Rivals of Aether II Review Summary

A sharp, polished platform fighter with unique characters and crisp combat shines for hardcore fans but stumbles with clunky matchmaking, a frustrating floorhugging mechanic, and a steep learning curve that pushes casuals away.

Top-tier platform fighter experience: The game is widely praised as one of the best platform fighters, offering a fantastic and competitive experience for fans of the genre. It is considered a well-built, fun, and high-execution platform fighter that stands out among indie games.

Unique and well-designed characters: The game features a roster of characters that are praised for their uniqueness, interesting kits, and well-balanced mechanics. Each character has distinct abilities and playstyles, making them fun to learn and play.

Polished and crisp gameplay: The gameplay is noted for being polished, crisp, and smooth. The controls are responsive, and the combat is fun, contributing to a high-quality gaming experience.

Overall enjoyable game: The game is described as fun, amazing, and excellent overall. It offers enjoyable gameplay with great mechanics and music, making it a highly recommended experience.

Fun casual gameplay: The game offers enjoyable casual gameplay with fun party modes and casual-focused content. It is accessible and fun for new players, making it a great experience for all skill levels.

Floorhugging mechanic is problematic: The floorhugging mechanic is widely criticized as frustrating, poorly designed, and overpowered. It creates unbalanced and unsatisfying gameplay moments.

Game is not casual friendly: The game is perceived as too competitive and not enjoyable for casual players. It lacks content and features that would make it more welcoming for a casual audience.

Matchmaking needs improvement: Players frequently report issues with matchmaking, including long wait times and unbalanced matches due to significant skill level differences. This leads to a frustrating experience for many users.

Lack of single-player content: Players express disappointment over the lack of substantial single-player content, including story modes and solo gameplay options.

Steep learning curve: New players find the game difficult to learn due to its harsh learning curve and complex mechanics. This makes it less accessible and enjoyable for newcomers.

Similar to Super Smash Bros: The game is frequently compared to Super Smash Bros., particularly in terms of gameplay mechanics and accessibility. It shares similarities with various iterations of Smash Bros., including Ultimate and Melee.

Platform fighter genre focus: The game is a platform fighter with complex mechanics, unique characters, and both casual and competitive modes. It is praised for its depth and variety within the genre.

Unique character mechanics: Characters have specific mechanics, abilities, and movement tech that shape their attacks and playstyle. This adds depth and variety to the gameplay.

High skill ceiling and learning curve: The game has a high skill ceiling and a steep learning curve, requiring players to invest time and effort to master its mechanics. It offers in-depth learning resources.

Combo-heavy gameplay: The gameplay involves a significant focus on combos, with interactive and free-form combo systems. However, some players find the combos repetitive.

Optimization and performance issues: The game suffers from various optimization and performance issues, including poor optimization, frame rate issues, and stuttering. These problems affect the overall gameplay experience and need to be addressed.

Netcode and server issues: While some players praise the netcode and server performance, others report issues such as unreliable netcode, high ping, and server communication problems. These inconsistencies affect online play.

Steam Deck performance issues: The game has mixed performance on Steam Deck, with some players reporting poor performance and frame drops, while others find it runs well with minor hiccups. Optimization for Steam Deck needs improvement.

Game crashes and bugs: Frequent game crashes and buggy menus are reported by players. These issues can significantly impact the gameplay experience and need to be fixed.

Controller input issues: Players have reported various controller input issues, including disconnections and inputs getting eaten. These problems can hinder the gameplay experience.

Recommended for platform fighter fans: This game is highly recommended for fans of platform fighters and competitive players. It is praised for its technical and skill-based gameplay, making it a great choice for those who enjoy the genre.

Not for casual players: The game is not recommended for casual players or those looking for a party game experience. It lacks substantial single-player content and can be frustrating for inexperienced players.

Best with friends: Playing with friends or using Discord to find similar skilled players is highly recommended. The game is more enjoyable when played with others rather than solo.

Alternative to Smash Bros: The game is recommended for fans of Smash Bros and those looking for a similar experience. It is seen as a serious alternative to Smash Ultimate.

Not recommended in current state: Some reviewers cannot recommend the game in its current state due to various issues such as lack of content, high price, and frustrating mechanics.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $30.00.

Game completion: 500.0h.

Story completion: 100.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

Endgame: 400.0h.

The game is fun with friends and has a competitive edge, but it has a steep learning curve and lacks proper tutorials, making it less enjoyable for newcomers and casual players. The fun starts after overcoming the initial learning phase.

Reported time to anchor: 2h.

Competitive Veteran: Focused on competitive play, attending LAN events, and mastering advanced mechanics. Motivation: Competitive play and mastery of game mechanics. Stance: buy.

Casual Transitional: Casual play with some competitive elements, enjoying the game with friends and in local tournaments. Motivation: Enjoying the game casually and transitioning to more competitive play. Stance: sale.

Struggling Newcomer: Struggling to get into the game, often facing more experienced players and feeling overwhelmed. Motivation: Learning the game and improving their skills. Stance: deep sale.

Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with lower VRAM configurations experiencing more issues. Higher VRAM setups generally report better performance, though some still encounter crashes and optimization problems.

Windows <8GB VRAM: mixed. Performance is inconsistent, with some users reporting smooth gameplay while others experience crashes and poor optimization.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Users generally report good performance, though some note the game being heavy for a 2D fighter and occasional crashes.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: negative. Users report frequent crashes, particularly with mods.

Steam Deck: The game faces significant performance and compatibility issues on the Steam Deck, with users reporting lag, poor optimization, and unplayable conditions. Control configuration issues and mixed gameplay experiences are also notable concerns.

Linux and Proton: The game has mixed reviews regarding its performance on Linux and the Steam Deck. While some users report significant lag, performance issues, and controller input problems, others have had a positive experience by adjusting graphics settings. There are also reports of the game not running well or having issues starting properly on the Steam Deck.

Monetization: The game's monetization strategy is generally well-received, with a focus on cosmetic-only microtransactions, free and non-expiring battle passes, and a generous currency system. However, some players feel that the microtransactions are overpriced and that the developers are focusing too much on monetization rather than game improvements. Overall, the game avoids predatory monetization practices and provides a fair experience for players.

External guides: The primary issues highlighted by users revolve around the steep learning curve and the necessity to rely on external wiki pages to understand game mechanics and character movesets. While the gameplay is praised, the in-game communication of these elements is found lacking. Tutorials have been added recently and are appreciated, but there is a demand for more comprehensive guides on advanced mechanics.