Info about FAIRY TAIL 2:

Official game description:
Contents of the "Digital Deluxe" Set
====================================
This set includes:  
\- The main game  
\- Outfit Set: "Alternate Costumes"  
A set of 10 outfits in alternate colors, with 1 outfit for each party member character.  
\- Lucy Outfit (GUST Collaboration): "Ryza 1"  
A Lucy-specific outfit based on the clothing of the "Atelier Ryza" protagonist Ryza.  
\- Erza Outfit (GUST Collaboration): "Ryza 2"  
An Erza-specific outfit based on the clothing of the "Atelier Ryza 2" protagonist Ryza.  
\- Mirajane Outfit (GUST Collaboration): "Ryza 3"  
A Mirajane-specific outfit based on the clothing of the "Atelier Ryza 3" protagonist Ryza.  
\- Bonus Feature: "Atelier Lucy"  
"Atelier Lucy," a feature allowing players to synthesize and upgrade Lacrima, will be made available once the main game has been completed.  
\- Handy Items: "Crystals" (Set of 10)  
A set of 10 Crystals that can be used for character progression. Crystals can be used after a reaching certain point in the game.  
\- Handy Items: "Lacrima Fragment" (Set of 10)  
A set of 10 Lacrima Fragments, which can be used for Lacrima exchanges. This exchange feature will be unlocked after reaching a certain point in the game.  
Note:  
\- Characters' outfits can be changed from the Characters screen. (The character must be a party member.)  
\- Please see the official site for more details.  
\- There are other editions that include this product. Please be careful not to make duplicate purchases.
Contents of the "FAIRY TAIL 2 Ultimate Edition" Set
===================================================
This set includes:  
\- "FAIRY TAIL 2 Digital Deluxe"  
\- "FAIRY TAIL 2 Season Pass"  
Allows users to obtain 5 types of purchasable DLC.  
\- Season Pass Bonus: Erza Outfit: "Sky Dragon Slayer Wendy," Wendy Outfit: "Fairy Queen Erza"  
An outfit for Erza based on Wendy's outfit in the "Alvarez Empire Arc" and an outfit for Wendy based on Erza's outfit in the same arc.  
Eligible content for season pass:  
1) Bonus scenario: "FAIRY TAIL Hot Springs"  
2) Bonus feature "Arena"  
3) New party member set 1  
Additional playable character (TBA), story, and 3 outfits.  
4) New party member set 2  
Additional playable character (TBA), story, and 3 outfits.  
5) New party member set 3  
Additional playable character (TBA), story, and 3 outfits.  
Note:  
\- The season pass bonus will be available on the game's release date. Eligible content 1) is scheduled to become available by the end of January 2025, 2) and 3) by the end of March 2025, and 4) and 5) by the end of April 2025.  
\- The details and release dates of content may change without notice. See the official site for details.  
\- Eligible content can be accessed after reaching designated points in the game. 1) includes a new quest and story. 2) is a facility in which players can retry battles against strong enemies. 3), 4), and 5) are sets that include characters who have become playable, along with their outfits and stories.  
\- Characters' outfits can be changed from the Characters screen (only if they are party members).  
\- Other products contain the main game and the same content. The season pass and eligible content will be available for purchase as standalone products at a later date. Please be careful not to make duplicate purchases.
About the Game
==============
“FAIRY TAIL 2” is a new RPG based on the popular magical combat fantasy manga and anime series “FAIRY TAIL,” whose story is beloved by fans around the world, with the original manga selling more than 72 million copies worldwide. This sequel to the game "FAIRY TAIL," released in July 2020, depicts the “Alvarez Empire Arc,” the climax of the original manga.  
**\- Relive the culmination of the original series through gameplay!**  
This RPG depicts the dramatic developments of the “Alvarez Empire Arc,” the climax of the original story. Playing as the main characters Natsu and Lucy and other members of the Fairy Tail guild, you can relive the epic battles against their greatest enemy, Emperor Spriggan (Zeref) of the Alvarez Empire, along with his elite team, called the "Spriggan 12," and the world destroyer, Black Dragon Acnologia.  
**\- Flashy magic battles with unique characters!**  
The battle system has been completely redesigned from the previous game, resulting in real-time battles that are even more flashy and impactful. Use various strategic elements to your advantage and experience the thrill of exhilarating battles!  
**\- Seamlessly explore the final battlefield of the Kingdom of Fiore!**  
The world of “FAIRY TAIL” has been recreated with beautiful 3D graphics that allow you to feel immersed in the world of the original series as if you were exploring it yourself!  
**\- An abundance of exclusive in-game content, including an original epilogue!**  
Explore a new original story, "Key to the Unknown," set after the events of this arc and the original series. Plus, you can get to know new sides of your favorite characters in “Character Stories” and experience a variety of other elements that can only be seen in the game!  
Note:  
\- Please see the official site for more details.  
\- There are other editions that include this product. Please be careful not to make duplicate purchases.

