Over the past decade the number of licensed anime games has changed significantly! The once-safer fertile ground for games that were subpar and only licensed to sell additional copies has evolved into one of the most popular and well-known games on the market! The paradigm shift is due to one studio which set out to push the boundaries of the possibilities of licensed games by bringing a stunning adaptation to the Shonen Jump franchise, Naruto. For more than 10 years, CyberConnect2’s Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series created a lasting impression thanks to stunning graphics and a passion for the original material which resulted in a game series that sold an astounding 15 million copies over six installments! Every game that tries to recreate the same enthralling quality of the series isn’t an difficult task, but Demon Slayer Mobile Games: The Hinokami Chronicles is the spiritual successor that that fans like me have been waiting for.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles is a 3D arena combat game created by CyberConnect2 and published by SEGA. Based on the original manga written by Koyoharu Gotouge The series has grown into one of the most popular Shonen Jump series. With an adaptation of the anime by UFOTOTAL, the top-grossing anime film of 2021 and the release of a console video game by a well-known developer, it’s evident the Demon Slayer mobile games is a major hit within the world of anime! All the stars align for Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chroniclesto be a fantastic experience, but will the console version of this game surpass the bar for this incredible game?
Story
Demon Slayer Mobile Games: Hinokami Chronicles: Hinokami Chronicles retells the events that occurred from to the Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc all the way until the Mugen Train arc. You control Tanjiro Kamado, whose life is changed when he learns that his entire family was killed by the demon. The only survivor is his sister, Nezuko however, he quickly discovers that although her life was not affected but she was turned into the demon. With renewed determination, Tanjiro aspires to become the Demon Slayer to not only take down the demon that killed his family, but also discover a way to transform Nezuko back to a human.
I’ll be honest and admit that I’m not the greatest enthusiast of Demon Slayer mobile games. It’s not to say that the story isn’t good, because it’s not the typical Shonen setting with a determined protagonist and a mission to keep them motivated throughout the entire series. It’s not a bad effort however, I’ve seen similar stories many times before. However the thing that makes Demon Slayer mobile games stand out and the reason I believe it’s extremely popular is due to the diverse cast of characters. Many of them are enjoyable to watch regardless of Zenitsu experiencing severe panic attacks about the simplest things, Inosuke being a parody of shonen characters who only think of fighting, Shinobu’s steadfast positive attitude until it’s nearly disturbing and on and on! It also applies to the numerous enemies Tanjiro must fight and who often provide a sympathetic background to explain why they behave the way they do.
The weakest of the heroes is Tanjiro. I don’t dislike Tanjiro, but he’s not very interesting. His distinctive traits include possessing a keen sense of smell, a tough head that is frequently utilized to headbutt others, as well… that’s all. Like you would expect, He is determined to never quit and is a kind heart however, these characteristics are a dime dozen for characters within this type of story. What makes him stand out is the fact that his motive is a noble one, and he is always thinking of people before himself, to the point of constantly being a sympathetic figure to the monsters which he fights. This really helps us support him and his growth! Before you ask, yes. Nezuko is adorable and, despite the fact that she doesn’t say much she is the emotional center of the story. I was hoping to see her go back to her normal.
The big question is what do you think Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chroniclesserve as a great way to get acquainted with this story in the beginning? The answer is complex. The main events in the story are covered in the game’s narrative, but it’s definitely an abridged version of the story. However, I like the fact the fact that the game provides the option of seeing scenes that aren’t covered by the game using the concept of Memory Fragments. The reason for this kind of confusion is because some of them are being unlocked later in the game, meaning scenes that are near the beginning of the story are blocked off until you get to an earlier stage in the story. This isn’t logical. However, it’s an excellent way to learn an abbreviated version of the Demon Slayer mobile gamesstory!
Gameplay – Story Mode
Every arc of Demon Slayer Mobile Games: The Hinokami Chroniclesis separated into chapters. To complete the game, you’ll have to complete the entire eight chapters. It’s highly recommended to complete it, since it’s the most efficient method to unlock all characters and levels you’ll encounter in the game’s mode of versus. It’s unfortunate that story modes’ quality isn’t exactly uniform. In Tanjiro’s search for his sister’s protection, you’ll see him exploring different environments, leaping across rooftops and sliding through the bushes. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, these exploration segments are among the weakest elements of the game. The interactive elements I mentioned can only be performed at pre-determined locations. This is a strange choice considering how agile the characters you control will be in scenes. The problem is that your character’s movement is at an extremely slow speed and there is no option to boost your speed. There are other side missions you could tackle however to label them side quests is rather generous. They are all about speaking to specific people or interfacing with objects each of which is marked in your map, taking away the fun of taking the time to explore every area.
