Summary

    • Offers excellent mech customization and combat through deep Arsenal modification systems and innovative fusion mechanics.
    • Suffers from repetitive environment and technical performance issues like severe loading times and frame rate problems on Switch 2.
    • Its core mech action gameplay is enough for fans of the genre, especially those on more stable platforms.

After a long wait, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion finally arrived as a sequel to the 2019 mecha action game. Promising to address the shortcomings of the original title, it delivers an enhanced Arsenal combat experience. This will take place years after, setting up the stage for its differing gameplay mechanics. See more details of the Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion with this review.

Enhanced Arsenal Combat and Customization

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion strength lies in its exceptional mech customization and combat systems. It lets you extensively modify your Arsenal’s head, arms, torso, and legs, in varying weight classes that affect its performance. Aside from it, the weapon variety boasts an impressive range from assault rifles, laser cannons, maces and swords.

Beyond the basic equipment swapping, you can enhance individual weapons and parts through attachments. It can increase ammo drops or boost laser damage, giving significant advantages during combat. Also, the memory allocation system adds another layer of challenge, requiring you to balance the desired loadout against available resources.

The customization continuously provides an engaging gameplay loop, rewarding you for experimenting and exploring new tactics. Plus, the combat itself maintains the smooth, exhilarating feel from the original while introducing new mechanics. Then, the movement system successfully combines Armored Core game’s ground momentum with aerial combat.

Overall, it provides a fluid gameplay experience connecting the ground and air. You must manage multiple resources, including Femto for boosting and dashing, as well as stamina.

Revolutionary Fusion System Replaces Human Combat

Another outstanding feature in Titanic Scion is the fusion system, which completely replaces the original human combat segments. It allows you to collect “factors” from defeated Immortals while fusing them with their character to unlock new abilities. This ranges from weapon-specific actions for each of ten weapon types to general Arsenal skills like grappling hooks and buffs.

However, this also has a risk-reward mechanic where each fusion causes permanent physical Mutations to your character. From subtle changes, the transformation drastically makes adjustments to your character’s eyes, skin, and sometimes, even sprouting wings. While these mutations make your character appear unusual, they provide enough benefits that help players embrace the transformation.

Further, the mutation adds personality and storytelling that character creators lack. While you can spend significant resources to revert the appearance, it removes all fusion skills.

Open World Exploration: Ambitious but Flawed

Titanic Scion transitioned to an open-world structure, which has been a double-edged sword for the franchise. It offers three main zones with a decent variety of sub-areas, allowing fast travel, points, towers, and cave dungeons with loot. The core movement mechanics help you enjoy traversing the world, consistently letting you boost and dash at high speeds. 

However, there is barely variety to its environment compared to other open-world games with a similar structure, like Xenoblade Chronicles X. Its post-apocalyptic setting results in visually similar landscapes that blend together. They reused some assets in dungeons and caves while reducing incentives throughout the exploration.

Meanwhile, the side quests follow the standard open-world formulas, including escort missions, combat encounters, and NPC interactions. Its core Arsenal gameplay elevates the routine tasks despite its simplicity. Yet, the ground travel mechanics like horses and vehicles appear unnecessary considering the superior mobility of the mech suit.

Technical Performance Issues Hold Back the Experience

Unfortunately, Titanic Scion suffers from several technical issues when played on Nintendo Switch 2. One of it being the frame rate, where it experiences frequent stuttering in the overworld. Alongside, there are occasional drops to single-digit frames during intensive battles, which affect immersive gameplay. 

Besides the frame rate, the loading times took way too long, especially after the Day 1 patch. The fast travel involves a two-stage loading process, taking up to a total of 20-50 seconds. Further adding to frustration, it sometimes soft-locks when traveling to or from the Desert zone.

There are also random crashes during missions, which at times kill the vibes while playing. Fortunately, its autosave functionality helps to address this progress loss. 

Verdict: Solid Mech Action Hampered by Technical Issues

Is Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion worth it based on this review? This sequel delivers the same exhilarating mech combat but with significant improvements in its systems and Customization options. However, the game struggled with the narrative pacing, repetitive setting, and technical performances, particularly on Switch 2.

If you are a mech enthusiast, you will appreciate the title and overlook these shortcomings. Yet, if you are expecting stable performance, then this sequel may disappoint you.

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Hi there, it’s Stal! If you loved that article, make sure to check out these other articles I’ve written just for you. See you there!

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