Monark (video game)

{{Infobox video game

| title = Monark

| developer = Lancarse

| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|FuRyu|NA/EU|NIS America}}

| platforms = {{ubl|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Nintendo Switch|Microsoft Windows}}

| released = PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch{{vgrelease|JP|October 14, 2021|NA|February 22, 2022|EU|February 25, 2022{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/monark-worldwide-release-date-set-for-february-2022/|title=Monark Worldwide Release Date Set for February 2022|publisher=Silicon Era|date=October 12, 2021|accessdate=January 27, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127150550/https://www.siliconera.com/monark-worldwide-release-date-set-for-february-2022/|url-status=live}}|}}Microsoft Windows{{vgrelease|WW|February 22, 2022}}

| genre = Tactical role-playing

| director = Fuyuki Hayashi
Mitsuhiro Hoshino

| composer = Tsukasa Masuko

| modes = Single-player

| image = Monark video game cover.jpg

| caption =

| alt =

}}

Monark{{efn|{{nihongo|Monark|モナーク|Monāku}}}} is a 2021 Japanese role-playing game developed by Lancarse for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. It was localized and ported to Microsoft Windows by NIS America in February 2022. The game received mixed reviews from critics.

Gameplay

Monark is a tactical role-playing game with combat similar to Lost Dimension. Gameplay is split between the character evolving their own desires by exploring the school campus, and fighting monsters called "daemons" in the Otherworld.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/monark-school-rpg-ex-shin-megami-tensei-devs-comes-west-february|title=Monark, the School RPG from Ex-Shin Megami Tensei Devs, Comes West in February|publisher=IGN|date=October 12, 2021|accessdate=January 27, 2022|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020092213/https://www.ign.com/articles/monark-school-rpg-ex-shin-megami-tensei-devs-comes-west-february|url-status=live}}

Story

Monark takes place inside Shin Mikado Academy, a high school sealed from the outside world by a barrier and enveloped in a mysterious mist that drives the students mad. The player is part of a group of students who gained the ability to enter an Otherworld, where the demons empowering the mist must be defeated.{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/monark-new-trailer-reveal|title=New Monark Trailer Reveals More of Its Story and Characters|publisher=Siliconera|date=September 10, 2021|accessdate=January 27, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127165931/https://www.siliconera.com/monark-new-trailer-reveal/|url-status=live}}

Development

The game is developed by Lancarse and published by FuRyu. Some members of the staff from the Shin Megami Tensei series were involved in the game's development.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/06/new-school-rpg-monark-launches-october-14-in-japan-for-ps5-ps4-and-switch-developed-by-lancarse|title='New school RPG' Monark launches October 14 in Japan for PS5, PS4, and Switch; developed by Lancarse|publisher=Gematsu|date=June 9, 2021|accessdate=January 27, 2022|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124143942/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/06/new-school-rpg-monark-launches-october-14-in-japan-for-ps5-ps4-and-switch-developed-by-lancarse|url-status=live}} Fuyuki Hayashi wrote the scenario and dialogue for all of the major characters, while Ryutaro Ito wrote for the NPC characters. Kazunari Suzuki provided supervision and feedback on all parts of the scenario.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = NS: 62/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/monark/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Monark for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808101914/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/monark |url-status=live }}
PC: 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/monark/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Monark for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321164547/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/monark |url-status=live }}
PS4: 56/100{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/monark/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Monark for PlayStation 4 Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223224903/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/monark|url-status=live}}
PS5: 66/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/monark/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Monark for PlayStation 5 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307052737/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/monark |url-status=live }}

| Destruct = 6/10{{cite web |last=Van Allen |first=Eric |title=Review: Monark |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-monark-furyu-rpg/ |website=Destructoid |date=February 22, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222235515/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-monark-furyu-rpg/ |url-status=live }}

| Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine |last=Brian |first=NE |title=Famitsu review scores – October 6, 2021 |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-review-scores-october-6-2021/ |magazine=Famitsu |date=October 6, 2021 |access-date=February 23, 2022}}

| HCG = 3.5/5{{Cite web|last=Shive|first=Chris|url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-monark/418457/|title=Review: Monark|work=Hardcore Gamer|date=February 16, 2022|access-date=February 24, 2022|archive-date=February 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224071757/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-monark/418457/|url-status=live}}

| HC = 75/100{{Cite web|last=Muñoz|first=José David|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-monark-switch-ps4-ps5-pc-cuando-colegio-pesadilla-1009453|title=Análisis Monark para Switch, PS4, Ps5 y PC; cuando el colegio SÍ que es una pesadilla|trans-title=Monark review for Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC; when schools IS a nightmare|work=HobbyConsolas|publisher=Axel Springer SE|date=February 16, 2022|access-date=February 24, 2022|language=es|archive-date=February 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224071758/https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-monark-switch-ps4-ps5-pc-cuando-colegio-pesadilla-1009453|url-status=live}}

| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Cameron |title=Monark Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/monark-review |website=IGN |date=February 18, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223034658/https://www.ign.com/articles/monark-review |url-status=live }}

| JXV = 13/20{{Cite web|last=Midnailah|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1529479/monark-une-version-revisitee-de-persona-5-par-des-anciens-de-shin-megami-tensei.htm|title=Test Monark : Une version revisitée de Persona 5 par des anciens de Shin Megami Tensei|trans-title=Monark Review : A revisited version of Persona 5 by former Shin Megami Tensei|work=Jeuxvideo.com|date=February 16, 2022|access-date=February 23, 2022|language=fr|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223030528/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1529479/monark-une-version-revisitee-de-persona-5-par-des-anciens-de-shin-megami-tensei.htm|url-status=live}}

| NLife = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web |last=Vogel |first=Mitch |title=Monark Review (Switch) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/monark |website=Nintendo Life |date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223339/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/monark |url-status=live }}

| NWR = 5.5/10{{cite web |last=Theriault |first=Donald |title=Monark (Switch) Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/59285/monark-switch-review |website=Nintendo World Report |date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223341/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/59285/monark-switch-review |url-status=live }}

| PSQ = {{Rating|4|10}}{{cite web |last=Cal McCormick |first=John |title=Monark Review (PS5) |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/monark |website=Push Square |date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223339/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/monark |url-status=live }}

| RPG = 3.5/5{{Cite web|last=Mauricio|first=Luis|url=https://rpgamer.com/review/monark-review/|title=Monark Review|work=RPGamer|date=February 25, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302162713/https://rpgamer.com/review/monark-review/|url-status=live}}

| RPGFan = 70/100{{cite web |last=Parsons |first=Izzy |title=Monark |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/monark/ |website=RPGFan |date=February 16, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223350/https://www.rpgfan.com/review/monark/ |url-status=live }}

| TGMIt = 7.5/10{{Cite web|last=Saba|first=Gian Filippo|url=https://www.thegamesmachine.it/monark-pc-ps4-ps5-switch/monark-recensione/|title=Moanrk – Recensione|trans-title=Monark – Review|work=The Games Machine|date=February 16, 2022|access-date=February 24, 2022|language=it|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223223410/https://www.thegamesmachine.it/monark-pc-ps4-ps5-switch/monark-recensione/|url-status=live}}

| TA = 3/5{{Cite web|last=Musgrave|first=Shaun|url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/02/22/sol-cresta-switch-review-monark-eshop-monster-hunter-stories-2-discount-dlc-rise-dmc-nintendo-eshop-sales-deals/|title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Sol Cresta' and Monark, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales|work=TouchArcade|date=February 22, 2022|access-date=March 2, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302005044/https://toucharcade.com/2022/02/22/sol-cresta-switch-review-monark-eshop-monster-hunter-stories-2-discount-dlc-rise-dmc-nintendo-eshop-sales-deals/|url-status=live}}

}}

Monark received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.

IGN lauded the game's personalness, combat systems, and abilities, and cited the unengaging story, characters, party member system, enemies, repetition, and puzzles as its drawbacks. Destructoid severely criticized the game's repetitive nature and concluded, "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." Nintendo Life praised the high-risk, high-reward combat system, creepy aesthetics, interesting story, and replay value, while criticizing the lackluster graphics, repetitive environments, and lack of enemy variety. Push Square reviewed the game much more negatively, and cited the use of the horror genre, boss designs, and music, as positives, while calling the repetitive, grindy combat the game's biggest downfall. RPGFan liked the vocal tracks, opening cinematic, characters, themes and combat, and said that the game's bad pacing, subpar graphics and the transphobic treatment of the character of Perrine held it back. Nintendo World Report thought that the story was interesting and that the stat progression system was unique but disliked the lack of environments, character-locking progression system, and puzzle design.

=Sales=

In Japan, the Nintendo Switch version sold 10,521 physical units, making it the sixth best-selling game during its first week of release. The PlayStation 4 version sold 5,242 physical units, making it the seventeenth best-selling game in the country during the same week.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Famitsu Sales: 10/4/21 – 10/10/21 [Update] |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/10/famitsu-sales-10-4-21-10-10-21 |website=Gematsu |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=October 14, 2021 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809233234/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/10/famitsu-sales-10-4-21-10-10-21 |url-status=live }}