As someone who likes anime like many people around the world, I want my favorite shows to be represented in video game form. But I also think that for a video game to capture the essence of what makes an anime popular, it needs to be released when the anime it’s nearing the end or at least wait until a couple of seasons have aired to make it more complete. I know that this is a conflicting point of view because everyone wants to capitalize when the anime is at its peak momentum. In any case, we have with us Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle. This is a total overhaul of last year’s release, and I must say that the developer has nailed it. This release includes everything that was released initially but with new additions that have improved the overall experience seen.
For starters, this is a hunting style game, but that feels more like a mission-based hack and slash game. I honestly like it since it was different from what I am used to or am looking for in a hunting game. One of the things I like the most about the anime is the gear the characters use the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear (ODM form now on). The ODM makes this game a fast-faced gorefest. It feels so satisfying to swing to the air like my favorite superhero Spidey while raining bullets or slashing every Titan on sight, and the developer got that movement just right. Now, since the Final Battle is considered an expansion if you have the previous game, you get all content released previously plus some quality of life changes as well as new content based on the third season of the anime. All of these comes together to create a unique experience from the previous game.
Now, let us talk about the improvements over the previous game. First of all, you can use the new weapons in all game modes (with some exceptions, of course), and we have two types of ODM we can use. We can use the blade based ODM as seen in the anime to slash our way through the hordes of Titans, or we can use a gun style ODM based on Kenny Ackerman’s police equipment. Let me tell you that being able to use guns changes the way to play the game completely because you can destroy titan parts from a safe distance, but you also can swing around and use anchors to get close and deal damage more effectively, using either one handgun or both at the same time you can effectively destroy parts of the Titan. However, the downside of this is that the ammo is limited, so you need to plan accordingly before each mission. With the Anti-Personal ODM, you also get access to a minigun this raises up the stakes in each mission, and it feels great to obliterate titans with it. (The AP ODM is not part of the Manga-Anime this is not canon, but even so, it makes the game fun). With the Blades ODM, you get access to the Thunder Lances. These are some rocket launchers that with a well-aimed shot it can one-shot a titan, or with a well-synchronized attack, its powerful enough to deal massive damage to a mid-level boss.
Another notable change is the automatic combat help. This can be activated in the settings this helps reduce the number of button combinations needed to do a successful attack (great for those not used to action games). I prefer to learn the most intricate sequences that I feel that even if I lose the mission little by little I can get better. Another blessing is the targeting lock-on. These arrows help A LOT, especially while swinging they help a lot to deal with damage in the right spots. For some, it might not be much but it certainly makes things better.
Graphically, the game looks great. Maybe I am used to playing only on Nintendo Switch, but I like how colorful everything looks and how stable the game feels. So far, I didn’t experience any slowdowns even with multiple enemies on the field. I like the approach taken in the Story mode since your avatar is like a character helping from the sidelines, but even so, your avatar’s actions and relationship with the main characters unlocks some interesting interactions.
If you play the Episode Mode, this is more like playing what happened in the anime but from each character’s perspective. This mode gives a minimum of ten more hours of content, and when finished, you unlock characters to use in other modes all of them with their own skills and traits. Territory Recovery Mode has you travel beyond the walls and into the wild to build your faction of humans and to try and fend off the Titan menace. This is a very open-ended mode that allows you to be in control of your own story. You’ll encounter up to forty characters in this mode and hours of unique mini-missions. It gives an open-world kind of vibe and feels more in tune with the developer Omega Force characteristic Musou games, and it is a welcome and fun mode to play.
The music its really good, and I personally love that the game is in Japanese audio with subtitles. For me, it’s like I’m watching the anime, so kudos for that.
The real question here is for owners of the original game: Is it worth it to pay the asking price to upgrade? It depends if you are a fan of the anime and want the best experience possible. Then, yes, since it adds a lot of content even if the asking price is a bit high. If you are a newcomer, then buying the upgraded game that includes this expansion is a must-have.
Bottom Line: Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle is a well-done representation of the acclaimed Anime/Manga. The approach taken with the avatar and how it´s included in the story ( even if it’s not canon) is great. I definitely enjoyed my time with the game, and this is the definitive edition. I can recommend it for someone that has not tried last year’s release.
A Review code was kindly provided for this review.