| 33bits |
Euyen Esquefa Pons |
85 / 100 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a must for the fan of good science fiction stories. Point. A good plot, with some great twists, spiced up with charismatic and well-defined characters spice up a mix of visual novel with tactical strategy that works. Perhaps more use of ramifications to add replayability and a greater variety of objectives in battles would have turned a practically outstanding game into a masterpiece. Still, its 30-hour duration will make you not regret your purchase. |
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| Atomix |
Alberto Desfassiaux |
95 / 100 |
10-02-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim it’s a new master piece from Vanillaware, creators of Odin Sphear and Dragon’s Crown. An epic adventure and one of the best games of this 2020. |
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| Attack of the Fanboy |
Dean James |
4.5 / 5 stars |
09-15-2020 |
While looking perhaps a bit too ambitious on the surface with two distinctly different gameplay elements, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a captivating sci-fi adventure set across multiple periods of time. There is no question that the game will have people very confused during the first few hours, but the split story really starts to come together and is well worth playing through to unravel the ongoing mysteries found throughout. |
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| But Why Tho? |
Jason Dale |
9 / 10 |
09-28-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a wonderful blend of some of the most classic elements in gaming and storytelling alike. Vanillaware masterfully embodies the high notes of JRPG storylines and couples it with a sci fi story that would appeal to any fan of the sci fi genre. The tactical shooter and RTS gameplay left some to be desired, however it is still an engaging combat system that does not feel totally out of place. |
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| Checkpoint Gaming |
Edie W-K |
9 / 10 |
09-16-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an amazing experience, and not just for Sci-fi or Mecha fans. Its unique combination of genres is refreshing and exciting, and its art style is the most gorgeous thing I’ve seen all year. The combat doesn’t quite match the majesty of the rest of the game, but it’s more than good enough to see the player through. It’s definitely worth it to see the ending which, while complex and difficult to fully understand, is a masterpiece. |
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| Chicas Gamers |
Álvaro Bustío |
Recommended |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has a great story, great characters and is a masterpiece, especially on an artistic level, that will provide you with about 30 hours of gameplay. If you liked previous games of Vanillaware, especially Odin’s Sphere in terms of narrative, without a doubt this game will make you enjoy a lot. |
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| COGconnected |
James Paley |
85 / 100 |
09-15-2020 |
If you can absorb the narrative, and see past the strange battle sections, you’ll be left with a rich, beautiful, compelling game you can scarcely put down. |
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| Cubed3 |
Sandy Kirchner-Wilson |
8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
It’s great to have a new Vanillaware title on PS4. The bleak future presented with a writhing tangling plot makes for an excellent setting, showing that the team isn’t just a one-trick pony. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is hampered by a slightly tedious battle system but, luckily, the adventure and story scenes are excellent and easily elevate this to greatness. An excellent, unique, niche title that is absolutely recommended to fans of Vanillaware and those who like things to be a certain flavour of Japanese. |
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| Cultured Vultures |
Ryan Stevens |
8 / 10 |
09-18-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an odd hybrid, but it knows exactly what it wants to be and pursues that goal with confidence and style. |
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| DASHGAMER.com |
Ewen Hosie |
9 / 10 |
09-18-2020 |
With great combat, fun plot twists, and ambitious worldbuilding, 13 Sentinels coalesces into an experience destined to become a cult classic. |
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| Destructoid |
CJ Andriessen |
8.5 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
Had Vanillaware crafted a title where the story and the action wove into one another flawlessly, we’d be looking at the greatest game the developer has ever made, without question. Unfortunately, that’s not what this game is, and while what is here is great, it’s crushing to see just how close 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim came to perfection. |
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| Digital Chumps |
Ben Sheene |
9 / 10 |
08-30-2019 |
The sprawling, complex sci-fi epic of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of Vanillaware’s best games to date, despite the passable RTS combat that can’t compare to its brilliantly interconnected narrative. |
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| Digitally Downloaded |
Matt Sainsbury |
5 / 5 stars |
09-16-2020 |
What I can say, however, is that this game stands proudly with the likes of NieR Automata, Persona 4 and Danganronpa as something truly intelligent and meaningful. Without ever losing sight of its need to entertain players, 13 Sentinels intellectually engages with and challenges them, respecting their ability and willingness to engage with the game on that level. |
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| Easy Allies |
Ben Moore |
4.5 / 5 stars |
09-26-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim presents an intensely gripping narrative told with stunning visuals. |
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| EGM |
Mollie L Patterson |
Recommended |
09-24-2020 |
Still, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a project on a level of scope and ambition that Vanillaware was crazy to try to pull off. While the team continually pushes the complexity of the story to the breaking point all of the way through, there’s something oddly satisfying about a game that always feels like it should be falling apart yet never does. And, when you brush aside all of the narrative craziness, there are thirteen personal stories that at times can have a surprising level of emotional depth. |
