Defy gods in ‘God Eater 2: Rage Burst’ and ‘God Eater: Resurrection’

Aside from tentacles, Japan has also long been obsessed with two things: monsters and really, really huge weapons.

The “God Eater” series has a surplus of both. But there’s more to it than kaijus and swords so enormous any normal person would break a collarbone within a second of wielding them. In their attempt to cash in on the “Monster Hunter” craze, Bandai Namco’s own monster-slaying series has won for itself a substantial audience, thanks to tight controls and lightning-fast combat.

“God Eater: Resurrection” and its sequel “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” are in fact enhanced versions of PlayStation Portable games “God Eater” and “God Eater 2” respectively. As such, these PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita releases have not only been bolstered with graphical upgrades, they’ve also been tweaked with a host of unique features and mechanics. The changes are generous enough to win over fans again. But will it satisfy everyone else’s craving for hack-and-slash mayhem?

The PlayStation 4 version of “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” comes bundled with “God Eater: Resurrection,” so we’ve seen fit to review them simultaneously.

Post-apocalyptic hell

“God Eater: Resurrection” takes place in post-apocalyptic 2071, and its sequel three years later. In both, Japan has fallen under the might of Aragami—vicious monsters whose sole purpose seems to be the satiation of their boundless hunger.

Staving off the extinction of humanity are enhanced soldiers, or “God Eaters,” who wield the only weapons that can kill these creatures: God Arcs. Trained by the organization Fenrir to become Aragami-killing machines, these warriors are sent to Japan’s most dangerous locations to quell monster outbreaks.

In both games, you go on missions with a single objective: destroy Aragamis in a designated area. Joining you in these battles are up to three squad mates, who are controlled by either the surprisingly competent A.I., or your friends if you play online.

Outside of battle, you form relationships with these soldiers. All the anime archetypes are here—and you can tell they’re archetypes because both games have vastly similar characters. There’s the annoying, overly cheerful moron (Kota in the first game, Romeo in the second); the brooding, hotheaded bishonen (Soma, Gilbert); the friendly, supportive leader (Lindlow, Julius); and more. 99% of the characters are below 25 and inexplicably beautiful. Most female characters are scantily clad, and boast ridiculous breast physics that make them look like they’re governed by a different set of physical laws. What do you expect? It’s an anime video game.

Every character rarely does anything not required by their archetype, and occasionally aggravates you by doing the hysterical or melodramatic teenager routine. Thankfully, they do grow. You’ll probably still feel like introducing their pretty faces to a meat grinder, but after you hear their tragic backstories, you’ll learn to forgive their failings.

Both games’ stories start at a slow pace. Since the games’ various mechanics unlock with story progress, you’ll have to wait a while before the implementation of new ones. Fortunately, the combat is enjoyable enough that you’ll seldom find yourself asking for more features, so it feels like a reward when they’re finally presented.

Positively divine combat

Aragamis come in various forms. You’ll encounter some that look like gargantuan crocodiles, others winged humanoids. There’s even one kind that’s basically part organic, part machine: a veritable meat tank. While there’s certainly variety, there probably should’ve been more types. It’s also a pity that mission structures can get repetitive. You can only slaughter so many combinations of the same monsters before monotony sets in.

Thankfully, the combat is the best thing about “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” and “God Eater: Resurrection.” It helps that the gigantic God Arcs are such fascinating instruments. From melee weapons like swords, hammers, or scythes, they can transform into firearms such as shotguns or sniper rifles—all at the push of a button.

God Arcs are also infused with the stuff Aragamis are made of: Oracle Cells. This allows you to momentarily turn your weapon into a monster which chomps down on enemies. “Devouring” targets damages them, steals items, and reloads your gun’s ammo. Additionally, it puts you into Burst Mode, which temporarily heightens all of your physical abilities.

Mashing buttons unleashes flurries of combos, but defeating Aragamis takes strategy. Not only do you have to be mindful of their behavioral patterns, you’ll have to figure out their weak points so that you can hit them where it hurts most. Every monster is vulnerable to specific elements, weapon types, and attacks.

Nevertheless, these behemoths are tough and pack a punch, so expect most battles to last no less than 10 minutes.

Riches in heaven

Combat may seem simple at first, but a little tinkering with the menus and you’ll find yourself with a slew of options—especially once those special mechanics start rearing their heads.

Common between the two games is a crafting system that enables the building or upgrading of weapons. You can customize your bullets to express a variety of effects, and even create outfits for your avatar. Also, both games dole out Ability Points which allow you to acquire skills for your teammates. As for your own character, they advance in strength as your weapons grow more powerful.

“God Eater: Resurrection” gets all the weapon types introduced in “God Eater 2: Rage Burst,” and boasts the Predator Style feature, which allows you to evolve devour abilities. Still, it’s the leaner of the two games, mechanics-wise.

“God Eater 2: Rage Burst” gives you Blood Arts—upgradable abilities that, when equipped, provide buffs and savage new attack animations. Blood Arts can be unlocked by meeting certain conditions such as performing particular types of attacks a number of times. This means that sticking to specific play styles is rewarded, adding another layer of depth and customization to combat.

Another new mechanic is Blood Rage, which involves filling a yellow meter, then selecting a vow which grants you a massive boost in power.

“God Eater 2: Rage Burst” also includes Character Episodes – missions and stories tied to specific main characters. Completing such episodes will awaken in these characters powerful Blood Arts certain to prove useful in battle.

Trouble in paradise

Perhaps what annoyed me the most about both games is their reluctance to teach you how to access the hidden depths in gameplay. After a couple of tutorials, you’re basically left to figure out the games’ intricacies on your own by reading reams of boring text. I even had to go online to find out that you can actually lock on to enemies. There’s a learning curve that would’ve been less steep with a couple of more training missions.

Also, while “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” may be mechanically superior, you still get the feeling that both games are, at their core, exactly the same. You might not feel the need to play one title if you’ve already completed the other.

Can I get an Amen?

A sporadically dull story and tropey characters might detract from the overall experience, but “God Eater 2: Rage Burst” and “God Eater: Resurrection’s” superlative combat will thrill a majority of action game fans. If you’re willing to slog through some repetitive missions and delve into the games’ subtleties, the rich mechanics and customization options will prove tremendously rewarding, too. These are flawed games, yes, but they can also scratch that itch for monster-murdering action.

Rating: 7.5/10

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows

— BM, GMA News