Fairy Tail 2 is a surprising sequel to a highly underrated turn-based JRPG adaptation of a popular anime and manga series. With the release of this particular massive JRPG, it is now time to look towards the future. We get anime adaptations all the time, but so few delve into the RPG genre as much as they should. Let’s talk about the next anime RPG we should get.

There are only a few modern anime JRPGs in recent memory, from Fairy Tail 2 to Dragon Ball Kakarot to One Piece Odyssey and so on. This is a trend that needs to continue and for more game series. I am, personally, a bit too annoyed with all the fighting game adaptations, so here are the Siliconera staff’s picks for the next anime RPG.

Siliconera Speaks Up: New Anime RPG We Want Next 1g1d3g

I'd honestly love to see a Jujutsu Kaisen JRPG. Yes, I get why Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash happened. The series would adapt well to a fighting game. But we've seen Inuyasha, Bleach, and Naruto RPGs that worked well. Why not do that with this series too? -- Jenni

A good old turn-based RPG is the best way to adapt most anime series into games, in my opinion. I feel like a turn-based RPG version of Dr. Stone would be a bit of an oddball option but spectacular. Despite being post-apocalyptic, it has some fantasy vibes going on. Plus, crafting could be a huge part of the game as you are inventing ideas and creations to help the society. Plus, the cast could be ginormous with many different party to use in battle. Some alternative options for a modern, localized RPG would be Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter, and Eighty-Six (strategy RPG). -- Cody

Fairy Tail 2 is available right now for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Which Anime Should Get an RPG Next After Fairy Tail 2? appeared first on Siliconera.

There's been discourse recently about whether or not a reviewer should have an intimate knowledge of the source material a game is based on before playing it. While the arguments were based on the new Indiana Jones game, I found it relatable as I'd been playing through Fairy Tail 2. I have not seen the anime, read the manga, or even played the original video game adaptation. I am ing halfway through the story, which could have been a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, it was not.

Fairy Tail 2 takes place during the manga’s original Alvarez Empire Arc, which acts as the story’s major climax. It centers on the Fairy Tail guild of mages as they take on the invading Alvarez Empire. The Empire is commanded by an immortal mage named Zeref, whose long life and inability to be defeated has made him cynical and eager to claim power simply because he can. To do this, he recruits the Spriggan 12, a misfit bunch of powerful mages all with their own agendas. Defeating them takes up most of the earlier parts of the story.

As stated, starting here could have been a terrible idea, but it says a lot about the strength of this story that I still had a great time. The game does an excellent job of getting the player on board, mainly as a refresher for those returning from the first game, but it worked to my benefit too. Every character gets a moment that highlights exactly who they are, the main cast are introduced gradually, and special campfire scenes even outright show flashbacks to significant character moments of the past. There are also walls of text that explain each character's backstory if you need them. However, I didn't really want to sit and read each of them because it was a lot and I wanted to get on with the game itself. Fortunately, they weren’t really necessary.

It helps that this is a delightful cast that quickly charmed their way into my heart. Natsu, our protagonist, is a meathead with a heart of gold who doesn't seem to understand what's going on most of the time but he is at least enthusiastic. His feud with Gray is also a highlight, as these moments of unnecessary competition between the two always made for excellent comedy. Especially when Gray’s clothes decide to inexplicably vanish to everyone’s confusion.

The character dynamics were the highlight for the story for me. The team are constantly communicating with each other, often joking around and sharing stories. The campfire stories, unlocked by leveling up the cast, also provide some extra scenes that flesh out who this band of weirdos are.

They even manage to make this extend to the villains, as each member of Spriggan 12 has some connection to the main cast that emerges during the boss fight. This could be Erza confronting Ajeel out of a sense of duty or Wendy learning to become more powerful when facing off a near-impossible fight with a time mage. It was a nice touch and one that made the villains feel like a team in their own right.

Combat in Fairy Tail 2 is a great time. It sits somewhere between real-time and turn-based. You can freely throw out moves, but everything ultimately has a cooldown you have to wait for. You have a basic combo attack that helps build up ability points. With those points, you can throw out special moves and chain those for as long as you have said points to use them. As you hit enemy weaknesses and break their armor you increase your Fairy Rank, increasing how many ability points you can accumulate at once.