Release date: Dec 11, 2024

Categories: Action RPG, Character Progression, Open-World Exploration, Story-driven Gameplay, Japanese Mythology, Anime-inspired Gameplay, Character Customization

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 60; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game has significant issues related to its monetization strategy. Key concerns include overpriced DLCs that offer little functional value, additional costs post-purchase that feel unfair, and a high total cost that includes necessary DLCs to fully enjoy the game. These factors contribute to a negative user experience and perceptions of greed.
- Proton/Linux: score 20; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility with Linux-based systems. However, there are reports of performance issues on some Linux setups, suggesting that while the game is mostly compatible, there may be some minor tweaks or optimizations needed for certain configurations.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Mixed Experience; summary: The game has a mixed reception on the Steam Deck. While some users report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, others experience stability issues, crashes, and mixed feelings about graphics and controls. The overall experience seems to vary significantly between different setups and user expectations.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that multiple users suggest waiting for a sale, indicating that the current price is not considered fair. Several users mention specific price points that they feel would be more appropriate, such as 20€. The general sentiment is that the game is not worth the full price, and a discounted price would be more reasonable.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 32.0h
  - Story completion: 25.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 8.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple data points for playtime metrics. The first quote indicates that a player nearly completed all trophies after 21 hours, suggesting a near full game completion time. The second and third quotes provide specific total playtimes for game completion, which can be used to estimate both game completion and story completion times. The fourth quote indicates a full 100% completion time, which includes endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts off boring and repetitive but becomes more enjoyable after unlocking certain features like the open world and character progression system.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Unlocking all areas and accessing the open world
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: initial combat system; repetitive music
  - Unlock drivers: character progression system; open world exploration
  - Conditions: playing with friends or family; customizing the team to suit the playstyle
- Player Archetypes:
  - Franchise Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Love for the Fairy Tail series
    - Playstyle: Comprehensive engagement with the game, aiming for 100% completion and enjoying the story and characters.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: die-hard fan; long time Fairy Tail fan; huge Fairy Tail fan
    - Reference games: Fairy Tail (previous installments)
  - Value-Conscious Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting the best value for their money
    - Playstyle: Selective and cautious about game purchases, often waiting for sales or discounts.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: value-conscious; cautious buyer
    - Reference games: Fairy Tail (previous installments)
  - Gameplay Mechanic Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of gameplay mechanics and challenges
    - Playstyle: Focused on gameplay mechanics, difficulty settings, and character progression.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: gameplay enthusiast; challenge seeker
    - Reference games: Monster Hunter; Nioh; Tales of games; Sword Art Online


