AeternoBlade II

 Switch
User Score
4.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 10 out of 18

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  1. Ookasora
    Oct 20, 2019
    8
    If you’re looking for a brief overview though, then this game starts with the main protagonist and heroine of the first game, Freyja, as she discovers the fates of time and space are in danger of being destroyed by a cataclysmic event. Embarking on a journey to stop this catastrophe from happening, Freyja is joined by two other co-patriots, Bernard and Felix and the three of them set forthIf you’re looking for a brief overview though, then this game starts with the main protagonist and heroine of the first game, Freyja, as she discovers the fates of time and space are in danger of being destroyed by a cataclysmic event. Embarking on a journey to stop this catastrophe from happening, Freyja is joined by two other co-patriots, Bernard and Felix and the three of them set forth to shift the sands of time and manipulate the world around them in order to save the planet from an impending doom; something perhaps humanity could embark on with today’s current climates.

    The gameplay itself is made up of a number of elements and components, but for the most part it runs along the lines of a 2D, hack and slash, platformer. However, it also contains elements of a Metroidvania style of play with its points of exploration, combat moves and abilities and a series of puzzles across a number of varying environments. At various points within the game, you switch between each of the three characters, producing a variance in the combat style of its hack and slash formula, plus also change your perspective from 2D to a third-dimensional, over-the-shoulder view when up against the games’ many boss fights or find yourself within the midst of a large-scale battle. This creates a number of differing play-styles within the game; preventing it from staleness and providing a good level of fun as you play through it.

    Although primarily a side-scrolling, hack and slash title, the combat system takes advantage of three different move systems, as well as a variety of a weapon styles. You have heavy, light and aerial attacks, special abilities, the power to bend and adjust time and a dodge mechanic, called flash. Each of the three characters also posses varying styles of weapons, from light swords to whip-style, metroidvania, combat skills; all of which can be upgraded through a series of trees with the collection of orbs from successful mission completions. It brings a role-playing element to the game to keep you further invested into its gameplay, as well as bring some clever implementations of move styles and abilities.

    Once equipped with the power of the AeternoBlade, you can alter the physics of time through rewinding, creating mirror images and freezing it still. It’s a concept that is vital to certain elements of the game, namely in some puzzle solving and level traversing. For instance, I needed to get to an out-of-reach ledge, but my jump ability just could not reach it. I then flung an enemy into the air, froze time and simply jumped onto his stasis form and onto the ledge that I could not reach. It’s a genius level of design and one that makes you feel accomplished in the amount of moves you can pull off.

    It’s a mechanic that needs to be mastered and upgraded, as the enemies within the game spike quite early on. This presents a challenging game, but also one that still feels fair and never really frustrates. With its shifting viewpoints, exploration and exciting combat, this is a title that I had, and am still having, a lot of fun with. It plays in a similar fashion to the first game and holds many similarities in both its look and style, but this sequel is a much more refined experience, with some interesting level designs, pleasing visuals and smoother frame-rates and animations. However, it’s voice-over work is quite laughable, bordering on the level of being cheesy and a few of its elements do present the overall feel of a AA title, or a B-movie, which I found to be a more accurate description in how it feels.

    Its story is largely meaningless, moreso if you’ve not played the first game and its characters are complete strangers if you’ve entered the story from this title; but this doesn’t detract it from being a very enjoyable game to play through. Its levels are interesting, combat is satisfying and its overall look is pleasing. It lacks in some elements of presentation, yet provides a level of gameplay that just feels like good, old-fashioned fun; something that is missing from a lot of triple-A games these days. The musical score also matches the drama of the on-screen action, producing a B-movie blockbuster that’s simply irrsistable to play through.    … Expand
  2. Sora13north
    Oct 21, 2019
    8
    For what it is, AternoBlade II is not a bad game. However, this does mean it is far from perfect and does have its share of downfalls. It’s a hack n slash puzzle platformer title developed by Corecell Technology and published by PQube.

    The story is simple – an all-out war for universal power. Prevent the bad guys from securing an artefact that will give them complete control. Simple    For what it is, AternoBlade II is not a bad game. However, this does mean it is far from perfect and does have its share of downfalls. It’s a hack n slash puzzle platformer title developed by Corecell Technology and published by PQube.

    The story is simple – an all-out war for universal power. Prevent the bad guys from securing an artefact that will give them complete control. Simple enough and easy to follow. My interest in the story did come and go, the biggest draw was actually AeternoBlade’s combat.

    The combat is just what you would expect from a hack n slash. But, that is what makes it so endearing, picking up a controller and mindlessly cutting down enemies makes a nice change of pace from having to count your ammo and think about your next attack.
    In terms of fluidity combat wise the game is sound, combat flows well, and it doesn’t feel blocky.

