Rivals 2

About

Rivals 2 is a single player and multiplayer fighting game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Aether Studios and was released on October 23, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Rivals of Aether II" is a platform fighting game where every character is free, and future ones will be added for no extra cost. It features easy-to-learn but hard-to-master gameplay, with customizable controls and unique mechanics. The game also offers online play with reliable rollback netcode and post-launch updates that include new characters, modes, and lore.

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,554 reviews

gameplay482 positive mentions

monetization41 negative mentions

Easily the best smash clone out there, with polished gameplay and great character design.
The online play is significantly better than other platform fighters, providing a smooth experience.
The game has a strong community and active developer support, with regular updates and free character releases.

The game lacks sufficient single-player content and tutorials for new players, making it difficult for them to learn.
There are issues with character balance, particularly with certain characters being overpowered and frustrating to play against.
The monetization model includes expensive cosmetics, which some players find off-putting for a paid game.

gameplay
1,685 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of "Rivals of Aether II" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fluid mechanics, fast-paced action, and unique character abilities that encourage skill expression. However, the introduction of new mechanics such as shields, grabs, and floor hugging has polarized players, with some feeling these changes detract from the original's charm and create a more defensive gameplay style. Additionally, the lack of comprehensive tutorials and resources for new players has been a significant point of criticism, making it challenging for newcomers to engage with the game effectively.
- “The gameplay is noticeably faster than Ultimate as it shares a good amount of influence from Melee, but it's super crisp and smooth.”
- “Rivals of Aether 2 is a great platform fighter that focuses on movement and unique mechanics/gimmicks of characters with great netcode.”
- “The gameplay feels fluid, I'm having a better time setting up combos being precise with my attacks, and I got a lot of 'holy crap, that was so cool!' during the local matches I played.”
- “Sadly, the game did not do enough to cater to new players on launch, and many of them gave up quickly without being provided tutorials and resources to learn the game and mechanics - there's a lot to learn.”
- “The gameplay is not at all new player friendly; the game's competitive mechanics like floor hugging, crouch canceling, wave dashing, etc. means the game expects to be your main game if you seek to become even remotely good enough to compete even at silver rank.”
- “The gameplay often felt like a struggle because it was designed around hyper-competitive aspects and not new/casual players, and has one of the harshest learning curves of any game I've played.”
graphics
249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of the game have sparked a mixed response among players, with many praising the transition to 3D models and the overall visual polish, including smooth animations and vibrant character designs. However, some long-time fans of the original pixel art style feel that the new aesthetic lacks the charm and uniqueness of its predecessor, leading to concerns about character readability and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered an improvement, they have also sparked debate about the game's identity and appeal to its core audience.
- “The visuals and animations are a feast for the eyes, and I'm a big fan of how the stage backgrounds change depending on the score.”
- “Visually, the game shines with crisp animation and a delightful art style.”
- “The graphics are great with a lot of style, and the animations are better than any other platform game ever made.”
- “The characters have lost some of their charm in the new art style, and the animations often look too smooth and overdone.”
- “By pursuing more widespread appeal and e-sports, they got rid of much of the appeal of Rivals in favor of 3D visuals and more melee-accurate mechanics, losing its identity as its own unique thing in the process.”
- “The graphics are choppy and stuttery at frequent times despite being able to play other much more graphically demanding games on high+ settings with no problems.”
monetization
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
65%
19%
The monetization model of "Rivals of Aether II" has drawn mixed reactions from players. While some appreciate the cosmetic-only microtransactions and the promise of free future content, many criticize the presence of microtransactions in a $30 game, viewing it as predatory and excessive compared to its predecessor. Overall, the game is seen as having a fair monetization approach, but the implementation has left a sour taste for some, leading to calls for a reevaluation of its pricing and content strategy.
- “The monetization model is fair and most cosmetics are unlockable through playing.”
- “The cosmetic monetization is also quite good, with battle passes that don't expire and everything being reasonably attainable without paying.”
- “All characters including DLC are free and microtransactions are purely cosmetic.”
- “I really hate saying all of this about an indie studio, but I have to hold them to the same standards I would for a big-name developer, and this kind of monetization is extremely scummy.”
- “The endless post-purchase monetization is something we've come to expect from the triple-A market, but seeing it in an indie game is frankly exhausting at this point knowing that we have to pay nearly half of the game itself for an outfit of all things.”
- “I simply can't recommend this game right now due to its glaring lack of solid content, which won't be fixed for a very long time, and its extremely predatory monetization.”