It’s not surprising that the plot is usually slow as well, with you frequently being forced to watch a plethora of cutscenesand those previously described exploration segments before fighting any monsters. However, the moments when you are forced to disarm your sword are some of the most enjoyable parts of the game! This is particularly true for the great boss fights in the game! Each of these battles has an element that is unique to make the fight more exciting regardless of whether you are making use of your move options to avoid big fights or taking on more than one boss at the same time. Each of these battles conclude with a stunningly designed interactivity cutscene that is based on CyberConnect2’s renowned quick-time events. There’s a little small nitpick however, as great as the final stages of boss fights are I was shocked to discover the fact that these fast-time events only require only a couple of button presses that is quite different from the previous titles from CyberConnect2.
In addition to the main story You’ll also unlock unique monsters to battle as you finish each chapter. Although they’re not required I found them to be very enjoyable due to their complexity and unique gameplay like the one that inflicts poison while attacking! It’s a good thing, as the majority of the single-player game is easy. It’s not often that you die since attacks are often broadcast and are able to be avoided when timed correctly. The game is thankfully more difficult towards the end however this issue does not affect the game’s fantastic boss battles.
Gameplay – Combat System
The primary reason to play Demon Slayer Mobile Game: Its Hinokami Chroniclesis being able to play as your favourite characters in a thrilling fighting game. I’m pleased to say that the combat system that the game offers is definitely one of its strengths! CyberConnect2 weren’t known for their balanced combat systems and it took them a number of years of the Naruto Storm series to correct the flawed mechanisms they introduced, for instance. This experience proved productive, however, since the combat mechanics and mechanics in Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles are among the finest that the studio has ever created!
The players choose two characters and one of them acts as a backup to extend combos or protect your opponent from a combo. The battles are played in a 3D setting, which allows players to move anywhere within the arena. The majority of movement is done using sidesteps and ground dashes. Ground dashes have properties for homing, just like your aids, however when an opponent makes sidesteps, it will remove the homing property. In addition, your secondary character help you however, you’ll also be able to swap places with them, which allows you to expand combos or make previously unreliable moves more secure. When you block attacks, it’s possible, it is also an option. You could also push block to create some distance between yourself and your opponent. Or, with a good sense of timing, counter your opponent’s attack, leaving the opponent wide open to an attack. In addition to that you’ll have the blue gauge that you can use to make special attacks, and an extra gauge that can be used to create your most powerful attack or increase your speed and attack for a brief period of time.
Beyond the basic choices in combat, there’s much more intricate mechanics to play with. You can halt an attack by stepping back, jumping, or dashing, by using one bar on the blue bar of your meter. It’s the exact meter that you use to perform special attacks, and since you can only keep a maximum of five bars, you must be aware of how you make use of it. If you manage to land an attack, based on the attack you choose to start with the small wheel with a color is visible in the combo meter. This will determine how long you are able to attack your opponent until they can not be damaged. When the gauge reads green, which is typically when you successfully fend off your opponent, you are able to perform a lengthy combination. When the gauge reads red, which is common when you attack an opponent from above The amount of time you are able to damage your opponent is drastically reduced. When all of these elements are combined it creates one of the most fun combat games I’ve played over the many years! It’s easy to learn to play, but there’s enough depth to satisfy players who want to. I definitely can imagine myself playing Demon Slayer Mobile Games: Hinokami Chronicles. Hinokami Chroniclesfor quite some time!
The system isn’t perfect, however it has two major issues that take away from the quality of the combat system. The first issue is the roster of characters: at the time of launch, there were only 12 characters playable from, with six of them having an alternative version that has more humorous ultimate combat. It’s not unusual to see a fighting game have a limited roster of characters however, since certain characters possess very similar special moves in common which leads me to think it was designed to feature a bigger starting roster, but was forced to launch now. This is backed up by the anime version to Demon Slayer Mobile Games beginning its anticipated second season just a week prior to the game’s launch. The good news is that we know that this game is going to receive six DLC characters free of charge and this means that the lack of characters will not be a problem the duration of.
Another issue is more serious which could affect the game’s performance if it’s not addressed. In the PlayStation 4 version I’ve experienced and been frequently mentioned by a lot of gamers that there is an apparent delay in input when entering moves in the game. It’s not just a matter of play online, but it also happens when playing locally. It means that the player’s reaction time is significantly affected and in a game which requires precise timing to parry, how this issue got beyond testing is puzzling! Although reports of this delay being present in different games such as PlayStation 5 and PC PlayStation 5 and PC are contradictory, it’s assumed that the latest generation of hardware does not have this delay in input. We’ll have to hope this issue with delay is fixed in PlayStation 4 version. PlayStation 4 . but that’s not an assurance.