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| Eurogamer |
Malindy Hetfeld |
Recommended |
09-15-2020 |
Enigmatic and unapologetic even in the face of its most absurd ideas, this is sometimes messy, sometimes boring, but always astounding. |
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| FingerGuns |
Toby Andersen |
9 / 10 |
09-17-2020 |
13 Sentinels is the deepest of narrative experiments, with none of the form of a normal RPG, and a visceral and addictive strategic mech battler. It channels everything good about Japanese mech anime and games from the last 40 years into something beautiful, timeless and incredibly niche. A real contender for RPG of the year. |
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| Game Informer |
Joe Juba |
8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
Even with lackluster battles, the constantly escalating stakes and evolving story pulled me in |
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| Game Revolution |
Jason Faulkner |
4.5 / 5 stars |
09-25-2020 |
In a year where new consoles are dropping, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is at risk of falling off the radar. I hope that players avoid that pitfall because this game is something special. It’s unique art and gameplay make it an unexpected treat, and it’s got the makings of an instant cult classic. |
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| Gameblog |
Thomas Pillon |
8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels : Aegis Rim dives us into a complex story, mixing heroes, periods of time and themes to deliver a love letter to japanese science fiction. Curiously, the game is strictly divided between phases, switching from narrative story-driven thumbnails to minimalist strategy fights, delivering a strange but satisfying experience for every Japan lover and 2D aesthete. |
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| GameCrate |
Angelo D’Argenio |
8.8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a fantastic game that will appeal to a very specific slice of the strategy gamer fanbase. If there is even a chance that you are in that slice, then I suggest you check it out. |
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| GameMAG |
Semyon Strandov |
8 / 10 |
09-23-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a really strange case, but in a good way. It’s outstandingly beautiful, engrossing the player with some great narrative, telling a story about love, friendship and giant mechs. But the overal stucture of the game often exist in an unplesant dissonance, and it’s hard to ingnore that the tactical battles can’t provide any real gameplay challenge. If you can live with all of that, you should defenetly try Vanillaware’s newest project. If only for the chance to unravel intriguing mystery of a talking cat. |
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| Gamer Escape |
Josh McGrath |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
Even with these issues, though, 13 Sentinels is an absolute must play, especially for those seeking a good narrative in gaming. This is the kind of story that’s going to stick in my mind for weeks to come, and easily stands up with some of the best stories I’ve experienced in any medium. |
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| GameSkinny |
Joshua Broadwell |
10 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim mixes smart design with superb storytelling, then slathers the whole package in gorgeous style. |
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| GameSpot |
Heidi Kemps |
9 / 10 |
09-18-2020 |
13 Sentinels stumbles a bit when it comes to combat, but the story it tells is absolutely superb. |
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| GamingBolt |
Pramath |
9 / 10 |
09-28-2020 |
Bold, ambitious, and stirringly unique, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is shockingly excellent, and a game that demands that you immerse yourself fully in it, in return for a rich experience quite unlike anything else on the market. |
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| GamingTrend |
David Flynn |
90 / 100 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a very unique experience, even in the realm of video games. It’s gameplay systems gel well together and the non-linear storytelling could only work in this medium. While some plot points aren’t as well explored as others and it uncomfortably sexualizes high school students, it’s still a game you absolutely need to play if you’re a fan of science fiction or enjoy video game storytelling. |
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| Geeks Under Grace |
Johnathan Floyd |
9 / 10 |
10-28-2020 |
This RPG values your time, does complicated sci-fi storytelling right, and just may usher in a new style of how RPG’s play. |
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| God is a Geek |
Lyle Carr |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an incredible feat of narrative engineering everyone should experience, made all the more appealing by it’s gorgeous art and enjoyable, deep strategy gameplay. |
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| GotGame |
David Poole |
9.5 / 10 |
10-21-2020 |
If you’re a fan of science fiction stories, anime, or strategy games, you won’t want to sleep on this one. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a truly masterful accomplishment in the genre and deserves to be recognized. |
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| Hardcore Gamer |
Fran Soto |
4 / 5 stars |
09-28-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an action-packed mech epic for the ages. |
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| Hobby Consolas |
Alberto Lloret |
80 / 100 |
09-15-2020 |
Vanillaware keeps being faithful to its own style, and now surprises us with a different adventure, 2/3 visual novel, 1/3 strategic combat game, but with a flawless visual style, a solid sci-fi plot and strategic combats with a nice touch. Maybe 13 Sentinels it’s not for everybody, but if you have a taste for different dishes, you will love it. |
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| IGN |
Matt T.M. Kim |
8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
On 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Vanillaware flexes some serious storytelling chops to go along with its visual flair. |
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| IGN Italy |
Marco Esposto |
8.2 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
A great narrative game, with good art style. The battle mechanics are simple, the game core is clearly the narrative. |