    Earn rewards through Norns memorials – enter the Enigmata and complete a trial to get some items to help you on this adventure. Similar to Norns memorials, you will save your progress at a Norns, and it will also serve as a checkpoint for the level. You will return either here upon death or you can go back to the start of the area if you so wish.

    You’re not limited to just one character on this journey, experience the slicing and dicing Freyja, Felix and Bernard, each catering to a different play style. However, the majority of the game is played as a side scroller. Not that this is a bad thing since the third-person perspective sections of the game could do with a bit of work. The camera becomes your enemy when you have a wider range of movement.

    While the characters may look good, it soon becomes infuriating to watch as they speak. The lips and sound are so out of sync sometimes that I actually lose track of who is speaking. However, this isn’t a constant problem, more it comes and goes.

    Most games in the hack n slash genre involve mindless button basing – a sure-fire way to ensure victory. That works in AeternoBlade II during the levels (for the most part) but slamming the buttons in a boss battle is a good way to end up six feet under.

    Throughout the game, you will earn new abilities such as the time paradox ability. Essentially you create a clone to copy your actions after you’ve done them, you have the gift of time, use it wisely. Gifts like this come in handy against bosses and solving puzzles.

    Clearly, this game decided the bosses should be what makes the game challenging, it can be easy reaching a boss – whole other story when fighting them. As a major fan of the Souls series, I can get on board with tough boss fights. In fact, they are quite well designed and versatile in AeternoBlade II, the developer did well.

    Overall, the game is an enjoyable experience and is worth playing whether or are a previous fan or not. It may have its faults such as the animations and dodgy camera angles, but it makes up for that with it’s fun combat and good puzzles.    … Expand
  3. Hooray
    Oct 20, 2019
    9
    Gameplay is a mix of action packed battles, metroidvania style exploration and puzzle solving, traversing a variety of environments, battling monsters and bosses as you seek to save the universe from destruction, switching between the three characters at various points in the story, moving back and forth between the different locations to open up new paths, solve previous puzzles and findGameplay is a mix of action packed battles, metroidvania style exploration and puzzle solving, traversing a variety of environments, battling monsters and bosses as you seek to save the universe from destruction, switching between the three characters at various points in the story, moving back and forth between the different locations to open up new paths, solve previous puzzles and find hidden treasures.

    The game uses a mix of side scrolling and over the shoulder camera perspectives, the majority of gameplay takes place in the side scrolling view, with boss battles and large scale battles using the third person camera, there is also quick time events scattered throughout various parts of the story. When the player enters a room they may be “locked in”, this is where they are will face waves of enemies that will attack the player, once all enemies have been defeated the player may then progress.

    The combat system utilizes a mixture of three types attack, a special skill, powerful time bending abilities and a mechanic called flash, a dash skill that allows the player to avoid attacks with each use having to cool down. Each of the three characters can upgrade their skills using orbs collected from defeated enemies, completing missions and as rewards, the orbs can also be used to purchase items in the shop, unlock relics and level up character stats.

    Speaking of items and relics, the items that the player can use include potions, temporary boosts and exploration aids, the relics offer stat boosts that can be set into custom loadouts for each player, the stat boosts can be used to either increase a characters strengths or offset a characters weaknesses, this gives an additional level of depth to the way the player can customize their experience to fit their own play style.

    Since the game uses a metroidvania approach to the progression of the story there are points throughout the world where the player can save, manage relics, items, teleport and take on special challenges using the time shifting skills. Now with the details of gameplay out of the way it is time to talk about the downsides of AeternoBlade II.

    The 3D movement is a whole other issue, the camera seems to fight against the player while trying to control it, moving while trying to avoid attacks can obscure the players view, this is most prevalent during large scale battles against several enemies and boss battles, the camera can go out of bounds when too close to a wall which is a nuisance, one upside to the over the shoulder camera is the ability to lock onto the enemies, offsetting some of the camera difficulties.

    Controls for combat and movement are solid, with fluidity to them as the battles go on, there is a very little input lag when executing combo attacks and using the various skills, there can be some trouble during boss fights however as there is slowdown while playing in handheld mode, this is something that the developers are working on so hopefully it will be fixed in the near future.

    Visually AeternoBlade II is aesthetically pleasing, while not at the same resolution as the PS4 version the game still looks good on Nintendo Switch, the overall look is a mix between fantasy and anime, for an indie title it is very well polished, the environments have a lot of grandeur to them, the monsters and cast of characters are expertly animated, having a natural look to movement and are well designed with a lot of personality to them.

    The sound is a mixed bag, the soundtrack is done well with suspenseful atmospheric string based compositions, fantasy styled orchestral pieces and an opening piano theme with soft vocals layered over it. The sound effects used are effective with the clashing of blades having a nice impact during combat, voice acting is difficult to judge, again, being an independent release the quality of voice cast isn’t what you would expect from a big budget title but I feel it has its own charm to it.

