Anima Gate of Memories 1&2 remastered [Review]

Anima Gate of Memories remastered is a noteworthy improvement over the original release from 2016.

Anima Gate of Memories remastered, originally released in 2016, has gotten a huge overhall with new textures, significantly enhanced graphics, new updates to the tutorials, and UI make for a much smoother gameplay experience. Although the game retains some of the jankiness of the original, the quality-of-life changes and fixes are a welcome addition. Graphically, it's a huge step up, with the detailed texture work breathing new life into the game. This remaster certainly sparks hope for a possible new installment in the series. The game features a surprisingly deep and well-developed story. Its gameplay is a blend of Metroidvania and Nier: Automata,

with a fun and dynamic combat system that allows players to switch between the two protagonists to string together combos. While the character models, being from an older game, look somewhat dated, they have been cleaned up and are reminiscent of titles like Baten Kaitos from the GameCube era or more recent Tales of games like Tales of Graces. The voice acting and dialogue, while objectively poor, oddly lend a certain charm to the story and can even provide a few laughs. Despite the quality, the voice actors are clearly dedicated, pouring emotion into the script, which is evident in the more intense moments. It's important to note that I was not a fan of the original game; I reviewed it negatively years ago for Sick Critic. However, the issues I initially had (other than the voice acting) have been fixed, and I am genuinely enjoying the game this time around.

With both parts of the series included in this remaster, players can expect to spend around 35 hours completing the main story. Anima Gate of Memories offers a substantial amount of content, meaning either part one or two alone is enough to keep players engaged for a long period. While the core story of Anima Gate of Memories remastered is somewhat cliché—centering on a girl with amnesia and a cursed immortal seeking purpose—all characters are connected by a much deeper, hidden narrative for the player to uncover. This remaster is excellent, featuring very welcome improvements and fixes. Set for a 2026 release for the Nintendo Switch 2, the game should shine on Nintendo's hardware. My full recommendation will await the Switch 2 edition; once it's available, I plan to compare it to the PlayStation 5 version.

Anima Gate of Memories 1& 2 remastered is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series Systems, and Steam.