Fairy Tail 2 Tokyo Game Show Preview — End of an Arc

Fairy Tail 2 is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) that’s a sequel to the 2020 title from Gust and Koei Tecmo. Adapting the Alvarez Empire Arc, the game sees the Fairy Tail guild taking on Zeref Dragneel, the Emperor Spriggan, and the formidable members of the Spriggan 12.

I had the opportunity to play Fairy Tail 2 at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, whereupon I learned of the new mechanics, including the combat system being a mix of real-time and turn-based concepts. I was certainly intrigued since I played the previous title, though my wife couldn’t help but become giddy as she’s a huge fan of the anime show.

Fairy Tail 2 brings back a diverse cast of characters, including all members of the guild. This is done in such a rapid fashion that I soon found myself with over half a dozen party members within a short span of time after starting the demo. Examples include iconic mainstays such as Natsu, Lucy Heartfilia, and Erza Scarlet. Wendy, Gray, Juvia, and a few others also join in quick succession.

Given that Fairy Tail’s characters are exceptional fighters and mages in their own right, you can expect your party members to make use of elemental abilities in combat. For starters, most enemies appear on the map, akin to a real-time adventure game or action RPG. Once your chosen character bumps into them, that triggers a battle where up to three teammates can participate.

“Fairy Tail 2 focuses more on a hybrid combat system that combines real-time switches and turn-based tactics.”

Party members can perform a variety of moves, including those that hit multiple foes simultaneously. Moreover, Fairy Tail 2 focuses more on a hybrid combat system that combines real-time switches and turn-based tactics. Essentially, your teammates have a circular gauge that fills up, notifying you when they’re able to act. During this time, you can also swap to your other party members in case they can cast their abilities and spells. It’s also possible to break the enemy’s defences and perform Link Attacks, akin to chain combos that deal tremendous damage.

For example, I can use Natsu’s Fire Dragon Roar skill against enemies that are weak against fire. Then, I can follow this up with Erza’s Heaven’s Wheel: Circle Sword, where she magically shifts into her winged and armoured form. If prompted, I can continue this assault with either Lucy’s or Natsu’s Link Attacks, which confer additional bonuses. I actually like the combat system, as it’s more free-flowing and reliant on timely switches, as opposed to just your regular turn-based affair where you have to wait for longer periods.

“I’m genuinely excited to see what Fairy Tail 2 brings to the table, especially with what I’ve experienced from the demo. “

From there, I arrived at a camp where I was notified about the Character Stories feature. Basically, the more you journey with certain party members, the more your relationship/bonds with them will increase. Soon, you’ll be able to learn more about their backgrounds in separate events or personal quests. Likewise, there’s the Key to the Unknown segment, which is supposed to be a completely original story not seen in the manga or anime. However, this was unavailable in the demo, so perhaps it’s more of a mid-to-late-game unlock.

I’m genuinely excited to see what Fairy Tail 2 brings to the table, especially with what I’ve experienced from the demo. One thing that also intrigues me is how developer Gust can manage to adapt the Alvarez Empire Arc into Fairy Tail 2, especially considering that it’s the last major storyline in the show. With the studio focusing primarily on the Atelier franchise (i.e. Atelier Ryza and the recently announced Atelier Yumia), Fairy Tail 2 might be the last video game adaptation of the manga and anime that we’ll see for a long while. If that’s the case, then I hope the sequel goes out with a bang.

Fairy Tail 2 launches on December 11, 2024. The game will be available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.