Fate/Samurai Remnant forgoes the deluge of sword fodder typical with most Musou games, offering a relatively dense experience with a narrative that will attract Fate veterans and hopefully not isolate newcomers.
Fate/Samurai Remnant has a pedigree that I am completely unaware of.
Often a blind approach can be the best one when reviewing games in a long-running series. The Fate series has been circulating since 2004 with various forms of media including manga, games, CD dramas, and even a stage play. Scanning through the dozens-long list I recognized a handful of names that had passed through my periphery at one point or another. Suffice it to say, Fate/Samurai Remnant has a history.
Yet a good or even terrible game should transcend all this extraneous, weaving narrative and history to carve out its own identity. From what I would have to assume, Samurai Remnant would probably be an instant purchase for hardcore Fate fans who want another way to become wrapped up in the series. Despite having my head to the ground on most game releases, this one passed me by because I simply had no connection to the name. In this busy season, it’s impossible for Samurai Remnant to compete with blockbuster games. But it’s also not trying to.
I got my start reviewing niche Japanese games from NIS and Idea Factory. Soon Disgaea 7 is coming out! And there’s still those wacky Hyperdimension Neptunia games churning out new entries. Those publishers cater to a specific audience who crave these titles, always dancing on the edge of further relevance. At one point, this stuff was my bread and butter. The industry needs these games because they are fun, experimental, and always try to be different.
Fate/Samurai Remnant is another of those games that exudes style, heart, and ideas, splashing around in a big ocean. It is laser-focused on telling a specific story and delivering unique gameplay that will win you over if you just give it the time and room in your life.
Samurai Remnant, like other Fate media, revolves around the Holy Grail War. This event pits Masters and their summoned Servants against other Master/Servant groups so the last one standing can claim the wish-granting “Holy Grail”.
In this game, players find themselves in Japan’s Edo era in the year 1651. Miyamoto Iori has unintentionally summoned Saber using a red mark on his hand after an assault by two powerful figures. Iori and Saber engage with these two assailants, with Saber using a magical attack that accidentally devastates a chunk of Iori’s village.
Much like Iori, players are a vessel for knowledge of this world to be poured into. The game begins with him completely unaware of the series’ premise and over time those gaps in knowledge are filled. Iori has inadvertently found himself in the midst of the Waxing Moon Ritual, in which 7 pairs of Masters and Servants will fight to the death, with the final pair able to have a wish granted.
The dynamic between Iori and Saber does a lot of heavy lifting for the first few chapters of Samurai Remnant. As players and Iori become acclimated to the world, they must also do the same with Saber. Iori is primarily a sellsword, capable of great swordsmanship but using those skills for odd jobs just to get by. Kind and seeking to protect his adopted family and village, Iori is an initial stark contrast to Saber. As a Servant, Saber is a manifestation of a legendary warrior who died in combat but has been brought back for the purposes of the Waxing Moon Ritual. Her curiosity about this new period of Japan smooths the edges of her “no nonsense” approach to besting the other Master/Servant teams.
One of the strengths of Samurai Remnant is the bond between Iori and Saber. Their dynamic takes many turns but it is always Saber’s curiosity about the world and bluntness that evokes warm feelings and laughter. Much of the narrative is heavy as the Ritual brings out the worst in many, including copious amounts of bloodshed. But the dialog and story never dwell into self-serious territory that strips the game of humanity.
However, I suspect that many will find the narrative to be quite dense and at times strangely paced. Samurai Remnant offers multiple journals for players to access information about game’s copious characters and story beats. It may not be as rich as Final Fantasy 16‘s Active Time Lore but it thankfully clues players in when they get lost. This is especially helpful as Iori and Saber form alliances with other Masters and Servants. Obviously there is more at play during the Waxing Moon Ritual and its influence over Japan.
I found that the early five or so hours of Samurai Remnant were quite daunting. It isn’t that cutscenes weren’t ripe with action and there wasn’t a lack of things to do. Simply put, a lot of gameplay systems are trickled out to the player constantly throughout, often broken up by protracted cutscenes.
