Stored game record
Qliphah in Providence's Shadow
Tokyo has fallen. In the wake of the 'Collapse,' time is your ultimate weapon. Unleash real-time skills, predict enemy moves, and deliver devastating counters in this high-stakes Tactical Timeline RPG.
- Arc System Works
- UnitePlus
Platform scores
| Platform | Metascore | Userscore |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch | Not stored | Not stored |
| PC | 64 | Not stored |
| PlayStation 5 | 61 | Not stored |
What players said
Unavailable: no stored user excerpts.
Stored video
No video link stored for this game.
What critics said
Praise
- Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow is an unfortunate case of ambition easily being the most compelling part of a game. Its core vision and foundation are razor sharp, but are buried beneath a lack of substance, a faltering and mismatched presentation, and a narrative that fails to match the concept’s lofty ambitions. When Qliphah does double down on what makes it stand out, like the unique combat, charming leads, and gorgeous world, there are signs of a much more interesting game just waiting to be unearthed. Until a potential sequel (which I honestly hope happens, weird name and all) confidently finalizes the game’s strong core identity, Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow is an underbaked title that wears out its ambitious charm a little too fast.
- Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow is made for a very niche audience. It’s a horror JRPG with a combat system built to appeal to fighting game fans. The combat is deep and is going to be a dream come true for some. This might even be a great entry JRPG for Arc System Work’s usual fighting game audience. Normally I would be hesitant to widely recommend something this niche, but Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow is most easily compared to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. There are a lot of people waiting for a game influenced by it, and this is the first great one.
Criticism
- Sadly, Qliphah in Providence’s Shadow is a slog from beginning to end. The combat is repetitive from the start, as every fight becomes the same sequence of counters and finishing attacks. The progression system has plenty of upgrades to unlock, but they all leave the same tedious combat intact. The story has some interesting ideas; the writing fails to make them work, and the decent atmosphere is wasted. The basic visuals and repetitive environments are another drag on the experience. Although there are a few good ideas here, the game is simply not much fun to play. RPGamers who want something different may find Qliphah worth a look, but it is ultimately difficult to recommend.
Mixed
- Frustration mounts from start to finish during Qliphah in Providence's Shadow. What could have been a unique, brand-new IP sadly fails to capitalize on its great ideas. Combat is convoluted, and its special mechanics don't always work as intended, and the investigation segments almost unlock on their own. There are glimpses of something good here, but bad design decisions constantly hold it back.