I will admit that I have fallen behind on my viewing of RWBY. I love the premise, I love the world, the colorful animation, and the characters. So, when RWBY: Grimm Eclipse came on Switch, it reminded me that I had neglected to purchase it on Steam during the entire time it has been on the platform. After playing through the Switch version a bit, I have mixed feelings.

Before we get into my thoughts on the game, let’s discuss the premise. For those who are unaware, RWBY: Grimm Eclipse contains an all-new storyline specifically for the game, written by the writers of the series. It is a 4-player online co-op action game, though there is a single-player mode.

You can play as any member of Team RWBY or Team JNPR, as they fight an all-new villain, new Grimm types, and explore new locations. The Nintendo Switch release comes with all previous DLC included, which allows you to have costume sets from various points in the series. The combat is simple; you have light attacks, heavy attacks, ranged attacks, a dash move, a counter-attack, and then an ultimate attack.

However, this makes a lot of the characters feel a little “same-y” since they don’t really have many differences other than visual aesthetics and weapon styles. I wouldn’t say any of the characters have a particular advantage over each other beyond what character you gravitate toward from the show.

The environments lack the colorful, gorgeous, intense punch of the series, and I don’t really feel like I’m a powerful character from the show when I play. At least, I don’t feel that way in single-player, since the game puts ridiculous numbers of enemies against you with limited ways to heal and fight, even on the easiest difficulty.

It is clear that this game was built around co-op, and honestly, as a party game it could be pretty fun. If you had a friend or three to dive in with you online and explore the game, maybe there would be an appeal to play the levels over and over again like in Left 4 Dead. As it stands though, even looking for artifacts (collectibles) in the environments starts to become tedious since the upgrade system doesn’t really give you a noticeable difference in power.

I think if the team really had chosen to put some budget behind it I would feel differently. If they had made a solid, narrative-driven experience that let you *feel* like the characters in the show, I would be more excited. This actually makes me hopeful for the new RWBY game that is being done by WayForward. WayForward does great things with the Shantae franchise, and I would love to see them give this IP the attention it deserves.

If you’re interested in checking this out for the Multiplayer modes, there is a horde mode that has you protecting various things with your party, along with the typical campaign you can run through. I would personally wait for a sale though, as $29.99 is a bit steep for what you’re getting, even with the DLC involved from RWBY: Grimm Eclipse – Definitive Edition.

It isn’t a bad game, but I do find it disappointing. If they had put more time and effort in I think fans would really have resonated with it. On the other hand, what we got really feels like nothing more than a cash grab. Though it runs well on Switch, so if you have a kid that likes the series, maybe this is right for them.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of RWBY: Grimm Eclipse – Definitive Edition was provided by Aspyr Media for this review.

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RWBY: Grimm Eclipse - Definitive Edition

$29.99 USD

6.5

Score

6.5/10

Pros

• Decent Action Combat
• Great Co-Op Gameplay
• Simple Controls
• New Story for Fans of the Series

Cons

• Combat is a Little too Shallow
• Single-Player Difficulty Spikes too Much
• Characters Feel too Similar
• Visuals Aren't as Striking as They Should be
• Upgrades Don't Make Much Difference