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| IGN Spain |
Álex Pareja |
8.5 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of the most interesting and originals Japanese games of 2020. Vanillaware brings something different thanks to the original way of making the player interact with the narration. |
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| Just Push Start |
Mark Fajardo |
3.75 / 5 stars |
09-19-2020 |
For the most part, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an amazing looking game that tells a rather interesting story. It follows an interesting arc that unfortunately will lead to a rather easy to figure out a conclusion. Gameplay relies largely on point to click elements and a rather fundamental strategy RPG, which might be a dealbreaker for some, but it is worth it if you like anime/manga series like this. It might not be perfect but the fundamental elements are there to make it interesting enough to, if nothing else, give it a serious look. |
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| KeenGamer |
Brittni Finley |
8 / 10 |
10-02-2020 |
Masquerading as a simple visual novel hides one of the most groundbreaking stories 2020 has to offer. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim may not be the upcoming open-world action title we’re all waiting patiently for, but it certainly deserves a spot on your list for its complex interweaving of a character-driven plot into 80s sci-fi. |
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| Metro GameCentral |
GameCentral |
7 / 10 |
09-22-2020 |
Not at all what you’d expect from the makers of Dragon’s Crown, but as well as the expectedly beautiful artwork this has some of the most engaging high school melodrama this side of Persona. |
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| Niche Gamer |
Fingal Belmont |
8 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is absolutely a must-play for fans of story-driven adventure games. This one especially has some legs to it; getting immersed in the mystery is easy to do thanks to the writing, and beautiful art and animation. |
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| Noisy Pixel |
Azario Lopez |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim makes its mark on the adventure genre by expertly telling a story through 13 protagonists. The time-traveling segments don’t leave the player in the dark as it pieces together everything using a unique adventure-based system. This game has a story to tell, and it rolls it out perfectly; the added strategic battle-system only makes it clear what this group is up against and what’s at stake if they lose. |
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| PlayStation LifeStyle |
Annette Polis |
10 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
You know a game has consumed your life when it seeps into your dreams. That’s exactly what happened to me. I’m seeing Triangles floating atop heads and planning strategy in my sleep. Not the worst way to sleep but also not the most relaxing. I’m craving yakisoba pan all the time. No other games exist while you’re playing 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Don’t even bother trying to play anything else. Your brain simply won’t let you. |
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| PlayStation Universe |
John-Paul Jones |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
An accomplished mixture of sophisticated story sci-fi story beats, off the wall absurdity and satisfying tactical battles, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a rare sort of genre crossover that ends up being far more than the sum of its parts. Vanillaware’s latest is simply unmissable. |
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| PowerUp! |
Greg Newbegin |
7.5 / 10 |
09-18-2020 |
The story is great, and the strategy gameplay is both satisfying and enjoyable |
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| PSX Brasil |
Thiago de Alencar Moura |
95 / 100 |
11-02-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is one of the best narrative experiences of the year and a fantastic sci-fi tale that will please all fans of giant robots. Although the combat leaves a little to be desired, it does enough to take nothing away from the spectacular artistic style and the story being told. |
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| Push Square |
Robert Ramsey |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a phenomenal visual novel |
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| Reno Gazette-Journal |
Jason Hidalgo |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
Just when you think you know the answers, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim changes the questions as you’re left guessing with how its sci-fi mystery unfolds. Admittedly, the game’s non-traditional narrative approach can be confusing and its reliance on popular science fiction themes can also make it feel derivative at first. Stick with it, however, and you just might find an unexpected treat. Add some fun giant robot tactical combat to the mix and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim actually lets you have your peach tart and eat it, too. |
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| Rice Digital |
Isaac Todd |
4 / 5 stars |
09-16-2020 |
While the RTS sections might drag things down a little, 13 Sentinels is still a fantastic story driven game that offers up a unique experience. It’s not quite the game that I thought it would be, though in some ways that didn’t turn out to be a bad thing. The future is looking bright for Vanillaware, and I hope that their next game goes all-in on the adventure elements, without anything else getting in the way. |
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| RPGamer |
Alex Fuller |
4.5 / 5 stars |
09-15-2020 |
The game is absolutely one of this year’s standout RPGs, and it’s particularly refreshing to see that in something that brings both unique combat and storytelling to the table. Vanillaware has outdone itself here. |
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| Saudi Gamer |
عصام الشهوان |
8 / 10 |
09-27-2020 |
A beautiful and ambitious rich experience, one that could carry a wole anime franchise on its own. The story is not without its fault, but few games even attempt what this game has managed to achieve. |
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| Sirus Gaming |
Jarren Navarrete |
6 / 10 |
09-29-2020 |
