[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"similar-games-monark":3,"game-monark":5},{"similarGames":4},[],{"game":6,"hasUserReviewed":22},{"id":7,"name":8,"summary":9,"cover_image":10,"header_image":11,"trailer_url":12,"release_date":13,"avg_score":14,"igdb_id":15,"slug":16,"steam_app_id":17,"companies":18,"genres":33,"platforms":38,"reviews":43,"coverImage":10,"headerImage":11,"trailerUrl":12,"releaseDate":13,"criticReviewCount":50,"userReviewCount":211,"previewCount":211,"publishers":212,"developers":213,"userReviews":214,"hasUserReviewed":22,"steamAppId":17},87904,"Monark","Monark, the “new school RPG” from former Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei staff, will launch for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch on October 14 in Japan.\n\nThe story follows the True Student Council, which was established to solve the abnormal situations in the school. The protagonist, who becomes the deputy head of the council, chooses a buddy from four characters to defy the unreasonable.\n\nThe main story has multiple endings. There are different routes for each of the four buddy characters. To make multiple playthroughs easier, you can also skip shared routes and advance through different buddy routes.\n\nBattles are command-based with a free move turn system. Increasing your madness will allow you to use more powerful skills, but if you increase it too much, you will go insane and rampage against targets both friend and foe, making it impossible to fight.\n\nThere is also an “EGO” system, which represents the player’s desire levels of pride, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These change depending on your diagnosis and the choices you make, and also affect the demons you can employ as your “underlings.”","87904\u002Fco3h57_webp","87904\u002Fsce74h_webp","https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FwPbyil-ymeE","2021-10-13",64.58,151159,"monark",1539620,[19,24,27,30],{"company":20,"developed":22,"published":23},{"name":21},"NIS America",false,true,{"company":25,"developed":23,"published":23},{"name":26},"FuRyu",{"company":28,"developed":23,"published":22},{"name":29},"Lancarse",{"company":31,"developed":22,"published":23},{"name":32},"Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc.",[34,35,36,37],"Role-playing (RPG)","Strategy","Turn-based strategy (TBS)","Adventure",[39,40,41,42],"PC (Microsoft Windows)","PlayStation 4","Nintendo Switch","PlayStation 5",[44,60,75,89,104,119,131,143,157,171,184,198],{"id":45,"author":46,"outlet":49,"summary":55,"review_url":56,"review_date":57,"original_score":58,"normalized_score":59},18153,{"id":47,"name":48},1982,"DeAngelo Epps",{"id":50,"logo":51,"name":52,"website_url":53,"score_format":54},12,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FDigital-Trends-Logo.jpg","Digital Trends","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaltrends.com","5","“Monark tries a lot of new ideas, but only finds success with an intriguing battle system ... and even that has a mileage that may vary.”","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaltrends.com\u002Fgaming\u002Fmonark-review\u002F","2022-04-26","2.0",40,{"id":61,"author":62,"outlet":65,"summary":71,"review_url":72,"review_date":73,"original_score":74,"normalized_score":59},47074,{"id":63,"name":64},4083,"John Cal McCormick",{"id":66,"logo":67,"name":68,"website_url":69,"score_format":70},63,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPush-Square-Logo.jpg","Push Square","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002F","10","On the surface, Monark looks like any number of other Japanese role-playing games that star high schoolers like Persona, Trails of Cold Steel, or some Shin Megami Tensei titles. But Monark differentiates itself from that crowd by leaning into horror, with a slick gothy vibe throughout — it's a bit like Persona 3 going through a rough patch, overdoing the eyeliner and listening to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness on repeat.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pushsquare.com\u002Freviews\u002Fps5\u002Fmonark","2022-02-16","4",{"id":76,"author":77,"outlet":80,"summary":85,"review_url":86,"review_date":73,"original_score":87,"normalized_score":88},55154,{"id":78,"name":79},4532,"Alana Dunitz",{"id":81,"logo":82,"name":83,"website_url":84,"score_format":70},45,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameGrin%20Logo.png","GameGrin","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamegrin.com\u002F","Monark is a fun JRPG with interesting characters and a unique story full of personality tests and high school drama. Though at times navigating the character can get a bit frustrating.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamegrin.com\u002Freviews\u002Fmonark-review\u002F","7.50",75,{"id":90,"author":91,"outlet":94,"summary":99,"review_url":100,"review_date":101,"original_score":102,"normalized_score":103},66793,{"id":92,"name":93},1347,"Eric Van Allen",{"id":95,"logo":96,"name":97,"website_url":98,"score_format":70},10,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FDestructoid-Logo.png","Destructoid","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.destructoid.com","There is enough here that I’d give a Monark follow-up a shot. One that fills out its stories a bit more, amps up the horror, and flattens out the grind. There are some novel ideas here, and if you’re looking for something outside the RPG status quo and with a darker vibe, Monark could fit the bill. Just go in knowing that it can get arduous, and you’ll need to overlook those faults to find what Monark does that’s really different.