Nexomon: Extinction was a fun ride, but I ultimately found it a slight step down from the original Nexomon. The story starts out familiar—you're a young orphan thrust into a world where powerful Nexomon threaten to destroy everything—but it’s the tone that sets it apart. The writing is full of tongue-in-cheek humor, especially from your snarky sidekick, Coco. I appreciated the self-awareness and comedy, even if the actual plot didn’t break new ground. (7/10)
Visually, the game really shines. The hand-drawn environments are colorful and full of personality, and most Nexomon designs feel imaginative and well-crafted. A few monsters leaned a bit too far into the goofy or gimmicky side for my taste, but the overall presentation was vibrant and clean. (8/10)
Controls are generally responsive, though movement felt slightly clunky in places. The grid-based system sometimes made navigating tight spaces frustrating, and I ran into a few more wild encounters than I meant to. Still, nothing game-breaking. (7/10)
Gameplay is where things get interesting. I liked the stamina-based combat system—it added a layer of strategy that surprised me. The capture mechanics were also more involved than I expected, with feeding and timing adding a bit of flair. That said, the game demands a lot of grinding, especially as enemy levels scale quickly. It can drag at times, and without multiplayer or significant post-game content, it didn’t hold my interest as long as I'd hoped. (7/10)
Overall, Nexomon: Extinction feels like a passionate evolution of the series with smart ideas and a strong aesthetic. It just didn’t quite maintain the pacing or polish I found in the original. Still, for monster-taming fans looking for a lighthearted but challenging experience, it's definitely worth a look. (7/10)
3.5