- Publisher: Aether Studios
- Release Date: Oct 23, 2024
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Summary:
Rivals of Aether II is the sequel to the hit indie fighting game, Rivals of Aether. Play as both new and returning elemental fighters in the next generation of platform fighters.
- Developer: Aether Studios
- Genre(s): 3D, Action, Fighting, 2D
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 2
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Mixed: 0 out of 2
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Negative: 0 out of 2
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Oct 29, 2024Rivals of Aether II gives fans of the genre a lot to love, with the promise of even more on the way, and the game is constantly getting patches and improving. If it offered a proper story mode and slightly more intuitive mechanics on top of cleaning up the skins for clarity's sake, it would be up there with the best fighting games ever. It feels incredible to play, the music is awesome, and the visuals are some of the most unique in the industry without feeling like they're compromising for frame rate. If you're a fan of Smash Bros. gameplay, you owe it to yourself to give Rivals of Aether II a shot, but you should know that it's still a work in progress, even after release.
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Apr 6, 2026Rivals of Aether II presents a very solid foundation, with fast-paced combat, a variety of characters, and mechanics that work well in both casual matches and more technical levels of play. At the same time, its almost total focus on competitive play and the lack of solo content leave important gaps, especially for those who don’t intend to commit to online play. Even so, in local matches, the experience changes completely—it’s easy to get drawn in and have fun with the chaos of the fights. In its current state, it’s a game that already delivers good moments, but still feels like it’s in the process of growing. For those who enjoy learning, testing their limits, and gradually improving, there’s a lot of value here. For others, it might be worth keeping a closer eye on its development before fully diving in.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Nov 21, 2024Overall, Rivals of Aether 2 is not just good, it’s great. Comparing it to Melee isn’t just a frame of reference, it’s an honor. Never before has the platform fighter community rallied behind a game like it has for this one, and for good reason. It has the depth and skill ceiling that give Melee its unmatched staying power. Rivals 2 couples that with accessibility and broad appeal for players of all skill levels and interest in the genre. Not just that, the developer isn’t constantly looming in the shadows, ready to backstab the very people who love their game the most. That counts for something, and the community as a whole is counting on the developers at Aether Studios to bring them together to celebrate the genre they love. I think they just might pull it off.