It leads to some chaotic battles as every character ultimately throws out huge flashy moves, yelling their attack names and exploding the screen in magic. There is a guard button but more often than that not so much was going on I found little opportunity to use it. It’s a little messy but it feels amazing.

It's not perfect, as at times it can feel repetitive, especially early on when you have few moves to play with. I also would love to have had more control over character switching. As it was I could only change character when my current one was idle, but it would have felt more satisfying if I could switch mid-combo and chain attacks together. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but it would have improved the flow of battle drastically if that change was there.

What I was less impressed by was the game's abysmal performance on the Switch. Whenever I entered an area with a lot of characters on screen, or just a field that was a little too wide, the frame rate plummeted through the floor. Some battle animations got extremely choppy at times too, as the Switch desperately tossed out animation frames simply to keep things going.

And that's before we get to the potentially game-breaking issues. Loading screens were always a tense experience, not only because they were long but also because they would often freeze up entirely. One chapter opened with a total hang that could only be ended by briefly returning to the Switch home menu and back, allowing the game to what it was doing. I even returned to the game on one session only to discover the game had loaded in as a pure white void.

If these were pre-release bugs that will be fixed in a day one patch, I'd be willing to bump my score up a point. However, if this is a general issue with the Switch itself, I highly recommend playing Fairy Tail 2 on another platform. Unless other platforms are experiencing other issues, of course.

I was able to mostly forgive all this, however. The story and the combat both did a lot to win me over. Combat could certainly do with some minor tweaks but nothing that ruins the experience, while the story has convinced me to go check out more of the franchise at some point.

Fairy Tail 2 was a great time. If you’re a fan of the series already, you are almost certainly going to have fun here. It’s just a shame the technical issues on Switch hinder the experience.

Fairy Tail 2 will release for PCs via Steam on December 12, 2024. The PS4, PS5 and Switch versions will release on December 13, 2024.

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Koei Tecmo has released the opening movie for Fairy Tail 2, their RPG based on the Fairy Tail anime and manga. This sequel will cover the Alvarez Empire Arc, featuring Natsu, Lucy, and other guild battling against the Emperor Zeref, his elite Spriggan 12, and the Black Dragon Acnologia. Fairy Tail 2 is set for release on December 13, 2024 with pre-orders now live for both digital and physical editions on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam.

You can view the official trailer on YouTube below:

With the release of Fairy Tail 2, players who pre-order will receive Natsu's Edolas outfit, while early purchasers will get Lucy's Miss Fairy Tail contest outfit. Additionally, those who buy the digital deluxe edition will gain access to the Ryza 1, 2, and 3 outfits for Lucy, Erza, and Mirajane as part of the Gust collaboration set.

In related news, in a recent interview with Fairy Tail 2 Producer Hiroshi Kataoka, Kataoka discusses the inspiration to cover the Alvarez Empire Arc, adjustments made to adapt the story for gameplay, and the involvement of series creator Hiro Mashima.

Fairy Tail 2 is set for release on December 13, 2024. The Steam version will be available slightly earlier, on December 11, 2024.

The post Fairy Tail 2 Opening Movie and Pre-Orders Appear  appeared first on Siliconera.

I’ll it right from the start: I have little to no experience with the Fairy Tail anime or manga. My only previous encounter with the series was playing a bit of the first game, which I found surprisingly enjoyable. However, I do know JRPGs. So while it's important how well Fairy Tail 2 translates the anime's world into a new format, my main question when given the opportunity to preview it on PC was, “Could it end up being a good JRPG?”

In the world of JRPGs, you might expect to see a wealth of titles based on anime, given the strong overlap between the two genres. But surprisingly, there aren’t as many standout JRPGs based on popular anime as one might expect. (However, I did put together a list of some notable anime-based JRPGs a few months ago.) That context made me more interested in seeing how Fairy Tail 2 might hold up.

In Fairy Tail 2, players again follow of the Fairy Tail wizard guild as they navigate the series’ climactic "Alvarez Empire Arc." If you’re like me and aren’t fully familiar with the arc, don’t worry. From my experience with the first moments of Fairy Tail 2, Koei Tecmo goes to great lengths to make the story at least a little accessible to newcomers. The game sets up the narrative, providing clear context for players stepping into the series for the first time. Additionally, It includes detailed lore, backstory, and character explanations through an in-game encyclopedia. This is one of my favorite modern JRPG quality of life mechanics. I found myself consulting it often. It genuinely helped bridge the gap in my limited knowledge of the anime.

