God Eater 2: Rage Burst review

Not long ago, there was a cavernous schism between the libraries of console and PC gamers. But over the past few years, companies like NIS America, Idea Factory International, Koei-Tecmo, and Bandai Namco have gradually ported many of the titles that had run on dedicated hardware onto Windows-based machines. Now, anyone with an appetite for Japanese-born games and a decent GPU can savor the forbidden fruits which once hung just out of reach.

But one of the most popular provisions remains inaccessible, as Capcom has been inexplicably reluctant to bring its Monster Hunter series stateside. Sure, Monster Hunter Frontier G received a PC in Japan (alongside the PS3, PS Vita, Wii U, and Xbox 360 versions). And if you were willing to learn a bit of Japanese, purchase a VPN subscription, and pay the monthly fee of about $14, then you could attempt to battle velociprey as well as the scourge of net-lag. But for players willing to move beyond Capcom’s universe, the release of God Eater 2: Rage Burst presents an especially compelling proposition.

Now, there’s probably a significant portion of you who have already acclimated to Monster Hunter. You’ve masterfully learned to read the tells of each creature- having determined the precise moment to block, lest your adventurer gets caught in the middle of a protracted combo. You have probably also accustomed to stashing your weaponry if you wish to use an item. These intricacies are an essential component of the game’s training- and once you eventually master them, you feel like a genuine hardened hunter, able to perceive and predict every element of your prey.

But without hours of investment, the franchise can seem impenetrable at times. For those unwilling or able to devote work weak learning the minutia of monster stalking, God Eater 2 offers a kinder, gentler creature killing experience. While the PC version has a few quandaries, it also extends a range of enrichments, like allowing single players to recruit a team of assistive AI bots. For those who find Monster Hunter’s motivational elements too sparse, Rage Burst also offers a bit more narrative. And quite possibility, players won’t mind the incorporation of light fan-service. But most importantly, the game offers a more accessible take on the genre, removing some of the barriers of entry that could stymy beginners.

Unfortunately, one impediment does threaten to invoke the irritation of gamers. Rage Burst isn’t especially forthright on detailing how it’s system work- or even that they actually exist. Sure, text-based messages cover the most basic rudiments, but the game seems to assume you’ve played previous installments. On the upside, it’s not hard to learn, and elements like customization of your weapon, called a God Arc, can be uncovered through experimentation back at headquarters. Peck away at the menus (or consult a FAQ if you must) and you’ll reveal alterative ammunitions and esoteric advantages that can give you an edge in battle. While God Eaters engaging battles are no slouch, much of the game’s enjoyment stems from a sense of discovery and the realization of you and your gear’s dormant capacities

Although combat tends to take place in contracted environments, there’s little of the downtime that can stem from stalking your prey across a sprawling map. Another benefit is the transformable nature of your God Arc, which can quickly shift between ranged and melee functionality, as well as a shield. Like any respectable Monster Hunter-inspired title, there’s a pleasing variety in weaponry, whether you have an affinity for adjacent damage dealers like shotguns and scythes or prefer to maintain distance with a sniper and spear combo.

Unsurprisingly, loadouts demonstrate their complementary capacities in online games for up to four participants, with players easily falling into the time-honored roles. As for me, I spent most of my time offline, allowing my competent AI assistants to heal during times of duress, thoroughly enjoying the title’s succession of story-based, free, and survival missions. Across each component, God Eater 2 demonstrates its proficiencies by making combat dynamic. While lofty challenge hurdles are few, missions can feel dynamic. From fiends changing their attack tactics to lesser foes flanking players occupied with bigger beasts, there’s a variability that refreshing. Most pleasing is the title’s prototypal cycle, where players kill, extract, and improve their gear before heading back for more butchery, feels fluid thanks to a number of design decisions that help streamline the loop.

Although Rage Burst’s plotline, which centers on an invasion of god-like, seemingly indestructible, pandemic of creatures known as the Aragami isn’t original, it’s not a total write-off either. Players assume the role of a fresh recruit in an elite fighting force called “Blood” who combat the threat by infusing their bodies and weaponry with the same attribute that give the Aragami their strength. Sure, the trajectory can be predictable, but the interplay between the game’s quirky cast helps to elevate the plot. For some, the only real downside will be the lack of dual audio. With competent performances from the majority of the cast, the English voice-over work is certainly serviceable.

Unless Capcom modifies their marketing efforts, aspiring monster manglers are likely to appreciate God Eater 2: Rage Burst. While the title definitely has a learning curve that could have been tempered with more interactive tutorials, absorbing details proves to be engrossing. More importantly, many of Monster Hunter’s courser have been smoothed down, extending a battle system that’s closer to action-game tradition.

God Eater 2: Rage Burst was played on the
PC with review code provided by the publisher