    Overall, I enjoyed my time playing AeternoBlade II, there are flaws with the game but they aren’t significant enough for me to say the game isn’t worth playing, the camera issues take a little getting used to and will hopefully be addressed with an upcoming patch, the difficulty curve did have a level of frustration to it, but it wasn’t impossible and the lack of feedback through vibration/collision detection flaws did pull me out of the experience but I don’t see it as a deal breaker.    … Expand
  4. Terex
    Oct 20, 2019
    8
    In the first stages of the game, you will get to try out some of the different fighting styles as it throws you directly into the action. These fights aren’t too hard, but give you a good mix of what to expect. Since the game has both 2D and 3D sections during the fight sequences, you end up getting to fight through both styles before leaving the first area. The attack moves remain theIn the first stages of the game, you will get to try out some of the different fighting styles as it throws you directly into the action. These fights aren’t too hard, but give you a good mix of what to expect. Since the game has both 2D and 3D sections during the fight sequences, you end up getting to fight through both styles before leaving the first area. The attack moves remain the same regardless of the view style, but it was handy that there is a lock-on feature for the sequences that play out in 3D.

    The majority of the game is moving through various 2.5D platforming style sections that could be as easy as running through an empty and flat area up to some very intense platforming that will require the use of time power and skill. These aren’t optional areas either, so be prepared for some difficult moments in the platforming arena. The first area that really tripped me up had me jumping on the head of these skull enemies that are only solidified when you pause time, which only lasts for a few seconds so you have to time it with the also moving platforms; not to mention the enemy that only moves while time power is in use and can’t be killed, but blows up when touched causing a knockback even if you are mid-jump.

    As far as the puzzle sections go, these are mostly optional. There are a few puzzle-like areas where you will need to use time powers in a specific way to proceed, but most of the puzzle areas are in the sections known as “Enigma,” which there is a new one at every single checkpoint. Sometimes you could go in and it would just be a free win, but these challenge rooms could get really difficult really fast, but they always have a relic or prize of kind at the end.

    Back to focusing on the fighting in the game. There is actually a LOT more fighting than I anticipated, but it is manageable as you collect yellow orbs per death and quest completion. These orbs let you power up your character and each attack, allowing you to make the attacks you use most more powerful first and then build from there. The relics you have been collecting can be equipped and leveled up with their own point counter, so the more of them you collect the wider variety of options you have to choose from. This set up allows players to make their character powerful in the areas that suit their fighting style best. My suggestion is to max out your in-air attack combo because it is a punishing attack sequence that can be abused to win fights.

    If there is a fight that is too difficult for you, regardless if it is a boss or a regular fight, they do offer a chance to go to an easier difficulty. This is handy because the fights are actually pretty intense and take a long time to get the health bar down in the beginning, but if you do the difficulty decrease once or twice they are faster to get through. I didn’t see a difference in the actual fight, but I took less damage per hit and did more damage per attack.

    They do a good job giving off a variety of enemy types and plenty of visual cues on what different things mean when it comes to using the time powers, but the enemies were pretty basic looking and rather generic. Overall, very cartoony and simplistic.

    I want to praise the music choice for the game and the general sound effects used. Both of these aspects were well done and very fitting, especially the fight music energy coming from something that wasn’t a rock-style song like we hear all the time these days. However, the voice acting is just horrible! There were a couple of actors that did a decent job, but almost every cutscene was just annoying to listen to since everybody pronounced names however they wanted, giving no consistency

    If you like to explore all of the areas of a game and see everything it is hiding, they give a percentage meter on how much of a map has been explored. Given that there are multiple maps, full of hidden collectibles and enemies, there is plenty to explore. There is also the relics that can be collected by completing every Enigma room, which can be done on the first go, but likely some will be passed up. So, I would say there is some reason to go back through the game, but overall the story and journey would be the same.

    In short, the voice acting, writing, and storytelling could all have been better. There were a lot of questionable lines that just took a moment that could have been powerful or impactful, but thanks to the line being written poorly and then acted out poorly, it just came off weak or laughable. This didn’t help me want to complete the game for the purpose of the story, but rather just the fact that I enjoyed the gameplay itself.

    AeternoBlade II is definitely a step up from their first game and it is a lot of fun to play! I enjoyed how difficult it was in all the aspects it focuses on, action, puzzle, and platforming, as well as just keeping me wondering what challenge lied ahead. Worth playing, if you can handle the issues with the storytelling.    … Expand
  5. T-rat
    Oct 21, 2019
    8
    The story is an afterthought in AeternoBlade II as players go through the motions of meeting new characters and switching characters as soon as they get the hang of a set of abilities. It gets frustrating because they each have different weapon types, so you need to adjust playstyles on the fly, but things do end up become more straightforward after the first opening act and a few bossThe story is an afterthought in AeternoBlade II as players go through the motions of meeting new characters and switching characters as soon as they get the hang of a set of abilities. It gets frustrating because they each have different weapon types, so you need to adjust playstyles on the fly, but things do end up become more straightforward after the first opening act and a few boss battles. However, whether a player sticks around to see this side of the game is another story.

