Ni no Kuni 2 Review - "Two steps back in this disappointing sequel" | MGL

A big lover of the original game, David brings you his Ni no Kuni 2 Review which sadly for him focuses on how utterly disappointing this game's story, characters and execution are as a whole. The game brings some interesting changes but, ultimately it leaves him disappointed.

[naruga]

i kind agree with the review....at first i was very impressed with the damn game (reminding me abit of 16 bit era games) ...but continuing into the game, the variety of enemies drops annoyingly and the battle system stays simple as Fk as it was at the start...combining all these with almost insulting handholding story/gameplay proggression , the game feels like a gold --potatoe ....i wonder why the developers having all that time at their disposal and the indeed very talented art teams made such a substance-less game

[porkChop]

That's a shame, I really loved the first game.

[Hardiman]

You'll love this one too! It's great and most other reviews were positive!

[bluefox755]

It's great, and most people agree. Obviously you can't please everyone though.

[CaptainOmega]

Porkchop... you should play #2. You might like it.

[mikeslemonade]

The first one overrated as well. Action RPGs we still crap with some exceptions like Dark Cloud.

If you gonna make an action rpg don’t flash into battle and flash out of battle.

[babadivad]

Me too. I was excited for this game. I may still pick it up anyway tho.

[bouzebbal]

the first one was so boring.
i am a big JRPG fan but it had so basic mechanics, especially combat and an extremely annoying melody over and over every single time (i can still not get it out of my head).
i haven't played the second one, but i can already see from the videos that they improved on the combat design.
the story cannot be as lame as the first one's, so i am pretty optimistic for this one.

[LoveSpuds]

Different people like different games to different degrees I guess.

Having played it for around 20 hours I am feeling very burnt out. Like you, I find the combat extremely monotonous, the game quite repetitive and the characters very simplistic. I have tried to persevere as the production values are fabulous, it looks and sounds fantastic and I also worry I am missing something due to its generally positive reviews.

I guess it's just not for me but that doesn't make it a bad game by any stretch, if any of my fellow gamers enjoy it personally then I am a little envious as I really wish I liked it more.

Also, as a Welshman, I have to say that the voice acting for Lofty is terrible compared to Drippy. While Drippy sounded quite authentic, Lofty sounds like someone doing a poor impression.

[moegooner88]

Wholeheartedly agreed. Can’t believe how souless it is compared to the original.

[Prince_TFK]

For me it is the lack of voice acting that makes the game so monotonous to play.

[The Wood]

So far I think the first one is better. Maybe this one will come into it's own further in.

[CrimsonWing69]

I do agree. I’ve been trying to get into it but it doesn’t have the same magic as the first. The first one I consider a masterpiece... that might be why this one is letting me down.

[xPhearR3dx]

I'm in the same boat, it's not bad by all means. But I think the first one was just so good, that my expectations were very high for this game. I also completely avoided all info on the game aside from the reveal, so I wouldn't get even higher expectations. Almost everything has been improved, but I guess it's just missing the charm the original had. I couldn't put the first one down, part 2 has me easily switching between games. I think I'm only on like Chapter 6 or 7, so maybe it picks up later.

[dirkdady]

Xpear if your on chapter 6 you must have gotten into the kingdom building and battlefield skirmishes didn't u find these change ups interesting? It certinaly has keep my interest level high giving me a change of pace when the same old encounters start getting repetitive.

[xPhearR3dx]

The skirmish was extremely cool the first few times, then the novelty wore off for me. The Kingdom building aspect I do like, but there's progression barriers in place to keep people like me from spending all my time building. Which leads to side quest and other things required to recruit more people, before I can progress. Not to mention the majority are just fetch quest that also happen to be very dull and shallow.

The Witcher 3 has tons of fetch quest. But the feel important, the characters draw you in and make that stupid basic quest more fun than it should. So far NK2 isn't doing that. Goes back to the "charm" of the first game. This one isn't bad, it's great. It's also extremely fun, but I can easily put it down and come back to it. I'm not always on edge waiting for what's next like I was with the original.

[moegooner88]

Same here. One of the most disappointing sequels I have ever played. The original was one of my all time fav games. Why do publishers insisit on westernising their JRPGs ? This is getting tiring.

[Hardiman]

Disagree completely and it would appear others do as well! I loved the darker elements!