If you’re willing to overlook its shortcomings, then 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim is definitely for you. There is definitely some questionable taste in gameplay and visual representation that I feel holds the game back, but it’s not a bad game in general. Atlus has always been great at storytelling. If you’re interested in their works, then I’d recommend you try out Persona 5 Royal and Catherine Full Body right after this one. |
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| SomHráč.sk |
Karel Šír |
90 / 100 |
10-24-2020 |
If you’re looking for a quality sci-fi story, you won’t regret picking 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim up. |
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| SpazioGames |
Gianluca Arena |
8.7 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels is an absolute must have for the visual novel lovers, and the hybridization with a RTS souls adds depth to a well written (and told) experience. |
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| TechRaptor |
Andrew Stretch |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim pairs together a sci-fi anime storyline told from 13 different perspectives about giant Mech battles and time travel, with arcade strategy combat as you seek to protect your city. While convoluted at times 13 Sentinels delivers an incredible story. |
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| The Games Machine |
Daniele Cucchiarelli |
8.8 / 10 |
09-17-2020 |
Aegis Rim is another small, but at the same time impressive masterpiece from Vanillaware that delivers an engaging story through an incredible visual style and an enjoyable narrative-strategic hybrid. This will be remembered as one of 2020’s best PlayStation 4 exclusives. |
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| The Outerhaven Productions |
Henry Buehler |
4 / 5 stars |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a narrative that’s familiar, dense, mysterious, and groundbreaking. While it’s strategy RPG combat could use more depth, it’s story encapsulates the appeal of video games. |
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| TheSixthAxis |
Miguel Moran |
9 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a must-play for fans of Japanese sci-fi adventures. Mixing the strengths of Vanillaware’s art with time-travel adventures is a recipe for huge success. A story ambitious enough to have thirteen different protagonists seems bound for failure, yet the game manages to make each story not only incredibly impactful on its own, but adds up to a bigger, brighter and utterly unforgettable narrative. The addictive tactical gameplay that strings these story scenes together, despite a strange artstyle, is just icing on the already massive and delicious cake. |
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| ThisGenGaming |
Justin Oneil |
9.5 / 10 |
09-16-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim manages to not only tell one character’s story well but thirteen of them. It takes its time to get going but once it did, I found myself wanting to just keep going to see what was going to happen next with these characters. I also think this is not only the best game visually that Vanillaware has done but one of the best-looking games period. |
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| TrueGaming |
محمد البسيمي |
8 / 10 |
09-28-2020 |
This game will give you a thrilling 35 hours of playtime divided between a great Science Fiction story packed with many electrifying plot points and a fun tactical combat system. If this is the kind of game that is right up your alley, you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out. |
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| Twinfinite |
Zhiqing Wan |
4 / 5 stars |
09-16-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim isn’t going to blow your mind with a smart story that pushes the tired boundaries of the science fiction genre. What it does offer instead is a jawdroppingly beautiful visual novel experience, intercut with satisfyingly fun gameplay sections where you get to rip apart a bunch of monsters with huge mechs. |
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| USgamer |
Caty McCarthy |
4 / 5 stars |
09-15-2020 |
Beat by beat, you’ve seen elements of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim’s plot elsewhere before, but you’ve probably never played anything quite like it. How 13 Sentinels strings its complex narrative together is nothing short of astonishing. It operates like a great melodramatic sci-fi TV show, only reworked and shuffled into an interactive format, and it takes full advantage of it. And for that, even with weak RTS battles complementing it all, it’s an easy recommendation. |
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| VGChartz |
Thomas Froehlicher |
8 / 10 |
09-04-2020 |
13 Sentinels Aegis Rim combines a truly amazing narrative, unique esthetics, and an addictive battle system to produce a one-of-a-kind experience that JRPG and visual novels fans alike should definitely enjoy. |
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| Video Chums |
A.J. Maciejewski |
7 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is certainly not a game for everyone. If you love story-heavy experiences and relish details that others may find dull then you’ll wholeheartedly embrace it. At the same time, those looking for rewarding strategy combat will likely be disappointed. |
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| Wccftech |
Kai Powell |
8.6 / 10 |
09-15-2020 |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a riveting tale of high school students, the giant robotic Sentinels they pilot, and a battle against invading kaiju across multiple timelines. This Kamitani-directed JRPG would have been a better read without the cumbersome addition of combat to distract from the plot. |
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| Worth Playing |
Chris “Atom” DeAngelus |
8.5 / 10 |
09-23-2020 |
While the presentation of the story and combat in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim takes some time to get used to, I was deeply engaged with the characters and plot. The bulk of my complaints boil down to wishing the combat looked better and not loving some of the reveals, neither of which detracted from the rest of my experience with the game. As long as you approach the title as a visual novel with some light strategy rather than a strategy game with some light story, you’ll find a lot to like. It’s an easy recommend for fans of Virtue’s Last Reward or Steins;Gate or those who have enjoyed previous Vanillaware offerings. |
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