Plenty of times I was thrown into a fight or exploration scenario and then granted a new skill or activity, only to have the action broken up by chunks of dialog. This can create a conflict for players simply wishing to engage with the narrative and gameplay in a synergistic, cohesive way. Thankfully, Samurai Remnant takes off the leash after a certain point, giving players the opportunity to tackle side quests, make the most of crafting, and simply beat the shit out of enemies.
Developed by Omega Force, players may expect a typical Dynasty Warriors “Musou” experience. Don’t get me wrong, there are multiple occasions where Iori fights a constant stream of several enemies at once but it’s slightly less chaotic than expected.
Iori comes equipped with multiple fighting styles, starting with Water and Earth. His Earth style is meant for slower, single target attacks while Water style hits more enemies faster but with less damage. Players have multiple combo attacks in each style that offer flashy, devastating moves meant to sweep an area with sword slashes. Doing damage with a particular style for an extended period of time casts an afterglow on Iori that grants temporary bonuses when switching to a different style.
Players can also build up various gauges in combat that unlock special moves and spells, many used by Saber as she fights alongside Iori. During battle, Saber can also be controlled if certain conditions are met. As a Servant she can use devastating skills and magic. Over the course of Samurai Remnant, players can also control other Servants based on what is happening in the narrative.
Combat is satisfying but, like the narrative, can start out slow. Because the game is layering multiple mechanics and systems on top of each other, it has to do so at a pace that isn’t daunting. Early on, players are introduced to enemies with Shell gauges that must be destroyed before the enemy’s health can be lowered. Shell gauges are primarily reduced with magic attacks, special skills, and Servant attacks. After doing a big attack, an enemy will be temporarily vulnerable to take Shell gauge damage but without the right moves, it can take a long time, reducing battles to a slog as players dodge around one enemy.
Samurai Remnant is at its most fun when players are using Saber or another Servant merely because of how flashy and ridiculous their combat is. With Iori, it can take a lot of time for him to feel effective, especially on the hardest difficulty level. Skill trees unlock during the game for Iori and Saber, often by completing certain actions. But I did find the sheer amount of spells and skills that could be unlocked almost unnecessary.
Quickly into the game, players will encounter fights over Spirit Fonts, which in the narrative are represented as powerful points of magic that boost power. During these fights, players are tasked with taking over connecting nodes from one point to another, like an overly complex version of checkers. If players run into an enemy along the grid, it will trigger a fight for dominance over the space. Like my other issues with Samurai Remnant, this mechanic adds more complexity onto an already dense experience, one that gets further broken up by its own new tutorials and elements.
Adding to the pot are a few mini-games players can participate in that thankfully offer gameplay benefits and an equipment system that adds another touch of customization to Iori’s capabilities.
Combat in Samurai Remnant is often vivid, flashy, and quick. The game runs quite well during most encounters and doesn’t even get choppy when running through its larger maps. Part of this is due to the game’s lack of emphasis on detail, instead opting for thick colors, giving it the appearance and feel of an animated production. Yes, it was odd running through townspeople only to have them disappear and certainly the game in no way has an explosive budget. But I do wonder how a more polished, stylized visual take would have looked. Only Japanese voice acting is available but I wouldn’t wish to play any other way, though it can be hard to read when in the midst of combat.
Once completing Samurai Remnant the first time, a New Game Plus option opens up, along with an even harder difficulty. Moving through NG+ fills in missing pieces of the game’s story and enhances other revelations made on a first playthrough. Some side quests–called Diversions here–are introduced here, giving further incentive to play through again. Plus, players have the option to skip through the first chunk of game and are notified when new stuff is coming, so as not to completely be drowned in repetition.
Though it may be strange to hold back everything in the game until players have completed it twice, Samurai Remnant does eventually strike a pace where it stops delivering new mechanics and simply lets players enjoy its story and gameplay. And when those things shine, its truly enjoyable. I’ve come to expect these semi-bloated features in these games because a simple Musou would simply not suffice these days unless significantly condensed.
Fate/Samurai Remnant is not as daunting of a game as its legacy may suggest. While based off a decades-long franchise, this is an ideal entry point because its main character is just as clean a slate as newcomers may be. Initial Musou misgivings may color impressions and dense gameplay systems might hinder pacing out of the gate. But Fate/Samurai Remnant‘s character-driven narrative offers the right amount of intrigue and complexity for everything else to settle into an enjoyable cadence of combat.