But let’s talk gameplay. Fairy Tail 2 builds on the first game’s combat system, which was already a highlight for me. It’s a turn-based system with a twist, resembling an Active Time Battle (ATB) system. Players build SP (Skill Points) through basic attacks as their action bar refreshes. SP can unleash powerful, flashy moves, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay as you decide when to go all-in with bigger attacks.

One of the standout features of combat is the ability to chain together special moves for devastating combos. Timing and strategy are crucial here. You’ll want to set up smaller attacks to build SP before unleashing more powerful abilities. During battle, you also build the Fairy Meter, which gives you access to more SP to extend combos. This can turn longer battles, especially boss fights, into almost cinematic experiences, with explosive attacks flying back and forth. The pacing of combat, alongside the spectacle of special moves, made it fun and engaging, even for someone who doesn’t know the source material inside and out.

What’s more, the variety of characters available from the outset adds a lot to the gameplay, based on what I saw in these early moments. Each character brings a unique set of skills to the table, with different elemental affinities and specialties. This diversity means that you’ll often need to think strategically about party composition and the elements you bring into each battle. Since enemies have their own affinities and weaknesses, planning your approach becomes crucial to maximizing damage and efficiency in combat. This dynamic keeps the gameplay fresh and ensures that encounters never feel like mindless button-mashing.

All of this seems wrapped in a story that still had enough hooks to draw in a relative newcomer like me within about an hour of play. The interactions between characters and their relationships feel authentic. They’re presented in a way that even someone unfamiliar with the history of Fairy Tail can appreciate. Fans of the series will probably find even more to love here, with key moments from the anime and manga brought to life.

While I initially approached Fairy Tail 2 as a game first and adaptation second, I came away pleasantly surprised. I wasn’t just learning about this world ively. I was experiencing it through the characters and their battles. It piqued my interest in the broader series, making me curious to go back and explore the anime or manga to get the full picture.

Ultimately, Fairy Tail 2 has the potential to be more than just a game for fans of the series. It could be the gateway that brings new players into the fold. The combination of accessible storytelling, strategic combat, and a vibrant cast makes it a strong entry in the world of anime-based JRPGs. And for those like me, who might have missed the Fairy Tail phenomenon the first time around, it might just make a fan out of you too.

Fairy Tail 2 will release on Steam on December 11, 2024, and it will be on the PS4, PS5 and Switch on December 13, 2024.

The post Fairy Tail 2 Might Make You a Fan of the Series appeared first on Siliconera.

Later this year, we’ll get to explore alongside the Fairy Tale characters to go through the end of the anime and manga’s story a new game called, appropriately enough Fairy Tail 2. To help prepared for what’s to come in the sequel to the original title, Siliconera spoke with Producer Hiroshi Kataoka about the game. While we still need to wait to learn more about Fairy Tail 2 DLC, the initial insights help us get a better idea of what to expect come December 2024.

Jenni Lada: When did development on Fairy Tail 2 begin, and did was decision to develop it influenced by the anime production decision of Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest?

Hiroshi Kataoka: We received many requests for a sequel along with on the first game, and thanks to all the players it continued to sell well over a long period of time, so we consulted with Kodansha (the IP holder) about making a game about the final chapter of the main series, which we were not able to depict in the previous title. It turns out that the anime adaptation of the 100 Years Quest, which is the sequel to the original work, was being planned including when it would air, so we decided to bring this game to the fans when interest in the IP is rekindled and at everyone is excited for it.

Which Fairy Tail arcs are represented in and most influential for Fairy Tail 2?

Kataoka: This title focuses on the final Alvarez Empire arc, and the story has been adjusted for a video game adaptation. In order to make the Alvarez Empire arc work as a game, we

determined that it would be “Fairy Tail vs. the Alvarez Empire” and aimed to make the combat team battles as much as possible, so we have adjusted the original series’ story under the supervision of the series’ creator [Hiro] Mashima-sensei in order to make it work.

What kind of input did Hiro Mashima have on the game and Fairy Tail 2 character designs?

