God Eater 2: Diving Deep into the Core Mechanics
Unleashing Your Inner God Eater: Core Combat
God Eater 2, the adrenaline-pumping action RPG, plunges players into a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by monstrous beings known as Aragami. Armed with powerful God Arcs, you, as a God Eater, are humanity’s last line of defense. But beyond the visually stunning combat and gripping story, God Eater 2 boasts a surprisingly complex and rewarding system of mechanics that dictate success in this perilous world. Understanding these core mechanics is paramount for any player, whether you’re a newcomer just starting your journey or a seasoned veteran seeking to refine your skills. This article will serve as a comprehensive guide to the essential God Eater 2 mechanics, providing you with the knowledge you need to dominate the battlefield and become a true Aragami slayer.
The heart of God Eater 2 lies in its fast-paced, strategic combat. Mastering the various elements within this system is the first step towards becoming an effective God Eater. A vital part of the experience revolves around carefully selecting the right weapon to cater to your playstyle and the nature of the Aragami you face.
Weapon Types
Let’s delve into the arsenal available to you:
Short Blade: The Short Blade is a versatile and agile weapon, perfect for players who value speed and mobility. Its quick attacks and evasive maneuvers allow you to dart in and out of combat, dealing consistent damage. Its strength lies in its ability to close gaps quickly, but its relatively low damage output can be a weakness against heavily armored Aragami. It shines with its aerial capabilities as well.
Long Blade: Balancing speed and power, the Long Blade is a well-rounded weapon suitable for a variety of combat situations. It offers a good mix of attacks, including powerful overhead strikes and swift slashes. Its adaptability makes it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced players, but it lacks the specialized strengths of other weapon types. Mastering the step-attack is crucial for Long Blade users.
Buster Blade: For those who prefer raw power, the Buster Blade is the weapon of choice. Its slow but devastating attacks can stagger even the toughest Aragami. The Buster Blade excels at breaking parts and dealing massive burst damage, but its lack of mobility leaves you vulnerable to faster enemies. Charge attacks and guarding are key to survival for a Buster Blade user.
Boost Hammer: Combining impact with speed, the Boost Hammer is a destructive force on the battlefield. Its quick bursts of power and mobility makes it an agile weapon for such a destructive form. It can be slightly more challenging to master with its unique timing requirements.
Charge Spear: The Charge Spear offers a unique combination of range and power. Its charged attacks can pierce through multiple enemies, while its defensive capabilities allow you to withstand powerful blows. The Charge Spear is excellent for maintaining distance and controlling the flow of battle, but its reliance on charged attacks can leave you vulnerable.
Variant Scythe: A weapon introduced in *Rage Burst*, the Variant Scythe is a versatile weapon with unique mobility options and a high skill ceiling. It can be used for both crowd control and single-target damage, with great success in the hands of a skilled player.
Shotgun: In gun form, the Shotgun excels at close-range engagements. Its wide spread of bullets can inflict significant damage on multiple targets simultaneously. The Shotgun is ideal for dealing with fast-moving Aragami, but its limited range makes it less effective against distant foes.
Sniper: The Sniper Rifle provides unparalleled accuracy and range. Its high-powered shots can target weak points from a distance, making it ideal for weakening or eliminating Aragami before they even reach you. The Sniper Rifle requires careful aiming and positioning, but its long-range capabilities can be a game-changer.
Assault Gun: The Assault Gun offers a rapid-fire, sustained damage option. Its high rate of fire allows you to quickly shred through Aragami armor, but its relatively low damage per bullet requires accurate aiming and sustained fire. It excels in prolonged engagements but is less effective for burst damage.
The Power of Consumption: The Devour System
A unique element of the God Eater series is the Devour system. By consuming Aragami remains, you enter Burst Mode, a temporary state of enhanced power. This isn’t just a simple power-up; it’s a crucial mechanic that affects your stats and unlocks special abilities.
Types of Devours
There are several types of Devours, each with its own advantages:
Step Devour: A quick and versatile Devour performed while moving, ideal for maintaining mobility.
Aerial Devour: A Devour performed in the air, allowing you to consume airborne Aragami or close the gap on ground-based targets.
Charge Devour: A charged Devour that offers increased range and power, but requires careful timing.
Normal Devour: A standard Devour performed while stationary.
Burst Mode significantly increases your attack power, defense, and movement speed. It also unlocks special abilities tied to your Blood Arts and skills, making it essential for tackling challenging Aragami. Proper usage of Devour is vital to survival.
