Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion is a fast paced mech combat game, with an impressive world to explore and so many customisation options.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion doubles down on everything that made the first game a cult favorite. It has better mech designs, larger environments, and customization so deep it can blow the brains of those with obsessions on min-maxing their builds. The Switch 2 version struggles to keep up during larger battles, but the spectacle of giant boss fights and the thrill of fine-tuning your Arsenal usually outweigh the technical hiccups. Flawed as it is, it’s still one of the most exciting mech playgrounds you can strap into.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a strong sequel that, while sacrificing part of its soul in the pursuit of becoming more mainstream, stands out as one of the most complete, long-lasting, and satisfying mecha experiences on Nintendo Switch 2. Despite a slight, unavoidable repetitiveness and a few technical hiccups on Switch 2, Marvelous has delivered a solid hit that successfully broadens its answer to Armored Core for a wider audience.

Open-world sequels are a risky venture. Sometimes a winning formula can’t be transplanted into open spaces without consequences. But Titanic Scion manages the shift. Your time in this massive world is focused on that critical combat/custom/upgrade gameplay loop, so you never feel lost or shiftless. I could do with fewer load times, and the routine gear scrutiny does mess with the pacing. But once you’re actually out in the world, mixing it up, the game flows quite beautifully. I can’t get enough of that core loop, at least once it gets going. If you’re looking for an enormous mecha RPG with tons of customization and a captivating story, then Titanic Scion is exactly what you need.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a sci-fi blast. While it wears its influences on its sleeve, it comes out the other side as a unique and enjoyable mech-based action-RPG.

With Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, it feels like Marvelous is really trying to let us create the mech experience we want and loadout we want in a world that needs us. I feel like the interactions between characters and storytelling are so much stronger here, and because of that I wanted to spend more taking on both large and small quests. I felt pulled into the world even more than before, thanks to the ambiance and lore around me, and the ability to really adjust every part of my mech made it easy for me to survive and thrive. On Switch 2 I will say that Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion might occasionally have a few moments, especially if undocked, but I could see that being fixed with patches and they’re minor.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a worthy sequel to the original Daemon X Machina, as it improves on its predecessor in nearly every regard. From a turbulent and action-packed main story to a comprehensive weapon and gear system, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion ensures players feel the weight of their Arsenals. Although online content could be better, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion still offers streamlined ways to play with friends on top of the main dozens of hours of content that are already packed in.

Despite its technical flaws, its chessy dialogue, its repetitive missions... despite everything, Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion has managed to entertain me with its fun battles and its countless options for turning us into a machine of mass destruction, although it is far from being the mecha game we were hoping for.

By introducing an exploration component and significantly larger maps, the team at Marvelous attempted to renew and expand the gameplay of DAEMON X MACHINA: Titanic Scion, but the implementation wasn't entirely successful. The extremely repetitive and schematic nature of the secondary activities doesn't justify the presence of such an expansive world, which, among other things, negatively impacted loading times and the game's stability. The frenetic combat system and deep level of customization remain DAEMON X MACHINA's most lethal weapons, as well as the valid reasons why fans of the genre might love it despite its flaws.

Despite not living up to its full potential on Switch 2, Daemon X Machina is still an incredibly fast-paced and fun action RPG.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is particularly impressive when it comes to gameplay: the combat system is varied and creative, the exoskeleton customization is extensive, and the boss fights, when they work, offer spectacular moments. Multiplayer is also solid, thanks to cross-play that expands the possibilities for cooperation. The rest, however, isn't quite as impressive: the plot is weak, the cast forgettable, the filler missions slow down the pace, and the game world, while vast, feels empty and repetitive. Last but not least, on a technical level, the Switch 2 version reviewed here shows clear limitations, with slow loading times and an unstable frame rate. This is a game that will entertain fans of mechs and gear optimization who are willing to overlook the objective problems, but it's unlikely to satisfy those looking for an engaging story or a world to enjoy exploring.

More of a parallel line than a true evolution, Titanic Scion reinforces and expands Daemon X Machina’s strengths but doesn’t improve narratively, and its open-world elements only work in part. There’s a ton of content and opportunities, but the actual ‘quality time’ with Marvelous’ game is limited; the series still has a long way to go before becoming a must-buy. Fans of mecha and unconventional action, however, will find a fair compromise and plenty of fun.

While Titanic Scion’s narrative trods familiar sci-fi anime territory, it’s delivered well enough. Characters are bombastic and overacted, but it creates a fun narrative environment. Outfitting your Arsenal gives you a ton of customization options, and the open world creates plenty of opportunities to explore and spread your wings. Unfortunately, technical issues are problematic across the platforms we played on. That said, anyone jonesin’ for a mech game fix will still find a good time here.

I don’t know if Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is going to turn me into a fan of these mecha games, but I certainly enjoyed the combat and design enough that I’m keen to check out some more to see if I do like something about the genre after all. Just be aware that the performance is pretty suspect at times. If you can handle that, then this is certainly an ambitious and entertaining sci-fi game for on the go.

