Developer: Capcom
Publishers: Capcom (JP; US) Ubisoft (EU)
Release Date: 16 April 2002
ESRB Rating: E
Genre: Japanese style RPGI am a huge fan of the Breath of Fire series. They manage to conjure up an incredible aura in their games that allow the player to spiral into the impressive and interesting world that this series creates. Breath of Fire 1 was a massive success when it was first released on the Super Nintendo console. The story revolved around a young man named Ryu. He appears to be an ordinary man, until he uncovers his ability to transform into a mighty dragon. This title was a huge hit and the developers decided to release a follow up. The story line was entirely different this time and the game built on the previous version and recorded many sales. A third Breath of fire was released on the Sony Playstation 1 and after a few years number 4 was on the market. This series was a huge success and it is still considered as one of the best RPG’s ever created. When the Gameboy Advance was launched, the developers decided to re-release the first two games. This review will focus on the second game in the Breath of Fire series.
Dragon's don't make the best pets!
What is unique about the Breath of fire series is that each game uses a different storyline from the previous outing, which keeps it exciting for fans and newcomers to the series. The main protagonists of the series are ever present; however each title also introduces a cast of new characters. For example we always see Ryu and Nina in every BoF(henceforth Breath of Fire will be shortened to BoF) title. In the beginning of this game we meet our hero Ryu, who manages to get himself lost in the forest. It is here where he experiences his first taste of his hidden dragon powers. Understandably this leaves him a little confused and upset. A few years later, and Ryu has become a Hunter in the Guild and accepts jobs with his friend Bow to earn them a living. After one of the missions goes horribly wrong, a huge and exciting adventure unfolds where we learn that the world is in danger and that it’s up to our hero to save it with the help of his mysterious dragon abilities. This is a bit cliché and it’s not something we haven’t seen before. There are numerous RPG titles on the market that follow this particular story theme. One feels that the developers could have worked a little harder on this area of the game, however, one must also note the age of the game. Perhaps at that time, this kind of plot was still relatively new to the genre, and it is only now that we as gamers perceive it to be repetitive due to the sheer number of times we have seen it. Furthermore, the charm of BoF lies in its gameplay.
Wonder what's in the box?!?!This is a classical style JRPG with Active Time Battle’s and the ability to level up your characters. Fighting in battles can be quiet entertaining, especially if you are levelling up your character. Spending time to build up a strong party is not as tedious as it may seem and I always found time to get through the occasional training through battles. Learning spells is quick and exciting and some of the magic is well worth the wait. It becomes irritating though when your characters are very strong and you are forced to backtrack large distances. You will be forced to battle against the same old enemies, defeating them in usually one attack. The bosses in this game can be challenging depending on your character’s level. They provide an interesting break from the usual random battles and enemies. Equipping items can be a pain though, because instead of using proper names, the developers have decided to abbreviate the equipment name and you could get confused with what you are wearing and what you want to buy. Towns are rather small, but this is the case in many RPG’s so it’s not a big problem. There is an interesting sub-game where you can build and manage your own town; however details relating to this quest will remain in the players’ hands to discover. There is also an interesting fishing mini-game. This has become a little bit of a trademark for BoF series and it is a fun little addition to the game. There are a number of side quests to find as well. The game contains 3 different endings so there is a reasonable amount of replay value so that one can see all the endings.
He isn't as tough as he looks...The graphics in this game have not been changed from the SNES version and feel a bit outdated compared to Golden Sun or any other GBA game. This is not an issue as most RPG’s are all about the gameplay and not about the graphics. The battle graphics though look neat and the monsters are well designed. The in-game menu is easy to use and simple to understand. If you can get used to the game graphics, there is much to enjoy.
Important people in an important looking place.The sound in this game is fairly ordinary. The little jingles that repeat throughout the game add to the overall experience. Sound effects are generally well executed and well timed.In conclusion there is not much left to say about this glorious game. This is a fine RPG even though it may seem I have been criticizing it a lot. In spite of all its faults, it still draws you in. The magic of the BoF series has always been powerful in this sense. Even though the games are not pretty and have various areas that can be critically improved, they still posses enough charm to keep you glued to your screens until the credits roll. If you are a RPG fan, you will most definitely enjoy this and will be looking to try the other BoF titles (especially number 3). This is no Golden Sun beater but it sure does waste a few hours here and there. With 3 endings and few secrets this definitely has replay value. It is a game that would enhance your RPG and GBA collection.
Fishing is great fun.Story : 7/10 Not very original, yet it captures your interest, and manages to keep you entertained until the end.Gameplay : 9/10 This is the heart of the game. Like most RPG’s, it is relatively long and exciting. There is much to do here.Graphics : 6/10 The game suffers a little here. The graphics seem outdated and a largely the same from the original release on the SNES. One feels that this could have been altered a little bit.Sound : 6/10 The sound of the game is not mind blowing. It is average at best; however you will not be paying much attention to it as exploring the game will take up most of your attention.Replayability : 7/10 BoF 2 offers 3 different endings. Provided you have the patience to beat the game three times, there is much to enjoy in this regard. However, if you are not interested in playing it again, you will still feel satisfied in playing this fun RPG.Total : 35/50 A solid and entertaining RPG game. Strictly for RPG fans, this title will absorb a fair amount of gaming time but it is time well spent. Whilst not perfect, there is still much to enjoy in the world of Breath of Fire 2.