[phoenixwing]

My favorite site for reviews gave it a 10 (dualshockers). I've been playing it and enjoying it myself. I don't really think it's two steps back. The gameplay mechanics have been changed for the better and I like the story being more dark/grown up.

[CP_Company]

The game is better in almost all areas. It is hard to understand what reviewer smoking.
Game holds just one negativity that the game does not have difficulty settings that is why story is a little bit into easier side, however, you can challenge yourself by fighting tanted monsters.

[Darkwatchman]

You shouldn’t have to actively seek out a specific and finite enemy type just to get a challenge. I like the game a lot, but its lack of difficulty really is the biggest issue with it.

[CP_Company]

in the same time, in Bloodborne simple enemies are easy for me too, i seek bosses for challenge and even some bosses are easy for me too, the same as here, the game is not just parts, is a whole experience and whole experience is really good, this game is step up from the first game. just need those difficulty settings for more challenge whos want more. some players enjoying the game how it is.

[phoenixwing]

Honestly, i agree difficulty settings would have been nice but i'm not going to lose any sleep over it. It's still enjoyable and if i'm being really honest, i play jrpg's for fun gameplay and great stories. Difficulty is way down there in terms of what i find to be a criteria for a games (jrpg at least) greatness. Edit: Also the first game was really easy as well. Sure there was grinding but i mean once you get certain monsters the game is a cakewalk.

Also for everyone saying there's no challenge you could just use the most basic (weak) gear and fight with that. But i get the complaint, it's just a suggestion of what you could do to get a greater difficulty.

[Teflon02]

The main game stuff is easy yes. But you could make it harder by using the tweaked and just turning down experience. Then you'll likely be under leveled. Things become much harder that way as level really means alot in it. I saw a Namco stream of it and they played the Octo boss in the cave or whatever and they struggled because they were alot of levels under maybe close to 10. Don't know if it'll make it that much of a difference but I know I did alot of side stuff and fought every enemy in my path and always was about the games suggested lvl so it should make a difference

[finite]

Only issue I have is lack of Voice acting other than that I rather enjoying the game

[Number-Nine]

Just got to kingdom building so I still have a ways to go, however, I'm not feeling it as much asthe first game. Combat and story was a lot better.

[moegooner88]

Made me miss Oliver so much. Don’t understand why the Western approach, they obviously knew what they were doing, but they removed everything that made the game interesting in the first place. Enemy variety is embarrassing, combat is repetitive and uninspired, story is almost non-existent with go from A to B, then rinse and repeat. Game is soulless compared to the original.

[goldwyncq]

Loving everything better than the first game so far -- the story, the characters, and the gameplay most of all.

[CrystalFantasy]

I never played the first game so it's not a step back for me. So far the game is great.

[Segata]

I canceled the preorder and used the money to get Cyber Sleuth Hackers Memory and Tokyo XanaduEX+ on PS4 instead. While it looked like they fixed the awful combat form the first but no studio ghibli and the story seems kinda weak plus aesthetically took a huge step back. Shame.

[Sm00thNinja]

The style of game change was disappointing. I loved the Pokemon esque prequel and the sequel loses itself a bit by being a more traditional RPG. THAT BEING SAID THERE ARE THINGS 2 DOES SO MUCH BETTER THAN 1. Combat is fantastic and the base building and war aspects are genuine fun! I'm level 50 and loving it

[FallenAngel1984]

This game has an 85 on Metacritic

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

It’s so disappointing 🙄

[Darkwatchman]

Metacritic is not a barometer of a game’s quality. Think for yourself. I think Bioshock Infinite was a disappointing game that’s worth no higher than a 7 yet that game’s metacritic is 94.

[FallenAngel1984]

Disappointing in your opinion, not objectively disappointing

[Darkwatchman]

No one is claiming I’m saying “this is an objective fact” just like this review isn’t claiming that either. Stop following the crowd and think for yourself.

“Ultimately, it leaves him disappointed”-wow he sure is stating this as an objective fact. I swear, the gaming community’s toxicity that can’t handle any dissenting opinions about a game at all.

[Prince_TFK]

The game could score 100 on Metacritic but still be boring to most people you know.

[Segata]

Because FFXIII is sooo good right? According to critics it was despite it sucks. Mass Effect 3 got great reviews yet it sucks

[TheOttomatic91]

What?

[tombfan]

Hmmmmm the first game took me moths to complete because of the slow burning pace... The turn bases although fun, was too slow and grindy (this is even more grindy hahaha but when you get the hang on the real, the grind is automatic and it rocks) it's a simple game with an entertaining gameplay and variety of it. It may be simple but it's deep.