Just like the Arsenals the game revolves around, Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion has a very strong core, but one that frequently comes under attack. The central loop of finding new gear and experimenting with new builds and playstyles remains satisfying long after the credits roll, and there's a plethora of engaging side content for players who want the most bang for their buck. However, Titanic Scion's performance on the Nintendo Switch 2 and some clunky narrative choices often hold it back from reaching its full potential.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion will thrill fans of mech-based combat. There’s no shortage of customization options or enemies to pound down with your optimized loadouts. Those looking for a more narrative adventure, however, may eventually tire of the explore, fight, rejuvenate/optimize loop.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion has a neat premise and fun ways of customizing your character and your Arsenal to meet the different combat challenges found in its world. It’s unfortunate that the world itself feels lifeless at times, with repetitive enemy encounters and side missions. The best moments are when you come across a gigantic Immortal that you just know will require the combined might of co-op partners, be they real or NPC, but you make a solo attempt anyways, only to be smashed to pieces, which is a humbling experience. Those interested in online multiplayer will be glad to know that the whole campaign is playable cooperatively, but I did not have a chance to check out the cross-platform multiplayer for myself, and I am concerned that online play could further compromise how the game runs. If you’re not afraid of a bit of jank and some performance hiccups, Titanic Scion offers a good time in short bursts. That said, the cracks begin to show through a little more during longer play sessions, and ultimately the sequel appears to have taken only baby steps ahead of its predecessor.

Annoyances aside, there's a sense of pluck to Titanic Scion which may well power you through its most threadbare moments and its nagging UI quirks. [Issue#416, p.118]

Performance issues severely hamper the experience on Nintendo Switch 2, but there's still some enjoyment to be had with its customization systems and somewhat fun combat

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is undoubtedly aimed at fans of mecha-based games. Its frantic combat featuring giant metal machines and especially, the boss fights, will keep players on their toes. However, Titatnic Scion could have done better at addressing its performance flaws, which sometimes prevent the game from standing out in the Switch 2 hardware when there's a lot happening on the screen at once, and beyond the combats, its plot and secondary missions are rather repetitive and end up pushing this game into a more niche territory.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a valiant attempt to build upon its predecessor’s successes and address the shortfalls. Its story is much more comprehensible this time around due to opting for an open-world instead of a mission-based structure. However, it still felt undercooked with potentially interesting concepts and the supporting cast’s character development wasn’t executed well enough. Even so, the customization, gameplay, and movement are just as great as ever. Just maybe choose to play on a different platform than Switch 2 to avoid the performance issues.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a worthy sequel to the original game, but might not be the massive improvement some might have hoped. Despite the parts that didn’t feel fully realized, I definitely felt more invested in this than I did with the original Daemon X Machina. I’m glad the developer tried to mix things up from just making another Armored Core-inspired game, and I think the genre shift works more than it doesn’t, but not everything perfectly clicked together. The core gameplay might not be the most deep, but the customization has a real pull to it that carries a lot of the experience, even with an average open-world and an underwhelming story. It’s just hard to deny the frequent technical issues I experienced with the Nintendo Switch 2 version, so I hope these get sorted at some point in the future. In the meantime, it might be worth playing it on another platform.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a decent mech game with plenty of depth in its weapons setups and lots of cool loot to discover in its large open-world maps. The combat is flexible, it's fast, and it's very often plenty of fun. However, performance issues — which are also present on other platforms, so don't sweat it too much, Switch 2 owners — make for a janky experience in places, with mushy controls and limp feedback. It's just not nearly as polished as it could be in this respect. With stutters loading into new areas and low-res textures a common sight (again, also on other systems), the overall feeling here is of a game that needs a few patches and tweaks to get it where it needs to be.

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion entertains when it works. The real fun comes when you flip the online switch. The three-player co-op throws you all into the jaws of death with shiny steel buttcheeks, comparing wannabe-mech builds that are either brilliantly clever or laughably stupid. Unfortunately, too many issues pile up, so I treat the game the same way it teaches me to treat armour and upgrades: I'll swap to a better dance partner as soon as one comes along.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion struggles under the weight of ambition, while also needlessly playing to as many people as possible. It all blends together in a painfully dull experience that feels as murky as it looks. While some mech action and unique mechanics make it at least interesting, it’s a mediocre time that I would only recommend to die-hard fans or those who wait for a deep sale.

Between the terrible story and characters, and the poor performance on Switch 2, it is really difficult to recommend Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. That isn’t said with any delight, either, as the level of customisation and depth to combat is something to be admired, but with only a dreary open world to explore, and no space combat to be found, there is a lot left to be desired. Mech-obsessed fans that can hook up for party play will find fleeting enjoyment if mission and loot-based gameplay is sought after. Other interested folk may need to hope Marvelous puts in a lot of post-release work to get this one up to standard, though.