PLATFORM: PC, PS4, PS5 (REVIEWED), XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X, SWITCH | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
After the original game launched in October 2021, fans of the Demon Slayer franchise have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to the extremely solid fighting game Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles. Well, fans, wait no more, as The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is finally here.
Following on from the end of the worldwide phenomenon’s “Mugen Train Arc”, players will venture through the award-winning manga and anime’s “Entertainment District”, “Swordsmith Village”, and “Hashira Training” Arcs, posing some extremely stylish and epic fights with the show’s iconic villains and characters. Much like its predecessor, Hinokami Chronicles 2 boasts stunning visuals, truly highlighting the epic moments that fans of the show love. When it comes to the gameplay, developers CyberConnect2 have enhanced and addressed the majority of issues that plagued the first game, meaning that this is a worthy sequel and not just a shameless IP cash-grab. Some of those improvements include being able to run in the open world segments, an RPG-esque gear system and plenty of modes to keep players entertained and coming back for more.
For those who have not played the original, the game does allow newcomers to recap the story with six one-on-one fights, meaning they can swiftly catch up and get straight into the action. Once you are in the action, story mode provides some great fights and progression (with the new inclusion of gear). Once you finish the story, there is Hashira training, which allows for replayability, something that the original game kind of lacked. All of that, alongside memorable fights that put you right in the action, Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a really fun time as a Demon Slayer and anime fan.
Although the improvements from the original 2021 release to this sequel aren’t anything game-changing in the grand scheme of the gaming landscape, it proves that CyberConnect2 took on board player feedback and wants to improve going forward. With the source material going from strength to strength, expect Hinokami Chronicles 3 to absolutely be incoming in the near future.
