Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 (PC) Review

Yahoo

4 days ago

It's easy to forget just how much Demon Slayer exploded. What started as a relatively straightforward manga adaptation transformed into one of the most successful anime franchises of the last decade, thanks in no small part to ufotable's immaculate visuals, hauntingly tragic characters, and that rare ability to swing between emotional devastation and electric spectacle in a heartbeat. The first Hinokami Chronicles game from CyberConnect2 got part of that right. It was flashy, heartfelt, and deeply reverent of its source material, even if it occasionally felt like it was playing it too safe.
With Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2, that feeling is not as prevalent, but still there. While the game overall is smoother and more confident this time around, it still feels unwilling to take many risks. The fighting is better, the story mode is more focused for better or worse, and the character roster is bigger. But when that's all said and done, this sequel feels less like a bold new step and more like a very solid next episode. Enjoyable, yes. Essential? Not quite.
Set during the 'Entertainment District' and 'Swordsmith Village' arcs, Hinokami Chronicles 2 picks up right where the last game left off, thrusting players back into Tanjiro's increasingly desperate quest to save his sister and end the demonic blight that continues to gut the world around him. These arcs were some of the most visually ambitious in the show, and the game leans heavily into that, trying its best to replicate the intensity and scale.
For the most part, it succeeds with spectacle. Boss fights with Daki, Gyutaro, and later, the Upper Rank demons feel legitimately cinematic in scope. The animation in these moments is top-notch, with CyberConnect2's usual flair for exaggerated, sweeping motion and glossy particle effects lending everything a heightened anime sheen.
But Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 doesn't fully escape the shadow of its structure. Like the game before it, Hinokami Chronicles 2 splits its time between story-driven single-player episodes and a traditional versus-style battle mode. And once again, it's the fighting that does all the heavy lifting. The core combat remains a fast-paced brawler, support characters have more variety in their assist moves, and guard breaks feel slightly more impactful. For fans of the original, these changes won't reinvent the experience, but they do help smooth out the rougher edges.
In motion, the fighting feels great. Combos have a nice feel to them, and while the system isn't particularly deep compared to something like Guilty Gear or even Dragon Ball FighterZ, there's enough flexibility to allow for experimentation even for beginners in the genre. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 rewards aggression but doesn't feel punishing for casual fighting game players, or newcomers, which can be a tricky balance that the first game felt like it fumbled. And when you're fully locked in, trading blows as flashy ultimates clash across the screen, it nails the fantasy of being in the anime in a way few licensed games can touch.
'Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 rewards aggression but doesn't feel punishing for casual fighting game players…'
The character roster in The Hinokami Chronicles 2 has also been noticeably expanded. Alongside returning favourites like Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, players now have access to the Hashira like Tengen Uzui and Mitsuri Kanroji, as well as new demon combatants that add some long-needed variety. Playing as demons brings its own rhythm, often emphasizing zoning and more technical spacing. Again, nothing revolutionary, but a welcome change of pace.
Where the game stumbles, once again, is in its single-player pacing. The campaign is more streamlined than the original's, with less downtime and fewer awkward exploration segments, but it still falls into the trap of making the player walk slowly through gorgeously lit but functionally empty corridors between cutscenes. These sequences often act as padding more than anything else, and the collectible-finding busywork never quite justifies its own existence. The narrative, already familiar to fans of the series, is handled with care. Most major scenes are faithfully recreated, and the English and Japanese voice casts both bring strong performances. But the interactive elements around them still feel undercooked.
There's a version of Hinokami Chronicles 2 where it lets go of the rails, trusts its combat, and just lets you play. And in those moments, it works really well. The boss fights, in particular, continue to be where the game finds its teeth. These encounters shift between direct control and more cinematic, reactive segments.
These are not full QTEs, but similar enough that it does take a little bit of power away from the player. Still, they deliver where it counts: the tension, spectacle, and the kind of screen-filling chaos the series is known for. The Gyutaro fight, for example, is a barrage of movement and colour, demanding well-timed dodges and carefully placed special attacks. It's the kind of sequence that reminds you why Demon Slayer is such a smart fit for a fighting game in the first place.
'Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 isn't a bold new sequel. It's a safe one.'
On the technical side, there's not much to complain about. Load times in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 are brief, the visuals are sharp, and the frame rate holds even during the busiest action. The art direction sticks close to the anime's style, leaning hard into bold contrasts and dramatic angles. The soundtrack, too, pulls heavily from the show's orchestral toolkit. It works, though it leans on a few cues a little too often, particularly in longer stretches.
The real sticking point is how familiar it all feels. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 isn't a bold new sequel. It's a safe one. Hinokami Chronicles 2 improves on the original in smaller, meaningful ways; it's more polished, more fleshed out, but it rarely surprises. For longtime fans, that might be enough. The game delivers the moments they're here for: dramatic fights, faithful character arcs, and a clear reverence for the source material. But for players outside that core audience, especially those looking for depth and variety, it's harder to recommend.
None of this is to say it isn't enjoyable. There's satisfaction in a well-executed combo or in the weight behind a fully charged finisher. And there are flashes, here and there, where the game feels like it could be something more. But those moments are rare and quickly pushed aside, often buried under walking corridor repetition and a structure that never quite breaks free from the expectations it's following.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a better game than its predecessor. But it's also a sequel that plays things safe, content to polish rather than evolve. There's value in that, of course. Sometimes refinement is enough. But when you're adapting a story that's all about breaking limits and pushing forward, it's hard not to want the same from the game.