Tokyo Xanadu
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Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Tokyo Xanadu
Tokyo Xanadu has its fun and charming moments, but it's brought down by repetitive gameplay and annoying platforming
The combat here is good, really good, and for some, that may be all they need. For you, that may be enough to convince you to plop down your $40 for this game. For me, the fun in Tokyo Xanadu is buried beneath so much unskippable, unpauseable, and unmemorable story I can't in good conscience give it my full support.
Tokyo Xanadu is basically Falcom trying to create a Persona like game with their own signature flavour and a pretty damn good experience overall.
In theory, combining two of my favorite games into one sounds like a foolproof way to make one of the best games of all time. Unfortunately, the reality is not quite so grand as the mixture of the two elements has diluted the unique flavors to something that feels lacking but not entirely unpalatable.
A lot feels right with Tokyo Xanadu, with gorgeous handheld graphics and a concept with a lot of potential, but the complete product chooses overall accessibility for depth of concept. Combat, narrative, and development do their job just enough to keep things working, but the hiccups and shortcomings keep holding the game back from the niche sleeper hit it could be.
Trading spell books for cell phones, Nihon Falcom proves once again that they are masters of the action JRPG subgenre.
Tokyo Xanadu is a great fit for the Vita, as the repetitive chapter formula seems to be made for short bursts of play. If you're going to pick it up at all, buy the Vita version; don't wait for the PS4 release later this year. Those looking for a fun little action-JRPG for the Vita will most certainly enjoy their time in Morimiya. You'll probably also never look at a camera store the same way ever again.
I love Tokyo Xanadu for what is: a solid action RPG with a dramatic premise and an awesome cast of characters. The game impressed me with the responsive battle controls and beautiful special attacks. Even though the story didn't amount to the standards Falcom has set in the past, Tokyo Xanadu truly shows what the PlayStation Vita is capable in terms of graphics and playability and I would happily play through the game again.
