Edens Zero is an action RPG adapted from Hiro Mashima’s popular manga series of the same name. Originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 2018 to 2024, this marks the franchise’s first major console release. With Konami leading development, the game delivers a solid foundation and faithful adaptation, though it stumbles on one key aspect that many RPG enthusiasts hold dear.

Forging Bonds Across the Galaxy

Shiki, a human raised among robots, lives a solitary life until he crosses paths with Rebecca—a content creator traveling through space with her talking blue cat, Happy. After weathering a chaotic encounter together, the trio forms a bond and sets off on a cosmic journey to explore distant planets and uncover the mysteries of the universe.

Set in a sci-fi universe infused with magical technology known as Ether Gear, Edens Zero blends space adventure with fantastical elements. As Shiki and Rebecca journey across various worlds, they recruit allies and embark on a mission to find a legendary being known as Mother.

The game splits its experience into two main modes: Story Mode, which follows key arcs from the manga, and Exploration Mode, where players can freely roam the expansive planet Blue Garden. Between missions, players return to a spaceship hub that gradually gains new features and upgrades as the story progresses.

As the narrative unfolds, more characters join the roster, new abilities are unlocked, additional ship functions become available, and fresh side quests emerge in Exploration Mode. However, the early game can feel restrictive—basic exploration on Blue Garden is challenging at first, especially since one of the earliest map encounters involves a group of ranged enemies that can overwhelm unprepared players.

Diverse Roster, Deep Combat, and Tactical Depth

Combat is the core of Edens Zero's gameplay. Players assemble a team of up to four characters and can switch between them instantly using the directional buttons. The playable roster includes Shiki, Rebecca, Weisz, Homura, Witch, Sister, Hermit, and Jinn, each bringing unique abilities to the battlefield.

Characters vary in combat style—Shiki and Homura excel in close-quarters combat, while Rebecca, Weisz, and Witch offer long-range options. With three basic attack buttons and unlockable skills such as charged attacks and Homing Attacks (earned by spending Ether Gear Points), combat feels dynamic and customizable.

Progression allows players to enhance stats, improve dodge mechanics, add accessory slots, and unlock new skill branches. If a build isn’t working, players can reset their points and experiment with different setups. Gear also plays a crucial role, affecting HP, Attack, and Defense, while accessories grant resistances to status effects and other bonuses.

Enemies appear either as roaming threats or scripted encounters triggered at specific locations. Battles take place in enclosed arenas and often involve multiple foes. Players can lock onto enemies or target specific body parts during boss fights, adding a layer of strategy.

Each character brings unique skills: Shiki manipulates gravity to group enemies, making them vulnerable to AoE attacks; Weisz deploys temporary turrets for sustained damage; Witch cycles through Fire, Ice, and Electricity elements, each inflicting different status effects. Perfectly timed dodges trigger powerful counterattacks, though the game lacks attack canceling, making evasion more rigid and less forgiving than in other action titles. This forces players to plan their movements carefully but also increases the difficulty of avoiding damage.

Stylish Characters, Lifeless Worlds

Outside of combat, appearance customization becomes a highlight. After a story milestone, players unlock the Dress Factory, allowing them to mix and match previously acquired clothing items. Outfits can be saved in up to five presets per character, letting players maintain cosmetic choices independently from stat-boosting gear.

Unlocking new fashion items—and most gear in general—requires venturing off the beaten path and completing side content. While Blue Garden offers exploration incentives through loot and sidequests, the world often feels empty. Crowded streets are populated with NPCs, yet none are interactive, creating a sense of artificiality.

Despite its vast size, Blue Garden has large stretches with little to do or discover. Story Mode is even more linear, with many areas serving as narrow corridors between objectives, occasionally branching to hidden chests or minor challenges.

That said, the core loop remains engaging. The combat system and character progression are robust enough to keep players invested in battling, upgrading, and collecting. However, the lack of meaningful world interaction leaves a noticeable void—these planets feel more like backdrops than living, breathing ecosystems.

Final Thoughts:
Edens Zero is a satisfying action RPG with strong combat mechanics, a varied cast, and a faithful representation of Hiro Mashima’s imaginative universe. While the worlds may feel hollow and underutilized due to minimal interactivity, the core gameplay loop delivers enough excitement and depth to make the journey worthwhile.

The above is the detailed content of Edens Zero Review: A Fun But Flawed Space Opera RPG. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!