Fairy Tail 2

Though it's an improvement on its predecessor, Fairy Tail 2 is still the epitome of a middle-of-the-road licensed game. It doesn't do anything exceptionally great or innovative, nor does it have any issues or shortcomings that significantly drag it down. Despite poor plot pacing, shallow mechanics, and some lacklustre performance, the lively combat system, rewarding exploration, and heartwarming character interactions ultimately make this one worthwhile. We'd recommend Fairy Tail 2 to franchise fans who played the previous RPG, though newcomers should be more wary of jumping straight in. It isn't a 'run out and buy it immediately' release, but you likely won't be disappointed if or when you do get around to it.

Solid simple action RPG mechanics, good music, likable characters, peak shonen anime storytelling if that’s your thing.

As it stands, fans of Mashima’s fantasy epic will still probably have a good time seeing this version of the story through (and checking out the new epilogue!), but Fairy Tail 2 doesn’t get any closer to must-play status than the previous game, and oddly enough for different reasons.

Adapting the final explosive story arc of the original story, Fairy Tail 2 is a game that goes straight to the point, featuring charming characters and a well-crafted combat system that makes fighting the forces of the Alvarez Empire incredibly fun. The lack of any involving side activity, lackluster world design and very short length, however, limit the appeal of the experience only to fans of Hiro Mashima's works, as there simply isn't enough for those who are already in love with Fairy Tail to justify a purchase.

Gust and Koei Tecmo's Fairy Tail 2 does a great job of enveloping players in the story of the anime, even if its mechanics leave a bit to be desired.

FAIRY TAIL 2 is best left for fans and potentially players of the first game. A fun combat system and entertaining character interactions are strained against a linear, dull boss rush adventure with poor performance and weak sidequesting. I don’t think I can call this game an RPG in any capacity. ∎

Fairy Tail 2 offers an engaging story and exciting boss battles that will captivate fans of the series. The character swapping mechanic allows for interesting combinations, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, the game suffers from empty environments and some poor graphics, which detract from its overall quality. While it shines in its narrative and combat, these visual flaws hold it back from achieving perfection.

Even if you're a huge Fairy Tail fan, stay away. In fact, if you're a huge Fairy Tail fan, you should especially stay away!

Fairy Tail 2 once again provides a beautiful stage for the mage guild known from the manga and anime original. Although the starting point is rather devastating with a war that has begun, the basic mood of the game remains cheerful and upbeat as usual. This is ensured by the familiar groovy soundtrack, the colorful game world and the shrill and wonderfully exaggerated events. The presentation of the characters with their typical idiosyncrasies and friendly banter with each other also provide great entertainment. A lot of effort has also been put into the reworking. The level of detail in the textures and the animation of the movements show the leap to the new console generation. The terrain, which was rather tubular in its predecessor, is now more expansive and can be explored almost freely. It is also nice that we can change the selected character at any time during exploration and combat. The combat system itself is the one with the most new features, which now consists of a mixture of turn-based and real-time battles in which beautiful, magical storms of effects can occur. Although the combat system of the predecessor is also successful and, in my opinion, the spells of the individual characters are a little less effective due to the turn-based process, as they are cast one after the other, the new design is an absolutely successful and fun upgrade that is one of the flagship features. Nevertheless, the game does have a few weaknesses. For example, members from other guilds that you could actively control in the prequel are now only available as support characters. There are also occasional reloading backgrounds, clipping errors and slight image flickering. While this makes sense due to the story, the game world sometimes feels a little empty and lifeless as there are only a few side characters to be found. This also makes it more noticeable that clones have crept into both the NPCs and the vegetable stall. Furthermore, the side quests are rather pale and have a smaller scope than in the predecessor. Personally, I found the first part a little stronger and more rounded. Nevertheless, I also like Fairy Tail 2 very much.

FAIRY TAIL 2 successfully builds on the foundation of its predecessor, delivering an experience that feels both familiar and fresh. The blend of beloved storylines and new content, coupled with dynamic gameplay and expansive customization, makes it a must-play for fans of the series and RPG enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re reliving the emotional highs of the Alvarez Empire Arc or uncovering new secrets in The Key to the Unknown, this game promises a magical journey that captures the heart and soul of Fairy Tail.