GENRE
	RPG
	DEVELOPER
	Banpresto / Flight Plan
	PUBLISHER
	Atlus
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
	BUY NOW AT

You don't have to have played the first Swordcraft Story to enjoy or understand the second. Swordcraft Story 2 takes place in an alternate time and place, its plot and characters are not tied to the first game save in name and base concept of Craftknights and their Guardian Beasts.

visuals

Graphics are gorgeous for a GBA title. Animations are believably woven into the fabric of the overall graphical tapestry. Flags and weathervanes flap and spin in the breeze, while waterfalls cascade and smoke rises from chimneys.

Character animations are also superb in variety and execution. Even a giant robot and monster only used for one battle in the game are animated with the same level of care as main characters and randomly encountered monsters.

audio

While music throughout the game is memorable, it could have benefitted from a bit more variety. A handful of stock musical themes accompany various moods, some with greater success than others. A few more character or event specific themes would have lifted Swordcraft Story 2's music from good to great.

Sound effects carry over largely from the first game. These cue players in to everything from ellipses and embarrassment in dialogue to weapon switching and magic charging in battle.

gameplay

In many ways Swordcraft Story 2 is a different game than its predecessor. It takes certain elements from Swordcraft Story and improves on them. The creation of weapons is still a staple of gameplay, but exploration has been greatly expanded as have character development and storyline.

One small but considerate change in options is the option to set the default to walk or run for your character's movment. It's nice not to have to hold down a button to run throughout the whole game. Another tweaked option is the ability to save anywhere. Where in 1 it was a global, state save-like option, 2 makes use of an in-game item you can buy or create called a Save Anywhere Diary. The item is similar to overworld tents in Final Fantasy but, as the name implies, these can be used in dungeons too.

Rather than being tethered to a linear, technique-learning progression in weapon types, 2 ties your progress to the materials and number of weapon "Shapestones" you have. Both are used up on creation of a weapon, but unlike materials, Shapestones can be regained upon disassembly. The end result is an improvement in freedom of weapon creation that yields fewer weapons on hand at any one time. Shapestones are rare, but can be earned along with other rare materials through the prize exhange at the local fishing hole, which sports a fairly decent fishing minigame.

Of note is a new forging technique which allows you to upgrade weapons with various materials. Improvements gained from upgrading range from basic stat improvements to elemental charges and special attacks.

Like the first game, 2 offers players the choice of male or female lead characters, and then a selection of Guardian Beasts, each with its own unique personality, affording replay value upon completion. The game is roughly the same length as the first in terms of hours, but feels longer because more time is spent adventuring than leveling up.

The final battle is considerably more difficult in 2 than in 1, owing to a number of factors. The battle is actually two battles back to back against incredibly strong and nearly invulnerable adversaries. After a fairly steady learning curve of enemy strength throughout the game, the final battle feels exponential in difficulty. Veterans will appreciate the challenge, but others may simply find themselves frustrated.

multiplayer

The battle and weapon swapping multiplayer mode of the first Swordcraft Story is not present in Swordcraft Story 2.

overall

The greater depth in character development and plot twists when compared to the first Swordcraft Story does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Swordcraft Story 2 is less about the individual main character and more concerned with social networks of friends and communities. This, combined with the expanded role of travel and exploration between dungeons lends a greater sense of realism and connection to the game world and its inhabitants.

If you liked Swordcraft Story you will enjoy Swordcraft Story 2, but don't expect to pick up where the first left off. Swordcraft Story 2 has the same underpinnings but is a different game. Where Swordcraft Story was a focused drive to a goal, Swordcraft Story 2 revels in the journey. What has not changed is an engaging storyline, enjoyable leveling and realtime combat strategy polished to the point of being able to be enjoyed by players at any level.

8.0/10