Nexomon Extinction is the sequel to the ios and steam game called Nexomon. It is fully playable without knowing the story of the original though I did go back to play the first game after completing the sequel and its release on console.

Gameplay is a Creature Capture and taming rpg similar if not copying Pokemons system. There are things about this game different from Pokemons system. First the capture of creatures utilizes a percentage system you can use food, status effects, and the type of trap to increase your chances and open that menu anytime to check your chances. Nexomon arguably does it better separating special traps by type rather than Pokemon’s being only good for specific situations or better chances for a limited amount of types, the only exception is the normal and golden traps. Golden traps are the same as a master ball with a 100% catch rate and you get multiples rather than just one they are given to you by doing quests and there is only a certain number. Normal Traps can be bought similar to the other traps.

There is a crafting system kind of you find ores and stones with different names and depending on which one you use can craft Cores with different effects to boost stats higher level cores require more materials. The Special Traps can be crafted as well some even require it  if you have the shards. The Shards are also used often for side quests and can be sold.

There is also the fact most of the world is open from the start it is open world with story areas blocked until later. Depending on quests done the Nexomon in the wild will change level and some even evolve so if you want to explore different areas other than story ones you don’t have to worry about being under leveled to the wild ones in later areas. Grinding levels is very unessasary thanks to the cores granting shared exp. The game also has cores that grant more exp.

Combat is largely turn based though you will need a balance between speed and power. While the creature does have stats of its own for that you really only need to rely on attack, HP, and Defence. As weaker attacks also don’t deplete a stamina meter as much causing you to lose a turn as unlike Pokemon and more similar to Digimon the moment that drains you have to either wait a turn or switch to a different creature. This makes the battles seem to drag on as super effective hits are not guaranteed to knockout anything.

I find the plot and characters the most enjoyable part of this game. The story is much darker than Pokemon with a stronger emphasis on the plot. The game takes place hundreds of years after the first and it starts off saying that the world is dying due to the events of the last game. It revolves around the war between monsters and you working for a guild. Then you are free to explore the world.

The game does a lot to change the various systems, but a lot of that is either clunky and hard to understand or needs work to be truly different. I enjoyed this game as an alternative to Pokemon.

Score 8/10