I am going to wait for a sale. There are so many games coming out soon I am looking forward to, like Elden Ring and Triangle Strategy. So I think its probably for the best I wait anyway.
This is such a packed week in games, and we're not even in the thick of it yet!
Watched the whole review, and while the game obviously has interesting aspects, you pretty much convinced me it wasn’t worth my time. There are just way too many great RPGs to get through, and it seems like it takes a long time for this to get interesting (and even then, the story/gameplay sounds a bit tedious to me). Not to mention I still need to finish Caligula 1 and 2. I hope anyone playing this enjoys it tho! Thanks for your time reviewing it!
It’s definitely a shame it didn’t turn out the way people expected it, but the genre is getting so competitive! Devs have to put their best foot forward!
I have a soft spot for these single-A titles like this. They understand their lack of budget and time, and actually complete their goals. Their previous title, Lost Dimension, accomplished this quite well, and is worth a play if you have the time. They took a lackluster tactical JRPG and added a death game element with a huge amount of paranoia and turned out a solid game. Not every game can be made by EA or Activision, and that's a great thing! My only real complaint is the price point. At $40, this would be a no brainer and easy recommend for anyone. However, that $60 price point seems a little unearned. While I know there's supposed to be a bunch a goodies included, I doubt there are $20 worth.
One thing you pointed out I really liked was the use of black and white themes. I'm sure this wasn't by accident. Your Ego is the part of your mind that exists in shades of gray between your Id and your Superego. The color scheme represents this perfectly. I also how this makes your phone interface clean and easy to use. I wish my own phone looked like that!
Great video. I like the subtle mention of your awesome new laptop. Good work! You earned it!
Yeah, Lost Dimension's traitor system was fantastic. Having to carefully consider who to use Vision Points on to deduce the traitor, and the sense of dread every time the judgement room opens, leads to some of the most nail-biting moments I've experienced in a while. And if you ever run out of Vision points before figuring out the traitor's identity, it's all the more nerve-wrecking.
It's a prime example of a game eliciting negative emotions from the player and having it benefit the overall experience. And I actually applaud LancArse for preventing players from reloading their save files to circumvent any mistakes made along the way.
@@NintendanGX If Lost Dimension didn't have the traitor system, it would have been a boring, substandard game. Adding that in made it so good and probably didn't cost much, since it didn't require custom assets or complex design. It just goes to show how good writing and mechanics can make a game more than graphics and money.
I love that you noticed the laptop mention! I've always said that if I ever got sponsored that the way I incorporate them into videos would be organic and doesn't feel forced! I'm learning, but I'm thankful of this!
The price point was a big sticking point for me as well, but I couldn't necessarily just base it off of pricing because reviews can be seen even when the price drops, which is why I went with how I framed the game in this video. Given that I try to see the best in games as much as I can, I felt it was also important to be honest about what the general consensus was, address that as part of the video, and talk about some of the points one by one. Just one of the many ways I try to think of delivering reviews to everyone!
The reason that i want to play this game is OST because it sung by V.W.P
I think they're the best part of the soundtrack!
Thank you for this. I think I'm in the minority when I say that the graphics and performance issues don't ever bother me too much if the gameplay is solid. However, still making me consider that I should pick this up for PS5 rather than Switch. Apart from losing the portability aspect, do you think that is a wise choice?
I think that's the best, especially if you don't want weird unexpected performance hitches. The performance on base PS4 is enough to give me pause whenever I try to recommend a weaker platform than a PS4 Pro.
how does the ps4 copy perform on the ps5?
Great question! It performs like it was on the PS4 Pro, so you get great performance as well! I should point out that the PS5 version is a free upgrade, though you're gonna have to start from scratch since there's no way to transfer saves between platforms :(
@@BacklogBattle thanks. Reason ibask is because i prefer the ps4 controller still.
Understandable!
Its missing the one thing Persona and SMT games have and thats the open-esque world you get to explore and or the longer dungeons. It feels like a very lite version of both. The "dungeons" are the floors of the school, there's no social links, and the MC is pretty one dimensional. I get that it was a small team that made it, even so, they missed on some of the biggest motifs in ATLUS games. Spirit being the universal trading chip is easy to understand, especially with how rudimentary the leveling tree is, so that's fine, ultimately they failed where it really mattered....
The MC doesn't get to breathe into the world, while I do like the look and the fact that he isn't a butt monkey, I didn't want another Aiden Pierce cardboard cutout. Also the entirety of the game taking place in a school was the other major problem, Atlus knew even back then with P3, that they're gonna have to change settings to break the monotony, even if its a small shop, mall, or city block.