    What saves the game is its decent combat that is as repetitive and mindless as you might assume it is, but it responsive where it counts. Sure the enemies are pretty much the same ones faced in AeternoBlade, but they are fun to take out. The game’s combat takes some getting used to, though, because some enemies aren’t staggered by your attacks and will swing their swords no matter how much damage you’re unleashing on them. It creates some frustrating situations, but it still manages to be satisfying.

    That said, using the time-warping abilities was never my go-to strategy for taking random grunts out. However, I did make it a point to use them during boss battles, which are the highlight of the entire game, well the ones that can’t be cheesed through at least. If you die multiple times during a boss encounter, the game will offer a lower difficulty for that area, which is an excellent option to have. There are also enemies who can only be defeated using the time abilities, but they were extremely annoying.

    Gameplay has multiple modes as it switches between 2D action to third-person action to puzzle platformer. It makes you wish the developer spent time perfecting one of these genres because you’ll switch randomly during gameplay and it never feels right. There were times when I just got out of a challenging fight, and then the next room contained a save point with a puzzle that slowed things down.

    Some puzzles are optional, but they contain powerups that are useful, so you pretty much have to do them. Puzzles in the game sometime require you to use the powers of the respective character. These get pretty challenging and ended up being what I would have preferred the entire game be.

    The third-person mode is just strange and shouldn’t be in the game. It’s unusual for some encounters, but the camera and lock-on never seem to work correctly during bosses, and it does nothing to the enjoyment of the game. I’ll also add that there are quick-time events in the game where if you miss a button press, its an automatic death, but you get to retry without any real consequence.    … Expand
  6. BEnenema
    Oct 21, 2019
    8
    The core gameplay itself follows the tried and tested Metroidvania formula, with 2D side-scrolling, and an on-rails experience with a mostly pre-determined route of travel. However, it doesn’t stop there. Every now and then, sometimes jarringly, it switches to a 3rd person view for boss battles, which forces you to approach things in a very different way. I mostly liked this experience toThe core gameplay itself follows the tried and tested Metroidvania formula, with 2D side-scrolling, and an on-rails experience with a mostly pre-determined route of travel. However, it doesn’t stop there. Every now and then, sometimes jarringly, it switches to a 3rd person view for boss battles, which forces you to approach things in a very different way. I mostly liked this experience to mix-up the styles, but with fixed camera positions, it felt like I was playing early Resident Evil (not in a good way….arghhmmmmm STARS).

    There were some really wonderful side-scrolling elements I loved, with the 3D terrain revolving as you travel up a winding staircase for example, even though the route is on-rails it was very well done, and added a depth to the scenery.

    There are three playable characters and each one has their own unique connection to how they wield their weapons and utilise the time-manipulation powers in-game. For example, you can quickly skip forward in time with one character to dodge an onslaught in battle. For another character, you can freeze time for everyone else, and then give your enemies a good whack in their helpless states. For the third you can enter a realm of time where you can lock in 20 seconds of movement with your character, then go and do something else in real-time, which is great for activating switches to open doors that would otherwise require two people. I think this has been implemented well and keeps the layers of puzzles fresh and at times really challenging throughout the game. Often you can see a puzzling aspect to the level that you know has to be performed by another character, challenging you to return.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
44

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 4 out of 7
  1. FNintendo
    Feb 6, 2020
    40
    AeternoBlade II for the Nintendo Switch has some good ideas and its RPG-like elements do give the game some appeal. That said, the execution is rather poor and its combat quickly becomes frustrating. Adding to that, its mediocre art style, technical issues and exceedingly long loading times make this a rather botched experience that becomes difficult to recommend.
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  2. GameSpace
    Dec 17, 2019
    50
    AeternoBlade 2 is a continuance of AeternoBlade, an action time-puzzler by CORECELL Technology. This action-puzzle game implements multiple styles of combat with an interesting time manipulation mechanic. While the puzzles are mostly enjoyable, the combat is largely uninspired, leading to tedious boss encounters and aggravating 3D battles that quickly neutralizes the fantastic points of AeternoBlade 2's design.
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  3. TheSixthAxis
    Nov 7, 2019
    40
    With unenjoyable and clunky combat that is made much worse during the 3D segments, a laughably archetypal fantasy story, and dated character models, it’s hard to actually believe that AeternoBlade II released this year for modern consoles. AeternoBlade II simply falls short of all of its ambitions, whatever they might have been.
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