In the fighting game genre, sometimes the key to success is carving out a unique niche, andRivals of Aethermanaged to do so quite well. An indie game created in an attempt to reflect the gameplay ofSuper Smash Bros.,Rivals of Aethercaptured the hearts of platform fighting fans worldwide and has continued to release updates into 2022.
While the game was working with a certain formula that madeRivals of Aethera perfect game forSmash Bros.fans, it managed to reinvent the gameplay from that series. Instead of revolving around quick hits, grabs, and shielding,Rivals of Aether’s gameplay is heavily combo-based and offense-oriented; with shielding replaced by a high-skill parrying ability and combo strings that can quickly lead to a death, the game is fast-paced and intense from minute one.
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ThoughRivals of Aetherwas a hidden gemin the fighting community, the game flourished amongSmashplayers and fighting gamers who were interested in the platform genre. Year after year, the game has grown in popularity, with representation at in-person tournaments and online events increasing. Now, as the game continues to grow, Aether Studios has announced thatRivals 2, a sequel, is in the works and slated for a 2024 release.
This news marks the biggest news for the game/series since theRivals of AetherNintendo Switch announcementand secures what will hopefully be a strong future for both the game and the platform fighting community. Immediately, comments pointed towards the fact that the news was broken on April 1st, but the post has been confirmed to be accurate by Aether Studios. The post comes with a trailer that, while exciting, may be surprising and a little nerve-wracking for longstanding fans of the series.
For starters, the trailer immediately reveals the game will switch from its unique, pixelated art style to a more traditional 3-D art style that closely matches that ofSmashgames orNickelodeon All-Star Brawl. Then, Zetterburn and Ranno appear, both confirming them in the new title as well as showing off their new 3-D forms. The concerns arise soon after, however, when shields and ledges are both confirmed for the game. These could cause some unrest among longtime fans ofRivals of Aetherdue to their removal being a focal point of the game.
However, Dan Fornace and his team went above and beyond to ensure the first game could live up to expectations and satisfy players, going so far as to allow players to create their own characters, such as a tongue-in-cheekRivals of AetherNintendo Switch Joycon character. If the effort put into the first indie title is continued into the sequel,Rivals 2is looking to be one of the premiere fighting games on the market upon release.
Rivals 2is in development and is set to release in 2024.
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