Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a visually beautiful continuation of the 2021 3D arena fighter. If you enjoyed the first game, you’ll find the exact same joy in this sequel, even if it isn’t especially ambitious compared to other fighters. That being said, it’s an all-around great package for series fans.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
Developer: CyberConnect2
Price: $70
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed), PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
I reviewed the original Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles way back in 2021 and had a great time with it. I dig Demon Slayer, and as far as 3D anime arena fighters go, I think this is one of the properties that works best with the genre. It seems CyberConnect2 agreed, as they’ve released a sequel that works just as well as the first, which is certainly good enough.
Combat in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is exciting and flashy, perfectly emulating the fast-paced battles of the manga and anime. Pulling off combos feels great, with the wide roster of characters all having unique playstyles. Being able to dash around the battlefield and perform massive, explosive sword attacks is a blast, with the combat mechanics striking a pleasant middle ground between being simple and fairly layered in the technical sense. If you’re only looking for anime-like fun, though, you’ll get by more than fine.
There are plenty of modes to play in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2, from the expected ones like story mode and versus to an interesting series of battles called Training Paths that lead you to battling a Hashira at the end. Plus, there’s a quicker “story so far” mode to catch you up on the plot of Demon Slayer leading into this game, which is a good addition for anyone who’s jumping straight to the sequel. It’s an acceptable gathering of diverse modes for this sort of game, giving players plenty to do alone or with pals.
“It’s worth noting how well the art style is captured by the visuals, with some wild facial expressions and a surprising amount of gore making it into the game.“
Playing as characters rewards you with Character Mastery, which grants customization items as you level up. This, combined with the collectables throughout the semi-free roam sections of the story mode, makes it feel like you’re always earning new items with which to boost your profile. You can even earn abilities to use as gear throughout the story mode, adding a bit of customization to things.
The story mode of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 picks up right where the first game left off, with the Entertainment District arc, and goes until the most recently animated story arc, the Hashira Training arc. The cutscenes are fantastic recreations of the anime’s many iconic moments that convey the narrative without missing anything important, while some of the collectables strewn throughout provide comedic little looks into the less detailed moments.
The story also brings in some goofy minigames for the less action-oriented story moments, including some rather comical rhythm-based ones. These provide some refreshing spots in between the battles, though I wouldn’t have minded a few additional ones to further space out the combat.
Speaking of the recreations, the visuals of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 are expectedly gorgeous. If there’s one thing the source material is constantly praised for, it’s the incredible animation and art style. The game thankfully brings this universally praised aspect over to the interactive medium, making every special attack and cutscene an absolute joy to behold. It’s worth noting how well the art style is captured by the visuals, with some wild facial expressions and a surprising amount of gore making it into the game. The music and voice acting are similarly exceptional, truly selling the emotional or action-packed moments in both English and Japanese.
The Final Word
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is an incredibly stylish follow-up to an already solid 3D fighter. There’s a wide range of neat characters, a satisfying combat system, exceptional presentation, and a good range of modes. If you’re into Demon Slayer, you’ll be into The Hinokami Chronicles 2.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
