I have made my opinion clear a few times that Japanese media is weird: Games, anime, and manga are almost always on a list of oddities apart from a few exceptions. Over the last several months my walls have been broken down by the Death Note manga, the first Dark Souls, and most recently (This week) the Attack on Titan anime. I have even done the unthinkable and recommended our editor-in-chief Alexx watch the anime series of Attack on Titan. Though, going into Attack on Titan 2 I hadn’t seen a single episode of the series or read the manga.

I didn’t know or care that Mikasa cares about Eren or how the show and Manga tie-in because I just didn’t care. What did excite me about Attack on Titan, released back in 2016, and Attack on Titan 2 was the idea of fighting the titans. I’ve said it before: I have a proclivity to killing large and ungodly creatures of the most horrific kind. So, of course, I would enjoy Attack on Titan 2, right? Sort of.

You see, there are two sections to Attack on Titan 2; The titan fighting, and the “OMG!!! I love Sasha Braus with all my anime loving heart!” To explain, the titan fighting is bouts of fun that almost anyone could enjoy without having to watch the anime or read the manga. Then once you’ve taken on these monoliths of Ken and Barbie doll-like humanity, you go back to the barracks to speak with characters and develop the plot. This is where knowledge of the series would aid you greatly; you’d have an idea of who you like or dislike already.

However, people such as myself prior to playing would look at this as busy work keeping you away from the fun of it all. You can walk around the barracks speaking with actual characters of the anime and cheer them up, step next to filler characters so the barracks don’t feel empty and they’ll have something to tell. Nevertheless, you could just ignore that section and run towards the large red exclamation marker telling you to move on. Though it is quite amusing to bump into two characters saying, “I’ve gotta do my best,” “I’ve gotta do my best, too,” “Let’s both do our best!” All of this in the creepy “power of friendship!” thing Japanese media tends to push.

Once you’re past the very slow opening of the game, past the tutorial in the barracks, and you’re in a proper battle with a titan in a city; this is where the game opens up. You can finally get to the titan fighting the series is known for, and it is entertaining in several ways, but could get monotonous. The combat is nothing more than taking down the almighty titans which have a motivation of eating humans. Don’t get eaten, and there is enough variety of titans to kill, but soon you’ll realize to do everything in the most efficient way possible.

Take for example the PlayStation 2 game, Shadow of the Colossus, a game about killing twelve huge creatures with nothing more than your sword. Your first thought is, “How do I kill that?” and your second may be, “How do I climb onto that?” In Attack on Titan 2 (and I assume 1) you have one way of killing, it is the most efficient, and you are tutorialized on it straight away. You are most effective by going for the nape once you see the titan. Though, those who haven’t seen the show or read the manga may ask, “How does one attack the nape of a near 200-ft pillar of human meat?” I am glad you asked.

The genital cannons, or as the game likes to call them: “omnidirectional mobility gear,” the boring name; are little boxes hanging off the hips of all the characters, which contain cable inside that fires out like Spider-Man’s web. These are powered by gas, which depletes and can be restocked at a tower, which you can build. However, the boring bits about that aside, it is immense fun swinging through the cities finding the titans that are destroying said cities. These genital cannons, or omnidirectional mobility gear, bring back memories of swinging about the city of New York as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 2.

Between taking down a titan on your own and with your best-friends (Sasha) it would seem boring, the swinging is what gives the fights some life. Though it is not perfect, as you have to lock on to a titan; this means you can’t freely move around, but can get a few good hits in. However, there is one awful, horrible, (and a few other synonyms) aspect of how truly dreadful the aiming/lock-on system is. Not only will it aim for arm or leg 90% of the time: which can be fun to be covered in blood as a titan scrambles on the floor with one leg and one stump; but you’ll aim for the neck to instantly snap back to a limb.

It is all high-octane action until you face a titan and want to go straight for the nape, not faff around with lopping a leg off or trimming a titan’s nails a bit too much. It would be fine if I (and indeed you) want to subdue one or two titans while you go look at a few magazines in a shop window, but it is not practical. Though, it is interesting when you are looking at a titan attempt to move around with only one leg. Nonetheless, as I said before, you will naturalize to a state of maximum efficiency.

Back to happy news: you create your character (probably referred to as “Original character, do not steal!” ) It is fun when you’re sitting in the barracks, having a cup of coffee with Sasha, and chatting back and forth the camera will sometimes switch to your big dopey face. Personally, I opted for one of the largest, gormless, and blandest faces because I knew the character would have nothing more than being a piece off to the side. Sure, there are dialogue trees which give you the option to berate someone, encourage them, or be indifferent towards them. However, you don’t have much to do with the plot, other than stabbing titans in the neck.

In conclusion, Attack on Titan 2 is perfect for a fan of the Anime, I assume as I chip away at the series, and as someone from the outside to begin with the titan fighting is fun enough on its own. Though, if you are waiting to play Attack on Titan 2 you may want to wait a little longer, at least until July the 5th when Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle releases.

An Xbox One review copy of Attack on Titan 2 was provided by Koei Tecmo for this review.

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Attack on Titan 2

$25.45

7.9

Score

7.9/10

Pros

• Titans
• Omnidirectional Mobility Gear Swinging
• Fun Fanfare

Cons

• Lock-on/Aim System

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