---

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a sci-fi mystery story told through the eyes of the 13 Japanese teenagers, all of which can pilot a large mech known as the Sentinel to defeat the kaiju that seek to destroy their city. As you progress through the story, you uncover the truth behind the Sentinels and the kaiju. This story is told through a non-linear fashion, and with time travel involved, makes this non-linear story even more timey wimey wibbly wobbly.

There are three modes in the game, but technically there’s only two. Remembrance, where you play through the 13 routes, presented in a 2D sidescroller with opportunities for you to make choices, allowing you to learn more and uncover more truth. Destruction, where you fight against the kaiju with 6 of the 13 pilots of your choosing in a top-down RTS fast-paced battle. And Analysis, where you can look back on the events you’ve unlocked for reference and the files you can unlock from both Remembrance and Destruction.

To talk about the story of the game is…frankly impossible. At least, without any semblance of spoilers. I can talk about the prologues of each character, sure, but even then, most of the fun of the game is in literally knowing nothing about it. Which, you could argue, is pretty backwards. Why should I play a game you’re hyping without telling me what it really is about? Well, that’s what trailers are for (why do you think I don’t watch them lol), and so I present to you a handful of the trailers that present the different aspects of the game:

13S:AR Switch Launch Trailer, Dreams or Reality Trailer, 13 Stories Trailer

What I can tell you about the game is just how much it drew me in almost immediately after I picked it up for the first time. Around when I started Natsuno Minami’s route, I instantly knew that this game was truly made for people like me. It became obvious that this game was an homage, a love letter, a tribute, whatever you want to call it, to everything sci-fi (and more!). It takes multiple references to existing old sci-fi stories, and even non-sci-fi works, but if I were to tell you right now what they might be, I might end up spoiling you (lol). The best way I can describe this game is by comparing it to another series that I love: Zero Escape. If you liked Zero Escape (999, VLR, ZTD), you will most likely enjoy this too.

The characters are, for the most part, wonderful characters to explore the story through. They each have such a unique character voice, that even when I haven't played the game in a while, I still hear them in my head in its glorious English dub. It's that good. While the overall story is intertwined between each character, Vanillaware managed to find a way to make it so that each character still has a unique story to tell, even if it overlaps with others sometimes. It really puts the perspective in a mystery game. Because you get to pick whose story to play through, in a non-linear story, your playthrough of the game will different from another player's, allowing you to truly experience the game in a way only you can.

The game features absolutely stunning art, in its portraits, its environment, in its sprites and all the little details that come with it, whether that be walking through puddles of water and seeing it splash and ripple, or in the different running animations each of them feature. Each character reacts to the situation around them without the need for a portrait to be in your face to see their facial expression, some even changing the way they respond when walking around specific characters…Each character was created so carefully, each scene made with great intent. It’s beautiful.

Soundtracks from the game, namely: Brat Overflow, Seaside Vacation, -(ISOLEUCINE)-, In the Doldrums

The music of the game is also just so good. With chaos lyric-filled electronic music, electronic jazz, chill piano and synths, and of course, crazy good and hard hitting electronic beats when you unleash hell on those damn kaiju! It’s so dang good. There’s an insane amount of tracks present in this game, so you’re most definitely going to be able to find one you love here, even if most of them are electronic music. It’s so good.

Combat footage of the game's endless mode

While I think a relatively unpopular opinion, the combat of the game is pretty addicting. I must admit, I powered through Remembrance as much as I could until I was forced to do Destruction, and frankly, that definitely takes me out of the plot (especially with how insane it can get) so if you ever do decide to pick it up, I highly recommend playing through a stage or two in between long Remembrance sessions. Anyway, the Destruction has always been considered to be the weaker part of the game, and I can see why, with the fact that you don’t see the Sentinels beat up the kaiju (which would’ve been cool), or that the visuals are the way they are, but for me, I liked it that way. Felt like I was a commander of sorts watching over the pilots. Besides, I would've skipped all the animations after a certain point anyway. It’s not a particularly difficult type of combat, it’s very easy to get S-Ranks on most of the stages on normal mode, but there are a few handful of stages that made me scratch my head. It took me a while to figure out how to optimize my builds and pilot the, well, pilots well. Still, it was fun!

Of course, a game is not perfect. There are a handful of stuff I’m not particularly keen on, including, yes, if you’ve seen the trailers, the partial nudity. On the bright side, they’re non-sexual and outside of some portraits, not fanservice-y, and are only brought up a grand total of like three times in, again, a non-sexual manner. Besides that, its major flaw is that I can never replay the game again and experience it all over, completely blind. It truly was such an experience.

All in all, I really love this game. I loved it while playing it, and I love it all the more now that I finished it and know everything. It’s crazy. Please play it. If you do decide to play it, have a notebook or whiteboard or anything to take notes down on. Trust me, you will need it.

10/10. Should’ve been Game of the Year for 5 years straight.

Here’s an out of context video to showcase to you what your experience might look like playing the game.

---