The Final Battle is an enjoyable expansion for Attack on Titan 2 that fans of the anime will get the most out of. The new story is quite robust, as are its new modes and multiple new playable characters. If you enjoyed the base game, you’ll enjoy The Final Battle, but if the base game wasn’t for you, this expansion won’t change your mind.
Attack on Titan 2: The Final Battle
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Price: $60
Platform: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, and PC
MonsterVine was supplied with a PS4 code for review
It’s a bit difficult to tell what exactly Attack on Titan 2: The Final Battle is. It’s an expansion that can be bought for the same price as the base game, even though it includes the base game. Regardless, this new complete package does have a good deal of content included in it, so fans of the base game may want to check it out, while for anime fans who don’t have the game, it’s definitely the definitive edition to buy.
The main selling point of The Final Battle is its focus around Season 3 of the Attack on Titan anime. The third season is filled with new characters and plotlines that make for some pretty thrilling content. This season’s story is told through Character Episode mode, where you can experience the plot from three unique points of view. I like that Final Battle lets you experience the story from the perspective of the Armored, Colossal, and Female Titans, as it makes the world of Attack on Titan much more interesting. The new characters are intriguing as well, and it’s refreshing to fight against other humans amongst the chaos of battling the gloriously creepy titans, though they definitely go down a lot faster. Like with the base game, however, slaying titans can get a bit boring after playing for a long period of time, which isn’t really remedied by these new modes.
The one thing that makes combat a bit different is the ability to equip firearms instead of swords. Unlike swords, firearms require essentially no precision, as holding down the attack button has them fire at whatever titan part you’re locked onto. Firearms are incredibly destructive though, so they blow through Titans with ease. They’re a fun alternative to swords, though not quite as satisfying because there’s less skill and timing involved. Swords aren’t left in the dust though, as Final Battle features the explosive Thunder Spears– a temporary weapon upgrade that makes swords into enormous sharp projectiles that explode upon hitting a titan. They’re ridiculously fun to use, but they have enough limitations to make them feel like an earned reward.
Outside of the story, the Territory Recovery mode is the biggest and most enjoyable addition to Attack on Titan 2. In this mode, you get to make your own regiment using your custom character and most of the main characters of Attack on Titan. You use up turns to move across the map to various missions, where you fight Titans with your team in order to claim territory and recruit new characters. Befriending these characters can give you bonuses and stat boosts, which makes scouting characters worthwhile.
The Final Word
Attack on Titan 2: The Final Battle is definitely the best way to play Attack on Titan 2. It adapts the storyline of Season 3 in a fun and creative way and adds new modes and gameplay mechanics to keep The Final Battle from feeling like filler content. It’s essentially more Attack on Titan 2 with some neat upgrades, so fans of the game and anime will want to check the expansion out.
MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