This presents more like Digital Devil Saga, which is a fun series but nowhere near the Persona series that its trying to emulate, everything about this game definitely feels above average, but only just. 6/10.
Sad to hear it runs iffy on Switch! Been really loving playing rpgs on the go! Definitely have to pick it up on ps5 now!
I wish I could've played more on the Switch, but I think PS5 is the way to go!
Does this game run at 60fps on the base ps4?
I don’t think so
I dont know why I keep giving Furyu a chance. Caligula Effect 1, 2 and now Monark have all be hot garbage.
After all the negative reviews I've seen for this game, glad to see Alex also thinks this game is very enjoyable if you have an affinity for the kind of content it offers
It's a challenging game to review given that it does have its shortcomings, but there are legitimate parts that feel really good. I'm hoping that it came across in the review!
Another great video, and a great way to start my day Alex! I know it has some issues performance wise on switch but i just prefer portability so thats the one I went for with my preorder. I’m not one who cares about performance as much anyway. Can’t wait to play. Again, great video!
Performance aside, I think it's perfect on the Switch! It's so easy to just find a non-Misty floor and get to save there! I'm so glad they didn't go with a Save Point style system!
honestly as a pc user i'll play any jrpg we can get, since we barely get any, aside from... yknow... r18 ones
There's more coming! Atelier Sophie 2 comes out the same week, which looks great!
Thanks for the review as always. Maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but looks like switch version is slightly better than PS4 version? Not that it matters since I only have a switch, so I will wait for a sale to pick it up :)
I didn't play through the Switch version, so I can't really fully vouch for that platform. But the base PS4 version is troublesome and problematic still!
Caligula part 3 basically. Hated Caligula due to needing to use auto battle a lot since battles were a slog.
Monark had potential, but swapping characters so much feels dumb
I enjoyed the demo and cinimatics kinda gave me a persona 1 vibe and style. So i think i will definitely picm this up probably not this month because its a beast, with horizon forbidden west and elden ring. But i think i would still dig the story. Than again im pretty patient towards somewhat grindy games so i could understand how other people might get bored.
I actually didn't get bored with grinding at all! If anything, I just wished the game looked better!
Yeah kinda has an early 2000s look to it but a little cleaner. Could just be the style and my personal opinion though. Also the fact in runs poorly on ps4 is q bit of a bummer.
Still think that this game should've went with a Caligula Effect like artstyle because the game looks ugly. Gameplay wise if you loved Lost Dimension (like me) you will like it.
Will buy it whenever it goes on sale for either switch or PS5.
It sure isn’t a looker! And yea, I agree that the combat is pretty good.
Great review, and it's a nice surprise to see it a whole week before the game launches, which along with the demo, should help people make a more informed decision when pre-ordering it. Since I own both a PS4 Pro and PC, I decided to go with the former option (assuming there's no weird censorship forced upon the devs by Sony).
Aside from the initial hook of former SMT devs working on the game (though I can't seem to verify WHO they were, what their roles were or their overall significance on those games), what interests me the most about Monark are the Ego system, the combat that seems to iterate on Lost Dimension's gameplay quite heavily, and that it seems to be dubbed by Sentai Filmworks (as I've already recognised Brittney Karbowski and Andrew Love's voices).
The Ego system in particular seems to be a fun reinterpretation of SMT's moral alignment system. While I'm not a fan of fights giving me more ego points (as it doesn't actually reflect my own psyche or morals), I was on-board with the idea of answered questions throughout the game boosting one of my seven deadly sins. It was interesting to find out my biggest sin was Envy, as it's not the most flattering of the 7 for sure, but it was a lot of fun to discover that and reflect on myself. One area modern SMT games struggle with is the ability to blur the line between good and evil (with the neutral option being the objectively-best outcome), and with Monark's villains (or at least the first villain) having more to them than their antagonistic relationship with the main characters, I hope I can find here what I couldn't from those games in some small way.
The graphics are disappointing, but not quite a deal-breaker for me. I will say that I'm surprised the game can't run at 60fps on Switch, given how simplistic and undemanding the visuals are. I'm lucky that I have two alternatives to circumvent this issue, but even then, I can't help but wonder why they didn't cell-shade the game to really bring so-bin's great art direction to life in-game. Maybe they should've used Unreal Engine to accomplish this, as last year saw countless great Japanese games made with that engine, all with a distinct anime aesthetic.
In a way, the underwhelming graphics do accentuate the game's other qualities, and give it this mid-tier charm. You can tell this isn't a cynically-made product, but a work the developers are genuinely passionate about, enough to bring their vision to light despite the limitations they face.
