Join the young king Evan as he embarks on an epic expedition to found a new kingdom, unite his world, and save its people from a terrible evil, with the aid of some new allies.
Five years have passed since Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom’s initial PlayStation 4 release. Since then, the franchise has released significant games for other platforms, a second mobile game, and a feature film. However, the primary series of games has been abandoned. After revisiting Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom upon its Xbox release, I believe I now comprehend why.
Ni No Kuni II focuses on a boy named Evan in a wholly independent narrative from Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Or, to give him his Sunday name, King Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a juvenile grimalkin – a hybrid of a human and a cat – whose father passed away recently and unexpectedly. As he prepares to ascend to the throne, a coup occurs and the mouse-like Mausinger seizes control of Ding Dong Dell, pronouncing himself monarch and ordering Evan’s execution.
Watch gameplay of “Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom PRINCE’S EDITION” on YouTube below:
In the midst of all this, a human who appears to be from our universe and is the president of a powerful nation is mysteriously transported into Ding Dong Dell and into Evan’s bedroom. Before they can truly comprehend what has transpired, they must first flee the castle and its environs to relative safety.
Together, with their diverse experience in governing nations, they resolve to establish a brand-new kingdom for Evan to rule and ultimately reclaim Ding Dong Dell.
But herein lays the first problem: Roland and Evan are not at all relatable to us commoners. One is a former world leader, while the other is a young monarch; neither of these are lifestyles that many of us are familiar with. Even the additional party members come from hard to sympathize with backgrounds.
Then we reach Lofty, Evan’s Kingmaker and the Welsh companion of Ni No Kuni II. Put simply, he is not Drippy from the original game. In fact, he is not even comparable.
The lack of vocal acting in Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom PRINCE’S EDITION is partially to blame. For a PlayStation 4 game, there is an excessive amount of written dialogue between characters that is not completely voiced. As a consequence of the limited interaction between these characters, the story loses much of its charm.
Again, however, the visual appeal of Ni No Kuni II cannot be contested. This time around, there are no animated segments, as Studio Ghibli is no longer involved, but the unique and timeless aesthetic persists everywhere else. In the world map sections, the area is depicted in a nearly dioramic manner, with your chibi-style explorers wandering about.
Despite the absence of Studio Ghibli, Joe Hisaishi returns to compose the score. However, it is one of his inferior works.
On this world map, you will spend a great deal of time listening to several superior themes from the first game, as you navigate between locations. Here, the entire JRPG trope of getting from A to B by assisting C, who can be found at D, but only if you locate the key at E has been stretched to its breaking point. Discovering new regions can be thrilling, but returning to them three or four times before being able to relocate can be tedious.
However, there are many conflicts to be fought in order to restore order. The familiars from the original game have been supplanted by even smaller creatures known as Higgeldies. These don’t do all the battling for you and instead focus on providing support. Instead, Evan, Roland, and the rest of the group are more than able to care for themselves. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom This time around, PRINCE’S EDITION is a straight-up action RPG. If the first Ni No Kuni was a love letter to classic JRPGs, then Ni No Kuni II is unquestionably a much more futuristic game. However, this comes with a loss of identity, as the combat system is no longer distinctive in any way.
Once Evan has acquired the respect of certain groups of people, he will be able to establish his own kingdom. Ni No Kuni II incorporates a rudimentary city-building component to the game. Those expecting a city-builder in the vein of Dark Cloud may be disappointed, but it is a welcome addition nonetheless. You will use these structures to construct a prosperous settlement that will develop as the game progresses. You can allocate personnel to each structure to help you research various things that will aid you on your travels. It is an enjoyable management diversion that can significantly increase your chances of survival.
Additionally, Ni No Kuni II introduces new skirmishes. On this screen, you must raise an army to defend your new kingdom or undertake other missions located on the world map. These can begin modestly and follow the standard rock-paper-scissors battle system, with some squads being considerably powerful than others but also considerably weaker. However, as the game progresses, these do increase in difficulty and provide challenging moments in an otherwise straightforward game.
Notably, the Xbox version of Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is the PRINCE’S EDITION, which includes all previously released downloadable content in a singular package. These enhancements come into action quite early in the game, as opposed to being relegated to the endgame. New collectibles, dungeons, and even narrative content with ties to Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch are available upon launch. Overall, it blends in quite well.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom PRINCE’S EDITION is inferior to the original. Except for the stunning visuals, they often feel like two entirely distinct games. This version is much more political and lacks much of the appeal of the original. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom PRINCE’S EDITION is still worth a look if you are looking for a more modern JRPG. Prepare yourself for a substantial amount of reading, as there is far too little voice acting in this text.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom: Join the young king Evan as he embarks on an epic expedition to found a new kingdom, unite his world, and save its people from a terrible evil, with the aid of some new allies. – kendajaya