Scarlet Nexus

Alright, so you're diving into Scarlet Nexus, awesome! One of the coolest things about this game is that it actually has two main characters, Yuito and Kasane. When you pick one, you're seeing the story through their eyes, and let me tell you, it's a pretty different experience depending on who you choose.

Think of it like this: you'll follow their individual journeys, and while they're both part of the same overarching conflict, they'll be doing different things, learning different stuff, and meeting different people. Each protagonist has their own unique set of allies who join them on their quest, though you'll get to have bonding episodes with everyone, including the other protagonist, no matter who you're playing as.

Seriously, almost every event you experience will be unique to your chosen character, except for those special bonding moments you can have with each other. Even though they both wield psychic powers, the way they fight and the abilities they use feel distinct enough to make the gameplay itself feel fresh.

You'll also be exploring different areas and facing completely different bosses depending on no matter if you're playing as Yuito or Kasane. So, if you really want to get the full picture and understand everything that's going on, playing through both story routes is definitely the way to go. Each route has its own satisfying conclusion, so you can decide which one you want to tackle first.

Pro-tip: After you finish one story, you can jump into the other on New Game Plus (NG+). Your character's level and all your items will carry over, making the second playthrough smoother. And here's a neat trick: once you've cleared both stories on the same save file, you can actually switch between Yuito and Kasane during the post-game, letting you revisit any part of the story whenever you want!

Gameplay centers on landing weapon attacks and following up with a psychokinesis (PK) attack, repeating this cycle. As you upgrade your Brain map, you can increase base stats, add to existing combos, and unlock new moves. Yuito tends to learn skills that expand his moveset and melee abilities sooner due to their proximity on the Brain map and lower Brain Point (BP) cost. These include various air combos, increased melee attack counts, and more consecutive rush attacks. You can also learn and upgrade a charged version of the Area of Effect (AOE) melee skill. Be mindful of your surroundings when using PK, as larger objects deal more damage. Some special objects trigger Quick Time Events (QTEs) when used, offering varied effects that can turn the tide of battle. Enemies whose crush gauges are depleted to 0 can be Brain crushed for an instant kill. If multiple enemies have depleted crush gauges within your line of sight, you can Brain crush them simultaneously.

As you progress, you will acquire new combat tools: SAS (Supportive Arts System) abilities borrowed from your party members, which allow Yuito to use their powers for a limited time. As your bond with allies grows (based on Bond level, not Bond episode number), SAS abilities gain improvements. Beyond unique enhancements, common new abilities include increased SAS active time or faster recovery. Guardian Vision nullifies damage when you are attacked by showing an ally's vision. Combo Visions allow you to summon ally visions for attacks, consuming part of the SAS gauge but usable with melee combos and other Combo Visions. Assault Visions are similar but more powerful, do not consume the SAS gauge, and occur randomly during attacks.

From the Brain map, you can gain boons for SAS, such as restoring the SAS gauge when active after a Brain crush. The most significant boons allow using multiple SAS abilities at once: one skill unlocks up to 2, and another (requiring the first) increases this to 4, enabling powerful combinations. Note that Pyrokinesis and Electrokinesis cannot be used simultaneously.

Yuito and Kasane Combat Differences

Yuito wields a sword, with many close-range attacks and combos. His Brain map prioritizes melee skills, learning them faster than PK or aerial skills. He also learns Multi SAS skills later. Yuito's attacks heavily focus on damaging the crush gauge. His core combos are simple, featuring a standard attack combo and a chargeable AOE melee skill that recharges his PK gauge, capable of immense damage when fully upgraded.

Kasane, conversely, is a ranged fighter using numerous small knives for distant attacks. While she can recharge her PK gauge, her method lacks an AOE. Her attacks are fast but generally less powerful, dealing damage quickly. Kasane's Brain map allows her to learn evasion and movement skills, improve aerial attacks, and learn PK and SAS skills sooner than Yuito. She also has a variety of aerial attacks with PK follow-ups. Kasane starts strong and learns powerful skills rapidly but eventually plateaus, requiring a focus on PK and SAS tactics to compensate for her weapon attacks' lower damage.

Hanabi (Pyrokinesis)

Hanabi's SAS ability applies a fire effect to your weapon and thrown PK objects, which can burn enemies, especially those covered in oil. Her ability also increases melee AOE. Later levels add an aerial attack to main melee combos and a flamethrower after the 4th melee attack (if unlocked). She also allows you to completely negate burn effects on yourself.

Tsugumi (Clairvoyance)

Tsugumi's SAS ability allows you to see cloaked enemies or through thick mists. It also makes perfect dodging easier and enables Read attacks (immediate attacks after perfect dodging). Higher bond levels unlock armor-destroying Read attacks, PK Read attacks, and significantly increase the Crush gauge depletion rate while active.