E3 2018: Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal Attempts to Modernize the Original

One of the struggles of making any series is ensuring no one gets left behind. Movies and shows resolve this by selling releases/seasons and more recently streaming, though games have different issues. With dated mechanics/looks, a variety of platforms and countless other struggles, it can be hard, which is why certain games get remade/ported. I don’t know if Senran Kagura Burst is the first I would think of, but Re:Newal adds a bit to an experience many never got to have.

Where the original was a side-scroller action game, Re:Newal moves towards an open world like later titles. The demo stage included a couple waves of adds, featuring all the silliness and fun you’d expect from Senran Kagura, with an experience similar to Dynasty Warriors.

Getting to the boss isn’t hard and quickly highlights some of the rough patches. In addition to having a lot of health, it isn’t the most fluid combat system, with dodge having a delay that makes leaves poorly timed moves open to attacks. The boss also had juggernaut like mechanics, so they were unflinching, making it less about dealing damage and more about knowing when you do what.

Those who do well or poor will see clothing rip and might even hit a point where someone transforms, enabling some powerful attacks. In a lot of ways Re:Newal feels like a good balance between new and familiar, making it a seemingly solid remake for fans.