Nights of Azure

Release Date: October 1, 2015

RPG, TPP, fantasy, hack'and'slash, action RPG, jRPG, singleplayer

6.8

OpenCritic

69%

Steam

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An action RPG set in unique fantasy world, developed by Japanese studio Gust, know from the Atelier and Ar tonelico series. Nights of Azure takes us to an isolated island kingdom, in which people must face demonic creatures that roam at night. The main heroine, Arnice, is a warrior gifted with dark powers. Her duty is to protect priestess Lilysee who – according to legends – can lift the curse that was cast on the land by sacrificing herself.

Story
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Nights of Azure is an action RPG set in the original fantasy world. Its creation is the responsibility of the Japanese studio Gust, known mainly for its Atelier and Ar tonelico series, which debuted on PlayStation 2. Since 2014, the studio has been part of Koei Tecmo, one of the largest game developers in the Land of the Rising Sun. Nights of Azure is the second, after Ar Nosurge, original and significant project of the team, which is not part of any of its main brands, as well as the first action game in the developer's catalogue.

Story

Action of Nights of Azure takes place in an isolated island kingdom called Ruswal. Its inhabitants have to deal with a curse that makes demonic creatures appear on the streets of the capital after dark, subject to the terrifying Nightlord. Few are able to emerge victoriously from a meeting with the monsters. One such person, however, is Arnice, the game's protagonist, who possesses demonic powers herself. Her task is to protect priestess Lilysse, who, if you believe the legends, will sacrifice her life to destroy the curse of Ruswal. Over time, this mission becomes more and more difficult for both heroines. Arnice is slowly forced to reject her humanity and Lilysse has to make peace with her imminent death.

Mechanics

Nights of Azure is an action RPG, using a formula known from many hack and slash games. The gameplay is presented from TPP, and players can freely operate the camera, traveling through subsequent three-dimensional locations. In the course of the game, Arnice can take on a number of main and side quests, consisting mainly of elimination of subsequent creatures in different corners of Ruswal. Our starting point is the Ende hotel, where we can talk to various NPCs, choose the skills we use, and advance to the next level of experience.

During combat, Arnice hcan use weapon attacks, special abilities, as well as alternative forms of combat, which change her appearance and increase the strength of the attacks. The heroine doesn't have to fight with enemies alone - she can be accompanied by Servans, demonic helpers. We acquire them by defeating various types of demons. Depending on the type, Servans can support and heal the protagonist or take on a purely offensive role.

Technical aspects

Nights of Azure does not offer any graphical fireworks, but provides fast gameplay without performance degradation. However, the three-dimensional models of the characters deserve attention, being made with great attention to detail. The game also offers a pleasant soundtrack, which is a characteristic feature of virtually all productions of Gust.

Last updated on March 7, 2020

Videos and Screens

[1:43] Nights of Azure Steam version trailer

[1:44] Nights of Azure launch trailer

6.8

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 34% of Critics. There are 45 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

ZTGD: 7 / 10 by Jae Lee

Overall, Nights of Azure is a rather unremarkable ARPG that just happens to have a gorgeous art style and a fantastic soundtrack. Even though it's not likely to become the new flagship franchise for the developers at Gust, it's a solid attempt at a new genre and a good distraction until the next Atelier title releases later this year.

Full Review

Wccftech: 6.5 / 10 by Francesco De Meo

Nights of Azure is a game of wasted potential. The game's dark tone and setting is ultimately ruined by the excessive presence of comic relief, which takes a lot of the tension out of the terrible choice Arnice has to take to save the world. With an experience that gets stale way too quickly, Nights of Azure true saving grace are the game's two main characters and the development of their relationship, which takes some interesting turns. A shame, as the game could have been so much more.

Full Review

God is a Geek: 7 / 10 by Mikhail Madnani

Gust's first action RPG is a decent attempt let down by inconsistent visuals and various problems with difficulty.

Full Review

69%