It may be easy, but I'm into it, the equipment options, the food buffs, the upgradable equipment and smiths it has A LOT OF CONTENT, you just need to find it, and build it. The kingdom maker is awesome too a lot of great research options and they do impact some things, the spell system is also a charm and the higgledy things are cute as fuck... I really missed the flashy games. Simple but magical.

[Elda]

Just started chapter 2. I like it but it should have more voice dialogue.

[Deathdeliverer]

My ONLY issue with this game is that I wish it had more voice work. Other than that it’s beautiful, fun, the drops have been in my favor cause I’m fighting stuff I have no business fighting and winning (plus I grind areas until everything is blue and I go explore instead of the main quest so far), the combat system is good and actually being hands on instead of pseudo hands on is a improvement to me. While it’s true I have never died in the game, I also can’t remember ever dying in Final Fantasy 15 nor Persona. (I grind in games with fun battle systems)

[Teflon02]

I platinumed the second and I find it one of the best games I've played in so long. I think the first one is great but the second is much better. The main problem with the first is scaling of difficulty. One second your op the next enemy will drop you 100hp out of 150 in literally 2 seconds. The second games issue is that once you're within a certain level of an enemy and know what you're doing unless tainted most enemies are easy or really short. But the thing is that the actual good is in the second vs the first, for the most part the allies are really capable and great at dodging etc. Al in the first are just dumb and literally most boss's or even regular enemies they just drain mp and then die. The only thing I hate in the second was the skirmishes. Also the weird looking chibis looked cheap compared to in the first though I prefer the way the overworld was in the second. Both has pros and cons, the second does feel like they didn't have as polished of a game as the first but the games way better for me. Though the Pokémon aspect was great and missed

[dripdrop30]

I unfortunately never played the first one. Will I still be able to get into this?

[Xavi4K]

I liked the first still not sure about this one many people been criticizing it...guess I will probably get it when its on sale maybe next year..april going to be busy anyway with GOW and Yakuza 6.

[Cryptcuzz]

I love Ni No Kuni 2. The battle system is better than the first one. Graphics and performance is of course much better and the kingdom building, side quests to recruit more members are surprisingly enjoyable.

I really do like the characters and their English voice acting a lot. So much charm and the store is simple, but with Evan and his promise to Aranella, I find myself wanting to play just to uphold that promise to her.

[VsAssassin]

I think I'm halfway through the game, and I can safely say that this game is a worthy successor to the first. There are tons to do and they never feel so forced in as far as I am concerned. It doesn't have that heart-rending story of the first, but the foundation of NNK2's narrative is quite unique if not a little too optimistic. Each town has its own flavor and enough backstory to make you want to care. The side quests have little variety, but with the amount of things to explore, you would pretty much want to do at least a good 3/4 of them. Combat can be challenging if you are up to fighting the challenging red and purple ones--especially the purples ones.

The only thing I find curiously lacking is the voice acting. Not that it's bad, it's just you will really find it off and on and pretty regularly at that. It would have been okay if the important cut scenes and dialogues are voiced, but even those suffer from the lack of voice work. I am guessing they had to hold back on this front because of the many different accents going on across the world (i.e. the Sky Pirates, the Fishing People, etc.).

Overall, I strongly recommend this game. This is the JRPG that screams quality from start to finish. You will do yourself a great favor if you get this game, especially with a bit of an open mind. Happy gaming and God bless you!

[NextGenCeo]

I put more than 20 hours amd still can saw the all map and still my experience not enough for lots of enemies over 40lvl. Same game giving to me strategy, story focused jrpg and lots of freedom. I don’t know you guys but I really love this game. So this is my opinion of course.
(ESL guy)

[Diesel888]

Don't know why they changed the battle formula from the first game. The first game was amazing. This one didn't stick well with me. Don't you know the saying "when it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

[VsAssassin]

I agree with that saying, but Level-5 didn't fix it, they changed it. Personally, I like this change. The battle system in the first game was too slow paced for me and felt like I wasn't in full control--though I believe that that was what the devs were going for at the time.

[KaoSouL]

I had to bail on it too.... Childish dialogue, repetitive missions, week combat system, a barely open world, and a small variety of enemies. I forced myself to play it for 20 hours, flew around on the airship for a bit, and finally had to say enough is enough.