Ved: Recure is an odd game in some ways and a familiar one in others. You play as a gamer who’s losing interest in his collection and can’t pin down his friends for a session because they’re busy with real-world responsibilities. If you’re in your 30s, it may feel a little close to home. Thankfully, a mysterious hand drags you into your latest game and sentences you to survive there.
You’re initially useless, but you soon meet several heroines who can help you fight the robots that have taken over. These enemies range from minions you can tear through to bosses that test your parrying and dodging skills. The parry system feels excellent, and you’ll need to master it to make any real progress.
Bosses only become vulnerable once you’ve broken their shields, at which point you can juggle them like Dante from DmC. You’ll have plenty of time to learn their attacks because dying means replaying every area. You’ll grow stronger between attempts through a gacha-style equipment and upgrade system, although you won’t need to spend any real money.
The combat is slick and built around a combo system that lets you enhance abilities with additional effects. These include pinballs that strike nearby enemies, chances to heal and watery fists, among other wonderfully over-the-top options. Mixing and matching them creates some bombastic battles that feel like playing through an anime.
Ved: Recure can feel repetitive at times, but everything clicks when you find your rhythm. Parrying, dodging and unleashing elaborate combos like a master make its collection of systems intensely satisfying.
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