story
209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
81%
13%
The game's current lack of a story mode has drawn significant criticism from users, many of whom express disappointment that it was not included at launch, especially in comparison to its predecessor, Rivals of Aether 1. While an arcade mode is available, it fails to provide the narrative depth and engagement that players desire, leading many to recommend waiting for the promised story mode, which is expected to be released in chapters over the coming years. Overall, the absence of a robust single-player experience is seen as a major drawback, with players eager for future updates that will introduce more content and narrative elements.
- “It features a comprehensive story mode with engaging narrative elements that flesh out the lore of the game’s universe, along with challenging AI that can test players' skills across different difficulty levels.”
- “I'm hopeful that we'll eventually get a more robust story mode later into the game's lifespan, if only to get to experience more of these characters' stories, which the team has put a lot of love into.”
- “A full-fledged, multi-chapter story mode is planned to start rolling out sometime during or after 2025, with a small-scale yet in-depth single-player training mode path for each character and their individual mechanics.”
- “A story mode, which was replaced by an arcade mode that removed the boss fight and story details.”
- “No story mode, no abyss mode, and arcade mode isn't worth playing more than once or twice.”
- “Rivals 1 launched with a story mode and the abyss mode for single player, yet this game's story mode isn't included in the launch version and the upcoming updates will only be chapter-based.”
music
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay. While some players noted that certain tracks are remakes and not as memorable as those from the original game, the overall sound design and character themes are considered excellent. Additionally, the music enhances the game's vibrant atmosphere, making it a standout feature that players enjoy both during matches and as standalone listening.
- “The soundtrack complements the fast-paced battles perfectly, featuring energetic tunes that keep players engaged and add to the overall excitement of matches.”
- “The music is a particular highlight, each stage has multiple unique tracks that serve not only as great battle music, but also as character themes.”
- “The visuals are clean and stylized, the music slaps, and the new art direction gives it a vibrant, Saturday morning cartoon energy that works well with the game’s pace and attitude.”
- “The art style, the music, the gameplay - everything has been sanded down and rounded out to be more appealing to a mainstream Smash player audience in the most disappointing ways possible.”
- “Music is boring and uninspiring too.”
- “The soundtrack is a shell of its former self -- why isn't there a toggle for the Rivals 1 soundtrack option?”
character development
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its unique and creative designs, with many players highlighting the charm and distinctiveness of each character. The character designs are noted for their vibrant aesthetics and innovative mechanics, contributing significantly to the overall gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention issues with balance and the potential for gimmicky designs that may detract from competitive play.
- “The character designs are outstanding and having special getup, ledge and pummel changes the game a lot more than you think.”
- “Character design - easily the best aspect of the game after gameplay itself, and it's not just in their design - they all exhibit different facial expressions when attacking, emoting, taking damage, etc. The characters all have a unique charm that will put a smile on your face.”
- “This game has amazing character design which gives each character their own style with abilities much more unique than other platform fighters.”
- “Far less critically, I think many of the game design decisions have made balance and character design extremely difficult, even for skilled developers.”
- “Most downright terrible character design I've ever seen in a game.”
- “I will say the character design just isn't interesting in any sort of sense.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the characters and their antics, such as the "funny ice bear" and "funny rock man," to be a source of joy and laughter. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements in character designs, moves, and community interactions, although some express frustration over the game's monetization strategies and lack of content. Overall, the game's lightheartedness and funny moments contribute significantly to its appeal, making it enjoyable for both casual and competitive players.
- “The ice bear is hilarious.”
- “Funny elephant man have meatball 10/10.”
- “It's so easy to play through a game in the smash series and think 'man this move was added because someone thought it would be cool, or funny' and as a lover of cool and funny, I'm down for that.”
optimization
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
65%
22%
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, freezing, and low frame rates, particularly during online play and with certain visual effects. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on high settings, the overall experience is marred by inconsistent performance and a lack of optimization for lower-end systems. Despite the enjoyable gameplay, the optimization problems detract from the experience, leading to frustration among both casual and competitive players.
- “The game looks fantastic and is very well optimized; no performance issues here whatsoever.”
- “It's smooth and has a wide scale of optimization settings for graphics and more.”
- “After another ~40 hours of playtime, I can say that the performance of the game has definitely gotten significantly better, so that's a plus at least.”
