Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What would happen if a gacha game’s story actually respected its audience?
Try Reverse 1999: reverse1999.onelink.me/Rh0f/owf8r8gz
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Reverse1999_GL
YouTube: youtube.com/@reverse1999
Discord: discord.gg/reverse1999
Official Website: re1999.bluepoch.com/en
Every time I make a video critiquing the flaws in gacha storytelling, someone will come into the comments and tell me that I need to play Reverse 1999.
It has a reputation for being intelligent and creative, for unique worldbuilding, depth, narrative complexity, and fantastic presentation.
But at the same time, its critics felt it was cryptic and confusing, the kind of story where complexity is assumed to be equivalent to quality, and the actual experience of the narrative is flawed as a result.
It was high up my list of games to try, but at my current pace that meant I’d probably get to it some time in 2030.
So when Bluepoch reached out to ask if I’d be interested in playing the game and sharing my experience with their upcoming collaboration with Assassin’s Creed, I was very excited to try it for myself.
I downloaded it straight away, and played a bunch on my Steamdeck over the following couple of weeks before the collab dropped, and then some more since then.
I think I understand both sides of the debate.
Let’s talk about it!
00:00 Intro
00:58 First impressions • Visuals & aesthetics
02:24 First impressions • Music & voice acting
03:04 First impressions • In media res
04:08 First impressions • A technical issue
04:30 Combat mechanics
05:41 Progression & gacha
06:36 The story
07:57 The story • Learning curves
08:28 The story • Learning curves • The Old Kingdom
08:59 The story • Learning curves • Stormlight Archive
09:40 The story • Learning curves • Malazan
10:16 The story • Preferences
11:15 The story • Reverse 1999
12:51 Assassin's Creed
13:37 Assassin's Creed • Blending narratives
14:57 Assassin's Creed • A crossover done right
15:40 Conclusion
Reverse: 1999 is a 20th Century Time-Travel Strategic RPG developed by Bluepoch. As the Timekeeper, the observer of eras, you will embark on a journey across time and space, from the Roaring '20s to the turn of the millennium, uncovering the truth about the "Storm" and the mystery of the year 1999.
I'm always happy to talk Reverse 1999 and other games, streams 3pm UK
twitch.tv/saurusness
Twitch: twitch.tv/saurusness
Merch: saurusness-shop.fourthwall.com
Twitter: twitter.com/saurusness
Discord: thatsaurus.com/discord
#Reverse1999 #Reverse1999AssassinsCreedCollab
What would happen if a gacha game’s story actually respected its audience?
Try Reverse 1999: reverse1999.onelink.me/Rh0f/owf8r8gz
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Reverse1999_GL
YouTube: youtube.com/@reverse1999
Discord: discord.gg/reverse1999
Official Website: re1999.bluepoch.com/en
Every time I make a video critiquing the flaws in gacha storytelling, someone will come into the comments and tell me that I need to play Reverse 1999.
It has a reputation for being intelligent and creative, for unique worldbuilding, depth, narrative complexity, and fantastic presentation.
But at the same time, its critics felt it was cryptic and confusing, the kind of story where complexity is assumed to be equivalent to quality, and the actual experience of the narrative is flawed as a result.
It was high up my list of games to try, but at my current pace that meant I’d probably get to it some time in 2030.
So when Bluepoch reached out to ask if I’d be interested in playing the game and sharing my experience with their upcoming collaboration with Assassin’s Creed, I was very excited to try it for myself.
I downloaded it straight away, and played a bunch on my Steamdeck over the following couple of weeks before the collab dropped, and then some more since then.
I think I understand both sides of the debate.
Let’s talk about it!
00:00 Intro
00:58 First impressions • Visuals & aesthetics
02:24 First impressions • Music & voice acting
03:04 First impressions • In media res
04:08 First impressions • A technical issue
04:30 Combat mechanics
05:41 Progression & gacha
06:36 The story
07:57 The story • Learning curves
08:28 The story • Learning curves • The Old Kingdom
08:59 The story • Learning curves • Stormlight Archive
09:40 The story • Learning curves • Malazan
10:16 The story • Preferences
11:15 The story • Reverse 1999
12:51 Assassin's Creed
13:37 Assassin's Creed • Blending narratives
14:57 Assassin's Creed • A crossover done right
15:40 Conclusion
Reverse: 1999 is a 20th Century Time-Travel Strategic RPG developed by Bluepoch. As the Timekeeper, the observer of eras, you will embark on a journey across time and space, from the Roaring '20s to the turn of the millennium, uncovering the truth about the "Storm" and the mystery of the year 1999.
I'm always happy to talk Reverse 1999 and other games, streams 3pm UK
twitch.tv/saurusness
Twitch: twitch.tv/saurusness
Merch: saurusness-shop.fourthwall.com
Twitter: twitter.com/saurusness
Discord: thatsaurus.com/discord
#Reverse1999 #Reverse1999AssassinsCreedCollab