Gameplay – Online
As someone who has spent many years playing games on CyberConnect2 online I’m very familiar with how they are played and, unfortunately, the results aren’t always what you expect. Over the years they’ve been constantly improving the online options for players, including the addition of lobbies, tournament modes and a spectator mode. However, the time Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was released in 2016, a lot of the options offered to players were not available. It was impossible to create lobbies that could accommodate more than four people, and watching matches couldn’t more be played. This was rectified with the road to Boruto expansion one year later and you’d think the studio had learned their lesson and will not cut corners on online play options for their future games, wouldn’t you? But… Let’s just imagine that they found an avenue for online gaming to be even more limited!
There are two options to play online: ranked matches that show your superiority in this game’s rankings system, and custom matches, which allows you to change options and invite friends to join in… and that’s all there is. I’ve met a lot of amazing people through playing games on CyberConnect2 online due to their earlier fighting game titles with online lobbying and spectating options. With the removal of these features , and offering us the basic options and the players’ community Demon Slayer Mobile Games: the Hinokami Chroniclesis really going be harmed in the long in the long run! For example, there will be no easy way to create online tournaments which could ultimately harm the potential competitive aspect of the game. Similar to the issue of input delay on PlayStation 4, we can only hope that these features are included in the game later on down the road.
In the context of that input delay issue Let’s discuss its netcode. The game is based on a delay netcode that has will have caused a lot of gamers to collectively sigh. In essence, based on the connection to the opponent you’ll either be able to win a battle, or one that suffers from huge input delay. If you combine the game’s current issue with input delay to PlayStation 4 version PlayStation 4 version, you might experience an astonishment amount of input delays when playing online! I’ve played many online games with players from my area and, while I grew used to the issue, I’m not sure all can play with this.
Presentation
If there’s one thing that CyberConnect2 always impresses is the way they present their games. Demon Slayer Mobile Games: The Hinokami Chroniclesis no exception. The game is stunning! Cel shaders have changed dramatically in the past two decades , and some of the most effective applications of this style blur the lines of 2D as well as 3D animated. I often had to lift my jaw off the ground because of how accurately the characters and shots were reconstructed from the anime and, in some instances it is completely superior to it! When you consider that CyberConnect2’s efforts are compared to ufotable, one the top animation studios in the world of anime, that is a huge difference! I often had to be reminded that it was not an 2D animated game due to how the style of the anime transformed into a 3D world! The animation work regardless of whether it was an entertaining story or an epic attack that has incredible production values were outstanding! The game isn’t perfect, however: While the locations you’ll visit during the narrative mode look all distinctive and full of detail I did notice some moments of texture popping-in. However, this isn’t a major issue when you consider the amazing way that the game appears when it’s in motion!
The loading times were pretty decent, regardless of the PlayStation 4. It took about 10 to 15 minutes, regardless of whether it was a cutscene in the story mode or a multiplayer game, which is a huge credit for the speed improvement on older platforms! The game is played at 30 frames per second. Although some may be offended at this, particularly considering it being a combat game, I felt it created an immersive feel and made it more in line with the original source material!
The music is also a great feature! The game does not only incorporate some of the tracks of the now famous anime soundtrack and the original music compositions for the game perfectly complement the mood and I was never bored of hearing the same battle soundtrack as I fought my online friends for more than 20 matches in one go! A rare thing for a licensed anime game it also comes with an audio track that has the option of both English as well as Japanese voice actors available straight out of the box. Although I initially watched the show in its original Japanese language however, the English voice actors do an excellent job and including Bryce Papenbrook as Inosuke being an absolute highlight for me! It was not difficult to convey the character’s constant chaos however I believe Byrce was absolutely perfect in his performance! However, I must mention Zach Aguilar’s portrayal as the main character in the show, Tanjiro. Although he does a good job, for the most part however, when he was forced to shout or display intense emotions such as anger or crying his voice and tone do not match with the rest of his character. It reached the point that the moment these events occurred it was almost as if that he was playing a totally different character. It was very distracting!
Verdict
I’m going to be honest with you. I’m between two worlds in a difficult spot when it comes to Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles. It’s a 3D combat game by one of my top game studios , with a cult anime series behind it; I was sold from the first moment it was announced in the month of March, 2020! The fact that it was developed through one of my top gaming companies SEGA and SEGA, certainly didn’t help things either! I’ll admitthat I had a great time having fun playing it although I’m not the most enthusiastic player of Demon Slayer mobile games in comparison to Naruto however, there are some inexplicably bad things that prevent it from being a masterpiece. The absence of online options and the delay in input and the slow pace of the story keep me from offering a solid recommendation, but I am confident more than anyone else that there’s a market for a game of this type.
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