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Improved combat system (weight 0.75): The combat system is widely praised for being more engaging, dynamic, and fun compared to the first game. Players appreciate the shift from turn-based to a more interactive and strategic combat system.
- Enhanced graphics and visuals (weight 0.67): The graphics and visuals are noted to be significantly improved over the first game. Players appreciate the better quality and visual appeal.
- General enjoyment of the game (weight 0.45): Many players express overall enjoyment and love for the game. They find it fun and engaging, often comparing it favorably to the first game.
- Engaging story (weight 0.37): The story is praised for being engaging and well-represented, with enjoyable character stories and faithful adaptations from the original series.
- Large open world (weight 0.26): The game features a large, freely accessible open world map, which players find impressive and enjoyable to explore.
- Quality voice acting and music (weight 0.24): The voice acting, particularly in Japanese, is well-received. The music, including original anime tracks, is also praised.
- Character interactions and progression (weight 0.21): Players enjoy the character interactions, which are described as fun and hilarious. The character progression system is also noted to be satisfying.
- Improved animations and cinematics (weight 0.19): The animations are described as pleasant and improved, with skills and animations being tweaked for better performance. Cinematics and flashbacks are noted to be incredible.
- Appeal to Fairy Tail fans (weight 0.15): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Fairy Tail series, offering a satisfying experience for those familiar with the source material.
- Additional game features (weight 0.09): The game includes additional features such as a detailed database and explanations, as well as attention to 2D elements.

Common complaints:
- Combat system issues (weight 0.77): The combat system is criticized for being repetitive, messy, and poorly executed, leading to a lack of enjoyment.
- Frequent crashes and performance issues (weight 0.67): The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, including poor optimization and lag.
- Lack of content and depth (weight 0.43): Players feel the game lacks progression, challenge, and overall depth, making it feel rushed and incomplete.
- Limited playable characters (weight 0.37): There are fewer playable characters compared to the first game, which has disappointed many players.
- Overpriced DLC content (weight 0.36): Many players feel that the DLC is not worth the price, citing high costs and lack of substantial content.
- Downgrade from first game (weight 0.28): Players express disappointment with the changes and lack of depth compared to the first game, feeling it is a step back in gameplay and mechanics.
- Easy difficulty (weight 0.26): The game is criticized for being too easy, even on the highest difficulty setting, including easy boss battles.
- No boss replayability (weight 0.11): Players are disappointed that there is no way to fight bosses again, reducing replayability.
- Single character control (weight 0.1): Players can only control one character at a time, which limits gameplay strategies and enjoyment.
- Non-skippable animations (weight 0.1): Animations cannot be skipped, which some players find annoying and disruptive to the gameplay flow.
- Restricted areas without clear reasons (weight 0.1): Some areas are initially inaccessible or restricted without clear reasons, which can be frustrating for players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Mixed combat system feedback (weight 0.8): The combat system receives varied feedback, with some players appreciating the dynamic and action-based elements, while others find it repetitive or messy. It is often compared to other games like Final Fantasy XII.
- Visual and gameplay improvements (weight 0.32): Players note significant improvements in graphics and overall gameplay, which enhance immersion and make the game more engaging than its predecessor.
- Character progression and story (weight 0.27): The game features a character progression system with unlockable abilities and story elements that players find engaging.
- Exploration and open world (weight 0.19): The game offers exploration and an open world map with various activities, though some players mention issues with exploration.
- Reduction in party size (weight 0.19): The reduction of the party size from five to three members is noted, along with the lack of non-combat content and some missing victory animations.
- Censorship and outfit changes (weight 0.14): There are mentions of censorship and changes to character outfits, which some players find noteworthy.
- Overall game improvement (weight 0.12): The game is generally seen as an improvement over its predecessor in terms of overall completion and gameplay, despite some criticisms.
- DLC and additional content (weight 0.11): Players discuss the accessibility and content of DLCs, indicating that additional content is a significant aspect of the game.
- Character switching mechanics (weight 0.1): The mechanics of switching characters during gameplay are mentioned, with some players finding it forced or noteworthy.
- Unison Raid attacks (weight 0.1): Unison Raid attacks are mentioned, with some players finding them cheap or noteworthy.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.32): The game experiences frequent crashes, which are particularly notable on the Steam Deck. This issue severely impacts the gameplay experience.
- Hardware-specific performance (weight 0.3): Performance varies significantly depending on the hardware. Some players report smooth performance on certain setups, while others experience issues even on high-end hardware.
- Poor optimization (weight 0.28): Players consistently mention poor optimization, leading to various performance issues. This includes problems on high-end hardware and specific mentions of optimization needing improvement.
- Freezing issues (weight 0.11): The game freezes during startup, exit, and sometimes randomly during gameplay. This adds to the overall instability of the game.
- Non-English feedback on performance (weight 0.1): Some feedback in other languages also highlights performance issues and crashes, indicating that these problems are widespread across different regions.
- Attack command delay (weight 0.06): There is a noticeable delay between issuing an attack command and the actual execution of the attack, which affects gameplay fluidity.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for die-hard fans (weight 0.35): The game is recommended for die-hard fans of the series or franchise, suggesting it may not appeal to a broader audience.
- Wait for sale to buy (weight 0.32): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing the game, indicating that the full price may not be justified.
- Not recommended at full price (weight 0.27): Several reviews indicate that the game is not worth buying at its full price, advising to wait for discounts or sales.
- Watch the anime first (weight 0.1): Reviewers suggest watching the anime for a better understanding of the story, implying that the game may not stand well on its own.
- Look elsewhere for JRPG (weight 0.06): Players who enjoy JRPGs are advised to look elsewhere, indicating that this game may not meet the expectations of JRPG fans.
- Wait for patches (weight 0.06): If experiencing technical issues, reviewers suggest waiting for patches that may address these problems.
- Recommend alternative games (weight 0.05): Some reviewers recommend playing other games like 'Vision of Mana' instead, suggesting that there are better alternatives available.