Unleashing Inner Power: Blood Arts
Introduced in God Eater 2 Rage Burst, Blood Arts are special attacks that modify your standard weapon moves. These powerful techniques can significantly alter your combat style and allow you to tailor your attacks to specific situations.
Blood Arts are unlocked and upgraded by using them in combat. The more you use a particular Blood Art, the more powerful it becomes. Experimenting with different Blood Arts is crucial for finding the ones that best suit your playstyle and weapon of choice.
Examples of Blood Arts include powerful overhead strikes, rapid-fire slashes, and defensive maneuvers. Some Blood Arts focus on dealing damage, while others prioritize mobility or utility. The key is to find a balance that complements your weapon and playstyle.
Defense and Evasion: The Art of Survival
While offense is important, mastering defensive maneuvers is equally crucial for survival in God Eater 2. Blocking and dodging are essential skills for avoiding Aragami attacks.
Shields come in three main varieties: Bucklers, Shields, and Tower Shields. Bucklers offer high mobility but low defense, while Tower Shields provide excellent protection but limit your movement. Shields strike a balance between the two. Understanding the properties of each shield is essential for choosing the right one for your playstyle.
Dodging allows you to evade attacks with invincibility frames. Timing your dodges correctly is crucial for avoiding damage. Mastering the timing takes practice but is well worth the effort.
Targeting and Precision: Hitting the Right Spots
God Eater 2’s lock-on system allows you to focus your attacks on specific Aragami body parts. Targeting specific parts is crucial for breaking them, which can yield valuable materials and weaken the Aragami. Learning the weak points of each Aragami is essential for maximizing your damage output and acquiring the resources you need to upgrade your equipment.
Customizing Your God Eater: Progression and Equipment
Beyond combat, God Eater 2 features a deep character progression system that allows you to customize your God Eater to your liking.
Understanding Your Strengths: Stats
Key stats like Attack, Defense, HP, OP, and Stamina directly impact your character’s performance in combat. Attack determines your damage output, Defense reduces incoming damage, HP determines your health pool, OP is used for gun-form attacks and Burst Mode, and Stamina governs your ability to dodge and perform certain actions. Understanding how each stat affects your gameplay is crucial for optimizing your build.
Arming Yourself: Equipment
Your equipment plays a vital role in your character’s stats and abilities. Weapons, shields, and clothing all contribute to your overall power and provide access to valuable skills. Crafting and upgrading your equipment is essential for keeping pace with the increasingly challenging Aragami you’ll face. Experiment with different elemental attributes, as they can significantly impact your damage output against specific Aragami.
Mastering Skills
Skills are passive abilities that enhance your character’s capabilities. These skills are gained from equipment and can range from increasing your attack power to improving your defense or providing support abilities. Carefully selecting skills that complement your playstyle is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in combat.
Skill Installation, a mechanic introduced in Rage Burst, allows you to further customize your equipment by adding skills directly to your weapons and shields. This provides even greater flexibility in crafting your ideal build.
Crafting Death: Bullet Customization
The gun form in God Eater 2 offers unparalleled customization options. By combining different modules, you can create unique bullets with a variety of effects. Learning to master bullet customization is crucial for maximizing your damage output and exploiting Aragami weaknesses.
Experiment with different module combinations to create bullets that suit your playstyle. Some modules focus on dealing damage, while others prioritize status effects or support abilities. The possibilities are endless.
Adapting to the Threat: Aragami Mechanics
Understanding the mechanics of the Aragami is just as important as understanding your own abilities.
Different Aragami have different strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns. Learning to recognize these patterns is crucial for avoiding damage and exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Breaking Aragami parts is essential for acquiring valuable materials and weakening the Aragami. Targeting specific parts can also disrupt their attacks or expose their weak points.
Tips and Tricks
Experiment with different weapon types and Blood Arts to find what works best for you.
Prioritize crafting and upgrading your equipment to keep pace with the increasing difficulty.
Learn the attack patterns of different Aragami and exploit their weaknesses.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with bullet customization to create powerful and unique attacks.
Conclusion
God Eater 2 offers a deep and rewarding gameplay experience with a complex system of mechanics that allows for a high degree of player customization. Mastering these core mechanics is essential for becoming a true Aragami slayer. By understanding the nuances of combat, character progression, and Aragami behavior, you can dominate the battlefield and emerge victorious against even the most challenging foes. So, dive in, experiment, and discover your own unique playstyle. The world of God Eater 2 awaits!