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.destructoid.com\u002Freviews\u002Freview-monark-furyu-rpg\u002F","2022-02-22","\n\t\t\t6\t\t",60,{"id":105,"author":106,"outlet":109,"summary":114,"review_url":115,"review_date":116,"original_score":117,"normalized_score":118},2236947,{"id":107,"name":108},17841,"Kirk Hiner",{"id":110,"logo":111,"name":112,"website_url":113,"score_format":70},158,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPurenintendo.jpeg","Pure Nintendo","https:\u002F\u002Fpurenintendo.com","Once you get past Monark's visual presentation you'll see quite a few cool elements hidden beneath the murk of this turn-based JRPG. And as you'd expect from a development team with Shin Megami Tensei and Persona backrounds, there's plenty of style throughout.Read More","https:\u002F\u002Fpurenintendo.com\u002Freview-monark-nintendo-switch\u002F","2022-02-23","6.5",65,{"id":120,"author":121,"outlet":124,"summary":128,"review_url":129,"review_date":73,"original_score":130,"normalized_score":103},86959,{"id":122,"name":123},1998,"George Yang",{"id":103,"logo":125,"name":126,"website_url":127,"score_format":70},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Finverse-logo.jpg","Inverse","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inverse.com\u002F","Monark clearly pays homage to the Shin Megami Tensei series in its tone and setting. However, the game is weighed down by an underwhelming battle system and grindy pacing. Still, some memorable plot twists and colorful characters make for a promising baseline. Monark gets a passing grade, but we hope a potential sophomore sequel will aim higher in the future.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inverse.com\u002Fgaming\u002Fmonark-review-ps4","6",{"id":132,"author":133,"outlet":136,"summary":141,"review_url":142,"review_date":73,"original_score":130,"normalized_score":103},88651,{"id":134,"name":135},6532,"Scott White",{"id":137,"logo":138,"name":139,"website_url":140,"score_format":70},44,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FRPGSite%20Logo.jpg","RPGSite","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rpgsite.net\u002F","Although the combat system is a highlight, the madness stirs in this repetitive and dull RPG.","https:\u002F\u002Frpgsite.net\u002Freview\u002F12403-monark-review",{"id":144,"author":145,"outlet":148,"summary":153,"review_url":154,"review_date":73,"original_score":155,"normalized_score":156},97446,{"id":146,"name":147},8871,"Joshua Chu",{"id":149,"logo":150,"name":151,"website_url":152,"score_format":70},136,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPCInvasion.jpg","PC Invasion","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcinvasion.com\u002F","Monark delivers a satisfying JRPG experience, with a creative and unique battle system and creepy demon-filled world. But a weak story and characters prevent the game from truly delivering something stellar.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcinvasion.com\u002Fmonark-review\u002F","8",80,{"id":158,"author":159,"outlet":162,"summary":167,"review_url":168,"review_date":169,"original_score":170,"normalized_score":88},100924,{"id":160,"name":161},8963,"FerniWrites",{"id":163,"logo":164,"name":165,"website_url":166,"score_format":70},138,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FWayTooManyGames.png","WayTooManyGames","https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F","From the first trailer, something was truly captivating about Monark. Perhaps it was the close resemblance to another FuRyu production – The Caligula Effect. When I last covered that one, there was an avalanche of praise heaved towards the excellent soundtrack. The music was utterly fantastic, so in my head, that must apply here, too. Well, thanks to the many teases from NIS America, it seems that an ear orgasm was in my future. There’s also an English dub, thrilling my uncultured ass. Wh...","https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F2022\u002F02\u002F21\u002Freview-monark\u002F","2022-02-21","7.5",{"id":172,"author":173,"outlet":176,"summary":181,"review_url":182,"review_date":183,"original_score":130,"normalized_score":103},102692,{"id":174,"name":175},8995,"Edie W-K",{"id":177,"logo":178,"name":179,"website_url":180,"score_format":70},140,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fcheckpoint-gaming.jpg","Checkpoint Gaming","https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002F","Monark is a JRPG set in a high school where the protagonist and a posse of other teenagers must protect themselves from demonic creatures. The teenagers fight by partnering themselves with demons themselves, and forge bonds with each other as they get stronger. The game is ripe with themes of identity and clashing ideals, with the protagonists going up against other students and school faculty who have traumatic backstories that explain their differing outlooks on life. All the while, an unde...","https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002Freviews\u002F2022\u002F02\u002Fmonark-review-weve-been-here-before\u002F","2022-02-25",{"id":185,"author":186,"outlet":189,"summary":194,"review_url":195,"review_date":73,"original_score":196,"normalized_score":197},83393,{"id":187,"name":188},6617,"Scott Adams",{"id":190,"logo":191,"name":192,"website_url":193,"score_format":54},128,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FThe-Outerhaven-Logo.jpeg","The OuterHaven","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theouterhaven.net\u002F","Monark is a solid start to a promising aspect of JRPG games filled with horror elements. It tackles heavy issues with its characters. Monark is a solid blend of Tactical RPG with JRPG leveling mechanics. It is an enjoyable game with difficult rewarding battles.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theouterhaven.net\u002F2022\u002F02\u002Fmonark-review-nisamerica\u002F","4.5\u002F5",90,{"id":199,"author":200,"outlet":203,"summary":207,"review_url":208,"review_date":183,"original_score":209,"normalized_score":210},84166,{"id":201,"name":202},6585,"Alex Fuller",{"id":118,"logo":204,"name":205,"website_url":206,"score_format":54},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FRPGamer-Logo.jpg","RPGamer","https:\u002F\u002Frpgamer.com\u002F","Monark launches with shades of Shin Megemi Tensei behind it. A great battle system and solid art have the making of a gem, but a slow and repetitive second half indicates plenty of room for refinement.","https:\u002F\u002Frpgamer.com\u002Freview\u002Fmonark-review\u002F","3.5",70,0,[21,26,32],[26,29],[]]