Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 Review (PC)

very good
key review info
  • Game: Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 key art

Despite releasing to favorable reviews back in 2021, the first game in the Fuga: Melodies of Steel trilogy didn’t become a market success. This happens quite often in the gaming industry, but CyberConnect2 promised to continue the trilogy with subsequent games that will be released in the future.

Announced in July 2022, the sequel to Fuga: Melodies of Steel debuted on Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service, which exposed the game to a much larger pool of players. Fans of the series will be pleased to know that iconic characters in the original game return for the sequel.

Also, new mechanics and updated systems have been added to go along with those from the first game. However, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 didn’t change at all visually, as developers have decided to continue with the anime style that made the original so popular among fans of the genre.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel offered the complete package: great story, gorgeous art style, varied combat mechanics, and a well-crafted world. The sequel continues on the same path, yet it raises the stakes a bit story-wise.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
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After fighting and winning the war against the Berman Empire in the first game, our team of children is taking on an even bigger threat. Set one year after the events in the original, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 introduces a second mega-tank, the Tarascus. This is the massive tank that the children fought against and destroyed while controlling the Taranis.

Summoned by the country’s authorities to aid with the investigation of the recovered Taranis, which needed repairs after the last battle, the children suddenly find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot that requires their intervention once again.

In the first few chapters of the game, we’re introduced to the Tarascus, which previously belonged to the Berman Empire. Unsurprisingly, the interior is the same as the one from the Taranis and the tank is seemingly just as powerful. However, the Soul Cannon, Taranis’ iconic, yet dreaded weapon, has been replaced with Managarm, a similarly powerful cannon that doesn’t take the life of one of your children when used, it just knocks it unconscious temporarily.

The Fuga: Melodies of Steel series sets itself apart from other JRPGs in the fact that it treats very serious themes while using children as protagonists. The story in the original had many heartbreaking moments and the sequel continues to be just as brutal. I’m going to make an exception and skip the story part from the review because it’s so intense that I believe players should experience it without having any previous information, just like I did.

That being said, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 introduces interesting new combat systems, and some questionable ones. Malt, the true leader of the team, is now getting so-called Leader Skills, which can be unlocked by simply making decisions throughout the game. At certain points of the story, Malt is going to be presented with two choices that will push the balance bar toward Judgment or Empathy.

Each path has four skills that can be unlocked, and by the end of the game you’ll have them all. Thanks to these Leader Skills, Malt can sometimes hex the enemies to miss their shots. These Leader Skills trigger randomly, you don’t have control over them, but they’re still a nice addition to the already deep combat systems.

Another interesting new mechanic will allow the children to go back and take a branching path that is only accessible via air transportation. Air transportation spots are now present on some of the routes that children are driving on. These offer not just air transportation, but also shop services, repair, energy replenishment, and even air raids. If you want to get more experience faster and make some money in the process, this is a great way to do it assuming that you’re well prepared for some tough fights.

Hero Mode is one of the most powerful mechanics in the game. Each child has a “hero gauge” that fills as they fight. When it’s full, it automatically activates Hero Mode, which gives that child very powerful attacks for a limited time. For example, some attacks inflict maximum damage or deliver critical hits. Support characters will repair your tank more when their Hero Mode is active, so these are definitely a welcome addition to the combat system.

What I didn’t like is the “reworked” Soul Cannon mechanic. In Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2, if your tank’s health drops too low, it will automatically trigger the Soul Cannon, so you’ll have a limited time to finish the battle. Otherwise, you will lose one of your children who will be “loaded” into the Soul Cannon. Usually, you only have 10 turns to finish a battle from the moment the Soul Cannon is triggered, so you’ll want to top up your tank’s health as much as you can to avoid this new mechanic.

Just like in the first game, at the end of a chapter, you’ll face a boss. These fights are like little puzzles that make your life easier if solved correctly. Knowing when to shield yourself from the enemy attack and when to go all in for the kill can make a big difference.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2
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The Good

  • Tense, captivating story
  • Deep combat system
  • Most new mechanics are helpful and interesting
  • Gorgeous anime art style

The Bad

  • Reworked Soul Cannon mechanic is unfun
  • It can become too familiar visually

Conclusion

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 brings quite a few new twists to the already interesting battle systems. It offers more strategy options and, overall, it’s easier than the first game if you understand how these new mechanics work and utilize them to their fullest.

Apart from that, nothing really changed, so those who played the original game will find themselves at home right from the start. Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 retains the anime art style and provides players with an even more tense, captivating story.

Although I would have liked to see some visual changes too, there’s nothing wrong in using the same assets if they proved to be so popular among players. Fuga: Melodies of Steel series remains an indie gem that has yet to receive the attention it deserves. If you love turn-based strategy games with serious themes, I can’t recommend this enough.

Review based on a copy purchased by Softpedia.

story 9
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 8
audio 7
multiplayer 0
final rating 8.5
Editor's review
very good
 

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 screenshots (24 Images)

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 key art
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