Kataoka: Primarily if things were a fit for the Fairy Tail world, and his thoughts on ways to further please the fans. That means that he checks everything from the design of the characters and the adjustment of the story to make it work as a game, to the original story added just for this title and each game element and various resources including game text. All of these aspects have been supervised by Mashima-sensei.

Which pieces of fan from the original Fairy Tail game affected the sequel?

Kataoka: We were fortunate to receive a lot of and comments. After the release of the previous title, we received many requests for a sequel along with on the game. Many were happy with having a game adaptation and they enjoyed the game, but they also wanted to see the final chapter adapted into a game, in particular having more focus on the characters, so we referenced these as we made this game.

How do you address character growth and development from the first game in FAIRY TAIL 2? Will we see all skills returning?

Kataoka: Skills have been reorganized to match the real-time and action elements and while some are returning, there are some brand new skills. Also, in battles, the central Fairy Rank system is designed to strengthen you as you attack, so it matches how battles develop and progress in the Fairy Tail series. When fans play this, they will see a very good representation of something unique to the Fairy Tail IP.

What does the roster of playable characters look like for Fairy Tail 2? We’ve already seen Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Ezra, and Wendy, for example. Will every character from the first Fairy Tail game return?

Kataoka: Right now, all I can say is that we’d like everyone to wait for news on which characters will be on the roster. But we have assembled it with “Fairy Tail vs. the Alvarez

Empire” as its base.

Additional characters like Levy and Lyon were included as DLC for the first Fairy Tail. Will they be included in the Fairy Tail 2 base game or would people like them be relegated to add-ons again?

Kataoka: Similarly, any information on DLC will be announced at a later date.

The original Fairy Tail game had cosmetic, character, and dungeon DLC. How well did those perform, in of sales? Which ones were most popular?

Kataoka: I will refrain answering the specific details of the popularity of the DLC, but fortunately each of the DLC released for the previous game has been well received.

Will we see a similar DLC approach in Fairy Tail 2 as in the original game?

Kataoka: To start, we have announced the details of our Digital Deluxe edition, and the content is a step above the previous game! You will not only find outfit collaborations with other Gust titles, but some additional items like Crystals and Lacrima Fragment, not to mention an alternative costume set. Also, those who buy the physical version of the game will be able to purchase the Digital Deluxe content as an upgrade pack.

As for DLC, we are considering various content that will make the game even more enjoyable, so please look forward to future updates.

The original Fairy Tail game appeared on the PS4, Switch, and PC. Have you considered bringing it to the PS5 as well?

Kataoka: At this point we do not have plans for that.

The Fairy Tail 2  release date is December 11, 2024 for the PC version on Steam, with the PS4 and Switch versions arriving on December 13, 2024. 

The post Interview: Discussing Fairy Tail 2 Game Development, Characters, and DLC  appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo has updated its TGS 2024 webpage with details on its live streams at the event. The company will hold two separate streams to showcase its games.

The first stream will be part of the Tokyo Game Show 2024 Official Program lineup. Koei Tecmo will get its own slot on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 9 PM JST / 8 AM ET. The company will dedicate this stream to reveal details about Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

Koei Tecmo will then hold its own stream on the following day at 5 PM JST / 4 AM ET. The company will showcase its other games in this stream. The list will include Fairy Tail 2, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8, and the recently revealed Atelier Yumia. The ongoing live service titles Atelier Resleriana and Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation will complete the stream's roster.

Here is the full stream schedule for the Koei Tecmo TGS 2024 live stream on Friday, September 27, 2024. All times below are listed in the Japanese time zone (UTC+9).

• 17:00 / 5:00 PM - Opening
• 17:15 / 5:15 PM - Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake
• 17:50 / 5:50 PM - Atelier Yumia and Atelier Resleriana
• 19:00 / 7:00 PM - Fairy Tail 2
• 19:50 / 7:50 PM - KT App
• 20:00 / 8:00 PM - Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• 20:55 / 8:55 PM - Merchandise information
• 21:05 / 9:05 PM - Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation
• 22:10 / 10:10 PM - Ending

The Koei Tecmo TGS 2024 live streams will be available on September 26 and 27, 2024.

The post Koei Tecmo TGS 2024 Full Stream Lineup Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo has updated its annual Tokyo Game Show webpage with details for its 2024 appearance. The company will set up playable demos of Dynasty Warriors Origins and Fairy Tail 2 as the primary highlights of the Koei Tecmo TGS 2024 booth.