Thanks for the comment as always! I'd like to address a few of the things you mentioned, so I hope you don't take this as a clap back of sorts!
First off, voice actors aren't specifically tied to a particular group or film studio. Much like other actors, they have to audition for roles and a hired production studio is responsible for their performance. For example, PCB Productions is responsible for many of Atlus and SEGA's games. And if you look at both of the actors you mentioned, they've worked with other anime publishers as well. And given that Sentai Filmworks - to my knowledge - only works on anime, it's unlikely that they produced the voices here.
As far as the engine goes, Furyu is known for making games that look very much like this. Very low budget engine and asset creation in favor of getting a game out. Caligula Effect and Crystar are a good examples of Furyu games. Additionally, they do publish these games in Japan, so they are both developer and publisher. The trouble with Monark is that they brought in Lancarse, who made Etrian Odyssey and Zanki Zero. And a quick peek at either will make you realize that they do have some really good art design talent. Which begs the question of how were they used for this game? This is why I don't necessarily believe that a jump to Unreal would make their games look better, as their base design is fundamentally simple and, for all intents and purposes, low budget.
I do wonder if due to the low budget, they can instead deliver a pixel art game that allows for a lower budget and still make a splash. That's something I think about with Furyu, as they seem to get overstretched by trying to deliver 3D assets that are just underwhelming at times.
@@BacklogBattle It might not be Sentai as a company, per-se, but all of the usual voice actors who dub for that company are present within this game, which is a comparatively rare occurrence to other dubbing circles (like all the high-profile LA voice actors you hear working for different anime and game dubs, or the New York actors for Sonic and 4Kids during the mid to late 2000's).
I know there's a lot of crossover between Sentai and FUNimation though, both being based in Texas. And some of those actors might get an extra role here or there in places most wouldn't expect (like Andrew Love doing additional voices for Borderlands 3, or Dave Matranga playing as one of the villains from JoJo Part 5). During the late 2010's, we also had some voice actors synonimous with FUNimation, working on games that were dubbed almost exclusively by the LA actors (Collyn Clinkenbeard as Elma from Xenoblade X, Ian Cinclaire as Berkut from FE Echoes, and Jerry Jewel as the Anguished One from Devil Survivor 2). But to hear a game whose cast comprises exclusively of actors synonymous with Sentai is certainly a first.
As for the visuals, I do see how the character models alone are on the simplistic side compared to other games with anime-style visuals. Even so, I think Unreal's dynamic lighting and some graphics filters could've gone a long way in helping to mask this game's limitations. Because as it stands, this might have been less jarring on a portable platform like the 3DS or VITA, but when the lowest bar set is the Switch, and when most areas are relatively small and segregated by loading screens, it is a bit baffling the game ended up looking like it does.
I played the demo and pre-ordered the game. I enjoyed the demo and the story style of it so I'm okay with my purchase. TBH I didn't know SMT releated people worked on it. I mainly got it because I like the direction and think its going to be a fun little jrpg.
And thank goodness that there’s a demo! This is one of those times that it would really help folks! I am looking forward to seeing what you think of it though!
Damn I bought this for my switch OLED…… oh well I’ll deal w it.
I preordered it on switch, hopefully it gets a patch for the frame rate :(
I’m hoping the frame rate doesn’t get as bad as base PS4
Hate it when I wake up randomly in a Japanese high school. Happens at least once a week sadly…
The battle system plays a lot like lost dimension.
Idk I just got it (thank god for GameFly) I played the demo but the game seems overly hard in a ridiculous way but the story seemed awesome. I have played a lot of the fire emblem games and this sadly just isn’t hitting with me it’s way to hard
I find it similar to many other tactical games where the actual positioning of your units matter a lot more than just the grind, kinda like Triangle Strategy. There are some fights that are tough, I'll give you that. But hang in there and don't give up!
I'm so torn on this one. I still haven't played the demo yet, the graphics don't bother me either way (it reminds me of the Vita, in a good way, and that makes me happy) and the combat looks like a lot of fun... but the dreary tone of the game isn't vibing with me, and I can see myself just rolling my eyes and sighing having to deal with the madness mechanic.
I'll definitely give the demo a try, and hey, maybe if I see it for $15~$20 in a few years I'll pick it up.
Also, giggling at you naming your character Morgan Freeman xD
Nice catch on the name! Definitely give the demo a shot!
I waited for this game after learning it was supposed to be released with an all star development team behind it. Then the bad reviews left me surprised, everytime I consider buying this game I read something that convinces me not to.
I do not like Monark's gameplay and to me gameplay matters more than graphics, story and music