Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles – Review

Our Score: 8/10

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles by developer CyberConnect2 is a love letter to the anime. If you’re a fan of the show, I’m sure you’re absolutely foaming at the mouth with the prospect of this game. To put it simply, yes – It delivers.

Look at that trailer. It is simply gorgeous and perfectly sums up the game. From the voice acting to the music and incredible art, it’s all present here. And we’re going to take a deeper dive into this and talk about every aspect of what makes this game fantastic. Get on the hype train because we’re going to be all aboard the Mugen Train.

What is Demon Slayer -Kimestu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles?

Players can relive the story of Tanjiro Kamado as depicted in the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Its episodes start from the “Kamado Tanjirou Risshi Arc” of the TV anime, in which Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps and faces off against various demons, and end at the “Mugen Train Arc” of the feature film, in which Tanjiro joins the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku on a mission. Enjoy the battles against the demons from the anime with beautiful graphics and expression.

Yes, that’s right. The game is one-for-one when it comes to the story. Ever watched the show and looked at all the incredible fights thought to yourself “holy hell, this is awesome! I wish there was a game like this”. Well, your dreams have come true because not only is there a game “like” the show, there is a game that is literally the show.

The game covers the whole first season of the show and also the Mugen Train movie. Of course, it isn’t paced the same way and is slightly abridged and adapted for the videogame format. So if you’re still thinking about catching up with the anime, a great way would be to watch an arc and then play that arc to get the most out of it.

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, the game is an anime arena fighter. If you’ve played any of the Naruto games, or Shonen Jump games, this is just like that. You have a 3D space, a few movement options, character-specific combos that are not too hard, and flashy moves. Ultimate moves are also in the game and look breathtaking.

When it comes to game modes you’ve got two main modes. Adventure Mode is your single-player story mode where you play as Tanjiro. And then there’s Versus Mode for people who just want to duke it in a 2c2 setting. Versus mode can be played offline and online.

Featuring a cast of 18 fighters at launch with more to come down the line, you’ve got plenty of options to pick from. Certain characters also have alternate outfits that you can switch to.

Look and Feel of Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is visually outstanding. The texture work, lighting, and outlining are top-notch. It really does feel like you’re watching an episode of the anime, with the only difference being that it looks 3D. That’s not to say it’s bad, it’s actually the opposite. Having that depth and freedom of movement makes this a more immersive experience.

Additionally, there are quite a few anime cutscenes mixed into the story mode that further adds to the visual feel of the game. Of course, the game would feel like it was missing something vital if it wasn’t for the Ultimate Attacks. In the show, there are occasions where characters do an absolutely sick move. Those are points where you can tell a lot of budgets went into the animation to make them look breathtaking. Similarly, the Ultimate Attacks in the game do the same and are a treat for the eyes.

When it comes to audio, there’s not much to be said, The music from the show is present here, and so are the voice actors from both the Japanese and English dub. It’s solid and there’s not much to say about it.

Final Verdict

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is a lovingly crafted game for fans of the anime. CyberConnect2 has done a magnificent job at capturing the spirit of the show and making a video game that fans will absolutely love.

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X and, Microsoft Windows.