Anima: Gate of Memories

Anima: Gate of Memories depends on whether someone wants a moody action RPG with a distinct fantasy setting and a lot of visual attitude. By our assessment, it gets by on atmosphere, character-driven presentation, and the promise of a world that feels set apart from the usual big-name fantasy. The downside is that a smaller, more niche game can be less forgiving if its combat or pacing does not click quickly. In practice the appeal is not polish first; it is the sense of stepping into something earnest and slightly eccentric, with combat and exploration doing more work than spectacle alone. It sits in the middle ground between indie action RPGs and more elaborate console fantasy games, and it will interest players who value mood and setting over sheer breadth. Anima: Gate of Memories is not the place for someone who wants a giant safe bet, and it makes very little effort to be one.