In addition, the company announced that it will further decorate its booth with statues of key characters from both games. It will place a statue of the Dynasty Warriors Origins version of Lu Bu, as well as Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia from the sequel to the game adaptation of Hiro Mashima's manga series.

As a reminder, Koei Tecmo has announced that it will release Fairy Tail 2 first for PCs worldwide on December 11, 2024. The console releases on the PS5, PS4, and Switch will appear in Japan and East Asia on December 12, 2024, and in North America and Europe on December 13, 2024. Meanwhile, Dynasty Warriors Origins is still only slated for release on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2025.

Koei Tecmo has yet to confirm other titles it will showcase in TGS 2024 besides Dynasty Warriors Origins and Fairy Tail 2 as of the new webpage's opening. However, the company has confirmed that it will hold its own online program on Friday, September 27, 2024, at 5 PM JST.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place at Makuhari Messe on September 26-29, 2024.

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Koei Tecmo announced the release date for Fairy Tail 2, the newgame that follows the events of the 2020 one. It will appear this year. The PC version will show up first, with that coming to Steam on December 11, 2024. Then the console versions will launch a few days later on December 13, 2024.

A release date trailer accompanied the Fairy Tail 2 announcement. It began by confirming manga creator Hiro Mashima’s involvement. Then, we saw the two sides involved. One is the guild, with Natsu accompanied by all his allies. Then, as the Alvarez Empire events and final battle are teased, we see all their opponents. From there, it focuses on gameplay. We see Fiore, watch the crew in fights, and see special attacks. After that, parts of the story and appearances from Alvarez Empire characters are teased. At the very end, we see that pre-orders net us a Natsu of Edolas costume for him, and buying it at or immediately after launch lets us dress Lucy in her Miss Fairy Tail Contest outfit.

Prior to this Fairy Tail 2 reveal, we learned a bit more about what we can expect to see in the new game. There will be original story content in it. This will involve a new epilogue. Spoilers aside, expect to hear more about what happened after the guild got involved in the events in the Alvarez Empire Arc. 

The Fairy Tail 2 release date is December 11, 2024 for the PC version on Steam, with the PS4, PS5, and Switch versions arriving on December 13, 2024. 

The post Koei Tecmo Sets Fairy Tail 2 Game Release Date appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo and Gust released new information about Fairy Tail 2, including new story elements that take place after the Alvarez Empire Arc events in the manga. New images taken from these new events have been released through social media.

The game will mainly focus on the manga’s Alvarez Empire Arc, with players taking control of Natsu and his friends as they take on Emperor Zeref and the Spriggan 12. Fairy Tail 2 will also feature a new story, The Key to the Unknown, which takes place after the events of the main arc from the manga. This story is an original creation for the game, although few details are available about it at the time of writing.

Fairy Tail 2 was announced during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, where it was confirmed to be releasing for the Switch in late 2024. Releases for PC, PS4 and PS5 were also announced. It will act as a sequel to the 2020 Fairy Tail game, which mainly focused on the Grand Magic Games and Eclipse arcs of the anime and manga.

The game will feature real-time battles built around three-character parties. Characters will be able to combine their abilities to unleash devastating attacks, the effects of which will change based on the combination.

Fairy Tail 2 will come out on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC in Winter 2024. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll. Kodansha handles the manga.

The post Fairy Tale 2 Game Adds an Epilogue After Alvarez Empire Arc appeared first on Siliconera.

During the Nintendo Direct on June 18, 2024, Fairy Tail 2 was announced. This new Fairy Tail game will take place during the Alvarez arc of the anime and manga.

You can watch the first game trailer for Fairy Tail 2 here:

It is a JRPG in which you play as of Team Natsu and other characters from the Fairy Tail guild. This includes other prominent characters like Gajeel and Laxus. There will be Japanese audio in the game, and each character will have four different techniques they can unleash in battle.

The combat system looks similar to that of Dynasty Warriors, which makes sense since Koei Tecmo is one of the companies that worked on it. You’ll also be able to use deploy three characters at the same time and unleash a special Link Magic depending on the combinations.

Fairy Tail 2 will come out on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC in Winter 2024.

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