Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is the follow-up to 2019's Daemon X Machina, an action-packed mech combat game that lets players take control of giant customizable mechs. Developer Marvelous is aiming to go even bigger with the sequel, increasing combat and customization options and giving players more control over their experience.
With Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion's release date fast approaching, The Best War Games caught up with series producer Kenichiro Tsukuda. Tsukuda previously worked on the Armored Core series, so he has plenty of experience with mech games. He explained why he believes gameplay should always take precedence over story.
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Developer Marvelous Prioritizes Gameplay Over Story
Gameplay and narrative are both integral to the experience a player will have with a video game. While the debate over which one is more important is unlikely to ever have a definitive conclusion, Tsukuda explained that his studio feels gameplay is ultimately more important to the experience. He said,
''We always prioritize gameplay, even over story. Each player may have their own unique priorities and expectations, but the basic premise at the heart of what we do is that players are spending their hard-earned money on our game to have fun. If we were to prioritize an interesting story over interesting gameplay, perhaps that story would be better suited to a different form of media, such as a movie, anime, or novel. In Titanic Scion, we set out to create a more straightforward story by maintaining the same depth while narrowing the scope.''
Newcomers to the Series Will Have No Problem Understanding Titanic Scion's Story
One of the trickiest parts of any sequel is having a narrative that continues the story of the first game, while also being easy enough for newcomers to pick up and understand without any prior knowledge. Daemon X Machina did not have a particularly complex narrative, though, and Titanic Scion looks set to follow suit. Tsukuda is confident that new players will have no issues understanding the game's story, whether they played Daemon X Machina or not. He continued,
''We have respect for various science fiction works, manga, movies, and anime. As children grow into adults, they are the ones who will shape the media of the future. This story is aimed at all generations who play games. Players don’t need to be familiar with the first game’s story at all to play Titanic Scion. There are scenes where knowing the previous story may give you an additional perspective, but I firmly believe that games should be easy for newcomers to jump into, even if they are part of a series.''
It seems like Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is covering all bases when it comes to catering to existing fans and newcomers alike. Fans of this genre haven't exactly been overrun with new games to try in the last five years or so, with Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon being the most notable new entry by far, so Titanic Scion could well scratch an itch for mech fans.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 45%
- Released
- September 5, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Marvelous
- Publisher(s)
- Marvelous
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, Shooter, Open-World, Exploration