- “The game's performance has tanked since the game officially came out, and from what I can tell, this has very little justification.”
- “I'm keeping it for practice sake, but this is probably the single worst optimized game I've ever played.”
- “The game is horribly optimized; you'll be spending more of your time in menus rather than actually playing the game.”
grinding
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to unlocking cosmetics and character levels. While some appreciate the ability to earn items through gameplay rather than microtransactions, the consensus is that the amount of grinding required—often described as needing "a second life"—can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for those who do not prioritize competitive play. Despite these frustrations, some players still find value in the gameplay loop and enjoy grinding alongside friends.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's constant grinding.”
- “A game where 4+ hours of grinding is required to even experience the "fun" is not a game worth playing for people with lives and hobbies outside of the FGC.”
- “Skins requiring purchase, I can understand, but tens of hours of grinding shouldn't be necessary just for the Smash Bros equivalent of color-a-dinosaur.”
stability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of buggy user interfaces, inconsistent server performance, and game-breaking glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced issues such as soft-locks, laggy online matches, and frequent crashes, particularly on certain hardware like the Steam Deck. While some users find the core gameplay enjoyable, the overall lack of polish and persistent bugs have led to disappointment, suggesting that the game feels unfinished despite its full release.
- “It runs great, it's fun, it's good.”
- “The game runs great online and offline.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “The UI is a buggy, inconsistent mess that borders on unusable sometimes.”
- “The game is missing important new player features, such as a tutorial or in-game mechanic/moveset/tech information, and is riddled with game-breaking bugs - from visual glitches to broken servers.”
- “Released in a very buggy state.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game reflect a mix of frustration and satisfaction, with players expressing a love-hate relationship towards its mechanics and community. While some find joy in the challenge and depth of gameplay, others feel disheartened by the game's monetization and character balance, leading to a sense of disappointment and reluctance to continue with the series. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a blend of enjoyment, frustration, and a longing for improvement.
- “This game has a very wholesome community that the game developers listen to.”
- “It feels like the character designs are a lot more settled than they were in the early life of the game, which is a bad thing because when I play as them I feel like a corny cheeser and when I play against them I want to cry.”
- “If you appreciate a challenge, want to feel true satisfaction when outplaying your opponent, are seeking a game that you can pour thousands of hours into and still just be touching the surface of the mechanical depth and skill expression it has to offer, then this game is for you.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while the online modes and character progression system offer some longevity and motivation to keep playing, the lack of substantial single-player content and features like a story mode detracts from overall replay value. Players appreciate the arcade mode and character rewards, but many feel that the experience can become repetitive over time, especially without more diverse game modes. Future updates may enhance replayability, but currently, the game falls short compared to its predecessor.
- “Actually the best feeling platform fighter on the market right now with an insane amount of replayability and longevity built into the game, with more content continually being pumped out from top-tier developers. Support this game!”
- “While it might be tough for a new player to enter and be matched with genre veterans, it is definitely worth it with the endless replayability that comes with this type of game.”
- “Arcade mode has medals for each character based on difficulty and time taken, so there's some replayability for singleplayer.”
- “Paired with the fact that there is no reason to play offline since there's nothing to do, there is practically no replay value.”
- “These missing features are supposed to come out later in the lifecycle, but with little to no singleplayer replayability or even basic singleplayer playability at all, it's a major step back from Rivals 1, and I can't recommend it for that either.”
- “Perhaps later down the line if they update the game with more playable modes and content, I'll reconsider my review, but for now I don't think the game is worth it just yet.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is a blend of competitive intensity and engaging sound design, enhanced by chiptune music and character campaigns. While some players may find the online competitive environment off-putting, the overall aesthetic, including potential improvements like new stages and music, contributes positively to the experience.
- “From the sound design to the atmosphere in the backgrounds and the wonderfully blended chiptune in the music, the game is solid.”
- “One of my favorite things from the first Rivals game was the silly but sometimes enthralling atmosphere, something enhanced by the inclusion of a little campaign for each character, tetherball mode, and most importantly - the workshop.”
- “Unless you desire the competitive atmosphere, you will not enjoy playing online against try-hard randoms.”
- “Aesthetic details like an opening cinematic, an in-game announcer, more stages, and new music would go a long way in strengthening the game’s atmosphere.”