Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is a flashy and fun anime fighter that makes up for its lack of depth and lacking roster with its abundance of content and gorgeous visuals. It’s one of the better anime fighters for sure, especially if you’re already a Demon Slayer fan.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
Developer: CyberConnect2
Price: $60
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed,) PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
A Shonen Jump property being reviewed by Spencer? Now I’ve seen everything! Yes, I’m a big Demon Slayer fan, and as soon as the game was announced, I looked forward to it. CyberConnect2’s Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm games perfectly capture the feeling of playing through battles from Naruto, so I had hoped the same would apply for Demon Slayer. For the most part, it does. Though it could use a bit more depth and a few more characters, The Hinkokami Chronicles does indeed capture the spirit of the Demon Slayer series and is a lot of fun to boot.
The Hinokami Chronicles covers the story of Demon Slayer from the beginning to the end of the Mugen Train arc. I won’t spoil anything, but the basic gist of it is that you play as Tanjiro Kamado, a young man who, after a terrible tragedy, wants to turn his sister back from a demon into a human. To do so, he joins the Demon Slayer Corps, and battles all sorts of demons alongside various allies, like the cowardly Zenitsu and the hog-wild Inosuke. The story is presented well in the game, in part thanks to the excellent voice acting and visuals. There are even optional cutscenes that fill in the gaps of the story, so if you’re new to the franchise, this is actually a pretty strong way to get caught up if you’re short on time.
The gameplay of Hinokami Chronicles is simple and fairly familiar to anyone who has played the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. You and your opponent are placed in a 3D arena where you use basic attacks, special moves, and ultimate moves to defeat one another. You’ll likely use the same combos frequently, but it feels good and straight out of the source material. The attacks are as exciting to use as they are to look at, and all land with a satisfying weight to them.
“Hinokami Chronicles looks incredible, and really nails the energy and emotional impact of some of the best moments from Demon Slayer.“
The various characters play in different ways, but it’s easy to jump into a new character since there isn’t too much depth to the combat. I do wish there were more layers to it, maybe an additional attack button or more complex combos, but what’s here is enjoyable. I think further sequels could really build on what’s here, as this serves as a great base for a Demon Slayer fighter.
There’s no shortage of content in Hinokami Chronicles, which I always appreciate in an anime game. There are characters, costumes, profile pictures, and profile quotes to unlock all throughout the game, which makes progressing through the story feel worthwhile– even if you’re a diehard fan who already knows the story inside and out. There are also training challenges with each character that get you accustomed to each playstyle, framed as though you’re training with whoever you choose. I like that the training mode is presented in this way, as it feels very in line with Demon Slayer in general.
I do wish the roster was more fleshed out though, as there are currently no playable demons and only a couple Hashira (alongside Murata, for some reason.) I don’t expect the full character roster to be available, but the major demons you fight against should probably be playable in Versus. The Academy characters are a neat addition, but having so many doubles in the roster is kind of a bummer. I’ve read that the Japanese version already has some free DLC characters, specifically demons, so I hope we see a good deal of that to help round out the roster.
Hinokami Chronicles looks incredible, and really nails the energy and emotional impact of some of the best moments from Demon Slayer. The way it adapts Koyoharu Gotōge’s excellent facial expressions, both comical and epic, is perfect. The voice acting, both in English and Japanese, is incredible. There’s so much emotion behind the lines, especially in the Mugen Train arc, that I can’t help but be blown away by the performances. The same goes for the music, which sets the tone of the cutscenes and battles perfectly.
The Final Word
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is a simple but enjoyable anime fighter that nails the essence of Demon Slayer while providing players with quite a bit of content. Though I wish the roster was a bit bigger, the presentation and basic gameplay make this a good grab for Demon Slayer fans.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