Other player notes:
- Game completion time (weight 0.07): Players report that it takes approximately 25 hours to complete the game. This feedback provides a clear expectation for the time investment required to finish the game.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.34): Players feel disappointed due to the game not meeting expectations set by its predecessor. Key issues include a lack of significant improvements, a rushed story, and a downgrade in combat mechanics. Additionally, the game's short length, few playable characters, and lack of post-game content contribute to this sentiment.
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Frustration stems from frequent technical issues such as game crashes, performance problems, and poor optimization. Players are also annoyed by high pricing, expensive DLCs, and region restrictions on DLCs, which add to the overall negative experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game primarily due to its combat mechanics and character interactions. The engaging story, character scenes, and the overall fun gameplay experience contribute to this positive emotion.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Satisfaction comes from the game's improvements over its predecessor, including an engaging story, dynamic combat system, and a large open world map. Players appreciate the evolution and enhancements in various aspects of the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement is generated by the faithful adaptation of the source material and the involvement of key creators like Hiro. The addition of new content also contributes to this positive sentiment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by exploring the world of Fairy Tail and encountering familiar elements from the series. Specific mentions like Barrel-kun and its placement in the guild hall trigger fond memories for fans.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by the positive aspects of the game, particularly among fans of the series. Players appreciate the enjoyable features and the overall experience the game offers.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is primarily caused by the high prices of DLCs and outfits, coupled with poor gameplay mechanics. Players feel that the additional costs are not justified by the quality of the game.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.02): Players have mixed feelings due to a combination of enjoyable character interactions and disappointing gameplay mechanics. While some aspects of the game are appreciated, others fall short of expectations.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is derived from the emotional engagement with the story and the overall enjoyment of the game. Players find happiness in the narrative and the gaming experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude is expressed by fans who are thankful for the game's release, despite its flaws. The mere existence of the game is appreciated by dedicated fans of the series.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited by the enjoyable gameplay experience. The fun and engaging aspects of the game contribute to this positive emotion.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is triggered by the voice actors and the meaningful connections to the series. Familiar voices and references evoke fond memories for players.}