Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a new project by Marvelous and works as a follow-up to the mecha action game from 2019. Now with an open world to explore, the game expands the concept into a brand-new adventure.
It’s a Vast New World to Explore
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion puts players in the role of an individual who was part of the Axiom forces. After figuring out that the military regime they were a part of had unsavory plans for their future, the protagonist manages to flee from their space base, the Garden, with the help of Nerve.
Now on the vast surface of the planet, which is dubbed the Ground, the player joins the resistance group called the Reclaimers and must fight Axiom alongside them. In this vast world, players will have to fight not only against enemy troops, which have their own bases and may move through the areas, but also against aggressive monsters called the Immortals, which have absorbed too much Femto energy.
Using the mechanized suit Arsenal, the player will have the chance to explore the world at will or focus on solving a variety of missions to advance the plot and gain rewards. Not only are the explorable areas truly vast, but there's always something new to find when searching through them.
Liberating new warping points to use for fast travel, scavenging corpses and exploring caves and enemy bases are just a few of the options for what to do. The Arsenal can move faster using either Femto or stamina, but there are vehicles and even horses to use as well.
When it comes to the story, the general plot gets an explosive beginning, and it becomes significantly more morose right after reaching the Ground. Though the story’s opening moments are enough to make the intrigue interesting to keep in mind, it takes a long while for the game to pick up the pacing again, even if the player decides to focus on the main story as much as possible.
Upgrading and Customization as Features that Stand Out
A big part of the experience is the customization, which can be done for the character and the robot. It’s possible to use either a male or female body (both regarded as numbered types) as a base, and though there’s not much variation to their builds except for skin color, height and head size, the face options are remarkably detailed. Hair, eyes, makeup and face features like wrinkles (as an added texture) can lead to very different-looking individuals.
An interesting aspect of the game is that the main character’s body suffers mutation over time as the player interacts with a feature called Fusion. In order to acquire unique traits like passive abilities or special skills, the protagonist has to absorb code from the Immortals and this may alter some visual aspects, like making distorted wings pop up on the character’s back. Different combinations may lead to unlocking different traits, as it’s a matter of mixing and matching genetic code before fusing.
Most of the time the player spends on the game is inside the Arsenal mech suit, which could have made this a waste of time for some people. Nonetheless, players can also make the robotic parts mostly invisible, leaving only a robotic leg extension to differentiate the states. With this, there's an opportunity to get more screen time for their custom character, but the Arsenals are also fully customizable and it’s easy to adjust their appearance.
The armor is composed of helm, cuirass, vambraces (which can be different for left and right sides) and greaves. Players can change colors individually for each part or choose the same pattern for the whole body if they prefer. Decals can also be used, and it’s possible to make your own by fusing the ones already available, while some are unlockable by finding graffiti on walls and roads, for instance.
Equipment and Its Effects Beyond Visuals
The armor choice affects not only visuals, but also various attributes, making it important to keep in mind what sort of robot the player wants to use. Some parts may be lighter, making them faster, but not add much to the armor and VP value (which works as the equivalent to health in the game). Meanwhile, a heavier build will go the opposite direction, making the player sturdier and more likely to endure hits, though there are also specific elements to keep in mind when choosing.
A heavier build also holds the advantage of being strong enough to carry more weapons, including those that weigh more. There are six slots, including four interchangeable picks for left and right arms, a shoulder weapon and an auxiliary armament that can hold grenades, landmines or items that offer a more supportive role, like restoring stamina or increasing max ammo for firearms.
There are various types of firearms, melee weapons, bows and shields. Some options may be held using only one hand or require both; they may be faster or slower to use and some are more likely to make enemies flinch. Using a weapon often leads to increasing the mastery level, which makes their performance even better along with type-specific fusion skills. Armors and weapons may have slots that can be used to put attachment items, which will directly impact the performance by adding tweaks to stats and other effects.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion offers solid equipment options to fight in different ways that may prioritize speed, range or endurance. This sheer variety is one step into what makes the combat great, but the other side is movement itself. Battles feel even more compelling by being able to dash around and quickly avoid an enemy attack or clashing swords with them by hitting them at the exact timing they charge towards the main character, activating a QTE sequence.
By consistently hitting the enemy fast enough, players may also leave them stunned and open for a grabbing movement. These sequences let players either throw smaller enemies or make a hard strike that they can’t avoid, being another aspect that feels rewarding to pull off. Besides single-player, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion can also be played with friends and at a few times story-mandated party members help deal with the missions. When either of those fall in battle, they may be restored to life by consuming Femto energy.
With everything the game can offer, it may sometimes feel overwhelming about the amount of information required, even though the tutorials are enough to understand the basics. A few missions are particularly complicated with requirements that may not be obvious, like items that the player may not have, and offer no detailed explanation beforehand, but those are rare and hardly enough to make the exploration less fun.
Closing Comments:
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is a terrific mecha action game in a vast world where exploration is rewarding, customization gives players various resources and combat is exhilarating. Even with an interesting scientific fiction universe that feels like it could have been more fleshed out in a compelling fashion after the initial explosive events, the story never truly forgets its appeal. As a complete package, this is an experience that is worth diving into.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Version Reviewed: PC
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 69/100 Critics Rec: 57%
Become the ultimate high-tech warrior in an action-packed new entry in the Daemon X Machina series. Fly into battle in your customized Arsenal, unleashing a variety of attacks tailored to your playstyle. Feel the exhilaration of fast-paced combat as you freely explore a deadly and dangerous open world on land or in the air. After taking down your foes, collect their weapons and equipment, and upgrade your skills to expand your options on the battlefield. Suit up for a dark sci-fi story where you can face the titanic boss battles alone or with up to two other players online. New and veteran Daemon X Machina players alike will find a worthy adventure in the latest from Marvelous First Studio.
A Titanic Evolution - Daemon X Machina’s high-octane armored action debuts on a new generation of platforms, bringing with it an epic sci-fi adventure, gameplay that’s accessible to newcomers, and an expanded scope sure to satisfy returning fans.
Together You Can Make a Difference - Cooperative multiplayer means you never truly fight alone. Team up with friends online to tackle the epic story and boss battles together.
Build a Better You - Now a nimble suit of armor, your Arsenal can be fully customized both in design and in loadout, with the ability to craft or salvage new elements.
Beautiful and Deadly - Explore an alien planet in your Arsenal as you battle against mechanical and organic enemies. Trek through the vast open world on foot, fly through the skies, or when all else fails, gallop on horseback across plains, swamps, mountains, and more.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- Daemon X Machina
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- September 5, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Vast world that feels rewarding to explore
- Great customization systems for the playable character and Arsenal
- Dynamic combat built on fast movement and the various weapon play styles
- Fusion mechanic is a quirky way to unlock unique effects
- The pacing of the story drops significantly after the initial portion
- A few missions may be confusing in their requirements
