Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles 2, A Short But Sweet Review

We have experience reviewing Demon Slayer games, as well as the most popular anime titles. If it still garners enough popularity, someone will likely create another game in hopes of profiting from fans who have grown attached to the franchise.

In this case, it's another licensed arena anime fighter, familiar to veterans of the genre, featuring a tried-and-true recipe for success. CyberConnect2 is, of course, a considerable master in this world, and they've proven once again that there's no need to change anything if it's keeping their pockets full and fans satisfied.

If you are in the mood for something completely different, check out our Endzone 2 review!

The Story of The Hinokami Chronicles 2: A Compelling Journey Awaits

Like the first game on consoles, The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is closely linked to the mechanics of the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series, featuring the well-known cell-shaded graphics that best display anime characters without distorting them into "real characters" characters or making any other changes that would cause widespread fan discontent. 

As in every anime-style arena fighter, the main story revolves around the Story mode, which covers a few parts (we won't say arcs) of the story, given that covering the entire series would be a serious undertaking and would extend the game to hundreds of hours without problems. This version covers the Entertainment District Arc, Swordsmith Village Arc, and Hashira Training Arc, which is more than enough for dozens of hours of fun.

Of course, the story follows Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, along with their unusual and unexpected allies, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira, who together pursue the Demon Slayer Corps Hashira, aiming to defeat the mighty demons that are terrorizing the world. Since CyberConnect2 is known for minor changes and improvements, you can't expect a typical "copy-paste" system – various new features have been added to make this game a complete package for all Demon Slayer fans. 

Although the story flow and gameplay are linear, extra parts have been inserted where possible (collectibles, as well as side quests), which is a nice detail that will immerse you even deeper in the world of Demon Slayer.

Battle Mechanics and Features

If you want to get the most out of the game, various mini-games lean more towards rhythm games than action, but as some players would say, "all for the platinum trophy!" We move on to the most fun part, which is, of course, the battles. Most battles are simple, with established mechanics. However, interestingly, in some specific battles, small "plot twists" occur, and particular mechanics are altered, yet remain consistent with the story. 

Don't think that the battles are easy – far from it. With super scale mechanics that you use when you gauge, challenging fun awaits as you defeat opponents. Dual Ultimate, equipping characters with adequate equipment, as well as preset teams for eliminating demons, will bring a smile to the faces of all fans.

You have an impressive selection of over 40 characters, but a few of them are just different skins, so apart from the cool looks, you don't get any other changes in those characters. The game, of course, has its flaws – the Story mode covers the middle of the story, so the game's ending puts you on a cliffhanger that leaves you craving more of the story.

Perhaps it's cleverly designed to immediately follow up with the new film, Infinity Castle Arc, which is inserted to intrigue your imagination and keep you hooked in this franchise. Those who didn't play the first Chronicles might have trouble catching up with the entire story, but given that the game is directly focused on fans, we doubt there will be any significant difficulties.

Is There Online Play?

The online section, which is also mandatory for arena fighters, is present here. The netcode is more than correct, but the problem is that there is no rollback, which creates disturbances when drawing opponents from the other end of the world. 

This can disrupt and affect the overall online experience, as lag can cause unexpected reactions that can either help or complicate battles.

The Hinokami Chronicles 2, In Conclusion

When everything is considered, Hinokami Chronicles 2 is definitely at the top of such games, with an extremely detailed story, beautiful graphics, and outstanding voice acting that won't leave any fan indifferent. This game has set a new standard for the Demon Slayer franchise, as well as solidified CyberConnect2's position as the king of arena fighters for a long time.

Rating: 8/10. 

The game got this grade because it successfully builds upon the first game, offering an engaging story, beautiful graphics, and fun gameplay, despite some minor flaws in the netcode and battle mechanics.

Recommended age: 13 and above. 

This game is recommended for kids aged 13 and above because it features complex storylines, challenging gameplay, and some violence, which may not be suitable for younger children.  However, the official ESRB rating for this game is M, indicating it is intended for mature audiences only.