Anticipated features of Rivals of Aether 2.

Main points to remember

• Rivals of Aether 2 is now available on Steam, delivering on its promised content.
• The fresh game keeps traditional characters but adds in new features such as grabbing and shields.
• Future plans for Rivals of Aether 2 will include additions such as ranked play, tutorials, and additional stages.

Fans of platform fighters were excited on September 18, 2024 when the release date for Rivals of Aether 2 on Steam was revealed. After being called Rivals 2 for the past three years, the game has been rebranded to better fit in with the Aether universe and to stand out against the upcoming Marvel Rivals. Despite the surprising change in direction, Rivals of Aether 2 has remained committed to the timeline it originally outlined in its November 2023 Kickstarter campaign, and is expected to deliver all the features it pledged.

Players will once again assume control of the magical champions representing the Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water kingdoms when they return to the Aether universe. The primary protagonists were previously stuck in the foreboding Abyss, and the upcoming multi-chapter story mode in Rivals of Aether 2 will reveal their escape and the ensuing events. Furthermore, the updated server-based rollback netcode will guarantee seamless gameplay for groups of two to four players. At its October 23 release, Rivals of Aether 2 appears to be a strong new entry in the platform fighter category, but there are a few things to note about its content.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is nearing the completion of its DLC support, but there are numerous other comparable games for fans to explore after.

Initial characters in Rivals of Aether 2

Few things are as crucial in a fighting game as having a captivating roster of characters, and Rivals of Aether excels in this aspect.

Zetterburn remains unchanged.

• Ranno
• The fighter named Wrastor.
• Kragg remains unchanged.
• Group of vehicles or ships owned or operated by a company or organization.
• Maypul is a character in the game.
• Clairen is a character in the game.
• Elephant-like
• The creature known as Orcane.
• The character known as Forsburn.

With La Reina and other Steam Workshop Contest winners soon to be added for free, Rivals 2 already boasts an impressive lineup. Eight fighters from the original Rivals of Aether game, a significant amount out of the total 18 characters. New additions Loxodont, a villain mentioned throughout the series, and Fleet, the main character from the Steam Deck-certified Dungeons of Aether, complete the lineup nicely at the moment.

Rivals of Aether 2: What are the latest updates?

A range of new mechanics have been implemented to assist these fighters in making Rivals 2 the future of platform fighters. Rivals of Aether 2 has introduced common genre mechanics that were purposely omitted in the original game, such as ledge grabs, grabbing, and defensive shields, alongside new 3D visuals, voice acting, and SnapNet rollback netcode. However, Rivals 2 is not satisfied with just mimicking Super Smash Bros. It is also adding Pummel, Ledge, and Getup Specials for each character, making it one of the most intricate platform fighters to date.

A major reason for the complexity is the limited number of mechanics that Rivals of Aether 2 has abandoned. Parries, hitfalling, wavedashing, and other techniques are back, and the game will start with five main stages and five additional stages to ensure a strong beginning. Regrettably, apart from a better training mode, there are no additional returning features. Aether’s competitors are aware of the game’s successful Steam Workshop integration but are not ready to implement it yet, as they have prioritized other features for future updates.

Future plans for Rivals of Aether 2

Several official statements, along with unachieved stretch goals from Kickstarter, suggest that a significant portion of Rivals 2’s content will be released post-launch. Potential future additions like ranked online play, character tutorials, arcade mode, story mode, and console ports may make its indie-tier price seem high. Thankfully, a variety of cosmetics, such as pallets, outfits, emotes, and others, will be introduced throughout the game’s lifespan through a live-service approach, with the goal of supporting its ambitious long-term objectives. Taking a chance on Rivals of Aether 2 may pay off, as the game’s enjoyable gameplay in its beta versions and exhibitions suggests it could satisfy platform fighter enthusiasts for a long time.