PS5

Published on November 27th, 2025 | by Nay Clark

Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster Review (PS5)

Anima’s remaster opens the gate again and what comes through is surprisingly captivating! Anima Project returns to its roots with Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster, a unified and enhanced collection of the original Gate of Memories (2016) and its companion title The Nameless Chronicles (2018). Released on November 7, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, with a Switch 2 version on the way in 2026, this remaster rebuilds both titles within a single framework, updating visuals, smoothing gameplay systems, rebalancing combat, and refreshing the experience without rewriting it. Developed once again by the three-person Spanish team behind the originals (and published by both Anima Publishing and Selecta Play depending on region), the package aims to present the definitive way to experience this niche but passionate corner of the Anima: Beyond Fantasy universe. It succeeds in most areas, stumbles in a few others, and ultimately rekindles what made these games compelling in the first place.

Gate of Memories still plays like a strange and engaging blend of Nier’s moody metaphysics, Drakengard’s fatalistic storytelling, and Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll’s hybrid action-RPG layering. The story begins with the Bearer, an amnesiac girl bound to a powerful demon named Ergo Mundus, sent by the secretive Order of Nathaniel to retrieve a stolen artifact called the Byblos. What starts as a mission of containment quickly spirals into a labyrinthine conflict involving warring factions, ancient sins, and the cosmic entity Bale. The narrative shifts between intimate character banter and far-reaching mythology, building a sense of a world both bigger and more broken than anyone realizes. Running parallel, The Nameless Chronicles follows the immortal Nameless One as he confronts the shadows of his past lives and the consequences that have rippled across time into the events of the first game. The remaster presents both stories together, making their intersections clearer without altering their intended trajectories. For fans of tragic antiheroes, cyclical fate, and interconnected destinies, the narrative remains one of the Anima universe’s strongest draws.

Gameplay remains faithful to the originals. It’s a mix of action RPG, light metroidvania structure, and old-school level design sensibilities, but the remaster’s refinements help it feel more coherent. In Gate of Memories, Combat revolves around the dual-character system: the agile, magic-driven Bearer and the heavier, melee-oriented Ergo. Switching between them mid-combo can turn simple encounters into stylish, high-risk/high-reward engagements, and the remaster tightens their responsiveness. The improved enemy AI, smoother input buffering, and updated special ability timing make battles less chaotic for the wrong reasons and more satisfying when everything clicks. Skill trees offer meaningful customization, itemization still encourages experimentation, and Arcane, the game’s hub of fractured realms, remains an atmospheric place to uncover memory fragments, solve puzzles, and hunt down bosses. Yet the experience is still unmistakably old school. Hitboxes can feel loose, movement remains stiff, and some encounters highlight that this combat system was ambitious but limited by a tiny team. Even with improvements, the feel of the game is undeniably archaic, and while I personally enjoy that early-2010s action-RPG jank, newcomers may find it harder to adjust.

Playing The Nameless Chronicles feels immediately familiar if you’ve experienced Gate of Memories, as the core gameplay loop remains largely the same, but with a fresh twist. Originally intended as a DLC, the expansion grew into a full companion story, letting players step into the shoes of the mysterious Nameless One (the cool, enigmatic character from the first game) offering a “reverse/rebirth” style perspective similar to Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Combat here is faster, more aggressive, and mechanically distinct. The Nameless can charge attacks to break enemy defenses, dash with a teleport by hitting the dodge/run button, and chain combos at a brisker pace. His skill tree also unfolds differently, giving a sense of progression that feels both familiar and unique at the same time. Essentially, what you know from Gate of Memories translates perfectly to this story, but playing as the Nameless adds speed, power, and a fresh lens on the overarching narrative, enriching the world and events you already thought you understood.

Where the remaster shines brightest is its technical work. Visually, the game looks leagues better than the originals without betraying their aesthetic. Lighting and shadows are sharper, textures have been reworked, and environments, though still constrained by their indie origins, carry more mood and clarity. The art direction, with its anime-infused gothic fantasy, continues to elevate visuals that would otherwise feel dated. Performance is also excellent; on PS5, the framerate is rock-solid with no dips during heavy effects or boss encounters. It’s not a transformation that makes the game look modern, but it undeniably makes it more comfortable and cohesive to play.

Audio sees a gentler touch. The score still leans beautifully into somber strings and mystical melodies, grounding the atmosphere even when the environments aren’t particularly dense. Voice work has been refreshed and cleaned up, but the performances remain uneven. Ergo continues to stand out with a charismatic delivery while other characters suffer from awkward timing, overly stiff line readings, or tonal mismatches. It’s improved, but not enough to fully escape the limitations of the original production.

As a remaster, this release is a success. As a standalone modern action RPG, its age is still evident. The controls, while better, retain a clunkiness that modern players may find distracting. Level layouts can feel empty compared to today’s standards. And some boss fights that should feel grand instead stumble due to readability or camera friction. But these flaws don’t erase what Anima Project achieved, nor what this remaster preserves. The improvements smooth out the roughest edges without sanding away the personality and this series has personality in spades.

Final Thoughts?

Ultimately, I fall on the side of appreciating this remaster more than criticizing it, even if the score reflects a mix of both. I love Nier. I love Drakengard. I love flawed, earnest, ambitious games built by small teams who shoot for the moon even when they can only build the rocket in their garage. Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster fits that mold. It’s an experience shaped by passion and deep lore, rough around the edges but interesting in ways many bigger, cleaner games aren’t. For returning fans, this is hands-down the best way to revisit the saga. For newcomers, especially those who enjoy old-school action RPGs with melodramatic storytelling and experimental combat, there’s real charm here. Just know what era of design you’re stepping into. It’s a flawed but memorable remaster of a pair of games that were always rough diamonds. And supporting it only brings the possibility of Anima: Song From the Abyss (the next game in the series) that much closer, which is reason enough for me to be glad this universe has found new life again.

About the Author

Nay Clark Gaming holds a special place in my heart and I never stop talking about video games. I really love all types of games and have an interest in games that have complicated stories and lore because I enjoy untangling the mystery of it all. When I'm not gaming, I unsuccessfully try to control three amazing and incredibly bright kids.

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