Dusk Diver 2 Reviews
Dusk Diver 2 shows a notable improvement over the original by adding a second playable character to switch between in-battle at any point, but doesn't improve the formula enough to be a must-have for anyone who didn't love the original.
Dusk Diver 2, like the first game, has potential; the cast of characters and storyline are both engaging, and the world could definitely host more interesting stories in the future. However, this sequel sadly fumbles things on the gameplay front, with a disappointing mixture of damage-sponge enemies and drawn-out encounters. While we didn't enjoy Dusk Diver 2 as much as we had hoped, there is something there - a kernel of potential as yet unrealised - and there are going to be people who absolutely adore it despite its faults. For us, a potential Dusk Diver 3 will hopefully boast combat engaging enough to match the writing on display here.
Dusk Diver 2 is a perfectly adequate action RPG, but the tedious side quests and numerous issues with the Switch port make it hard to recommend.
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Dusk Diver 2 flies too close to the sun - and it isn't even aiming for the sun in it's own solar system. While the original game was a tight and exciting brawler, this sequel tries to pivot into a more methodical character-action style without the tools that make those games so rewarding. The result is a game with repetitive, sluggish combat dominating the entire experience. Fans might find crumbs of narrative intrigue to explore here, but newcomers have little reason to dive in.
If you’re a fan of Persona 5 with a dash of Yakuza, I can certainly recommend Dusk Diver 2. The characters are incredibly likeable, the environment is bright and vivid. Despite not knowing the full context of the story from the original game, the story in this title was still intriguing. JRPG fans and fans of the hack-n-slash genre should definitely add this one to their playlist.
Dusk Diver 2 is a nice follow-up to its predecessor, with the enhanced combat and detailed customisation elevating the original experience.
Dusk Diver 2 delivers a much-improved sequel. Though its story takes some time to get going, its execution bears weight, especially in the second half of the game. With great exploration and combat, which allows you to take control of all your party members this time around, Dusk Diver 2 provides a steep challenge with plenty of content to sink your teeth into.
If you're a fan of the original Dusk Diver, there's plenty here for you to enjoy. Better combat and more time to hang out with the delightful staff of the Tumaz Mart is sure to please, but it's a shame that both the story and many of the side quests are fairly forgettable. Overall, this is a fairly solid hack-and-slash adventure with some really creative dungeons to explore, but it does have a little bit too much busywork and not enough variety.
Expanding the roster of playable characters and the number of fighters that can be dragged to the front line, the guys of WANIN International have equipped Dusk Diver 2 with a pleasant strategic component completely absent in the first episode.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dusk Diver 2 is a solid, enjoyable ARPG experience.
Dusk Diver 2 won't crack any TOP10 chart, but it is promising and catchy action adventure with good concept, solid characters and rich combat system. Opponents are getting stale, but bosses and dungeons are usually promising.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Dusk Diver 2 isn't necessarily a bad title, but it's not a title to recommend either. The combat has competent mechanics, but its balance makes the player experience go from interesting to tedious in a few hours. It's a game that had big ambitions, but didn't have the polish to carry them out properly.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dusk Diver 2 is a stylish, well-thought-out, and addictive hack n' slash game, and while budgetary constraints might've bogged it down in a few areas, you still shouldn't pass it over.
The sense of shallowness is impossible to shake, and over the course of a reasonably long brawler/RPG gets tiring. Dusk Diver 2, much like its predecessor, has all the potential in the world, and most of its individual elements are really competently made. It just doesn’t come together in execution, and while I was willing to give the developers the benefit of the doubt the first time, I’m just not certain they have a good grasp of how they want to execute on their ambition with this series. I don’t know if a third would be a good idea at this stage.
While Dusk Diver 2 mostly feels geared towards existing fans of the series, those looking to step into this franchise for the first time will still find it rewarding - provided they are down with the beat-em-up combat and anime tropes. The story is more compelling and the gameplay improvements are most welcome, resulting in an across-the-board upgrade to a well-liked hidden gem. The great thing about Dusk Diver 2 is that if it looks like your kind of game, then it probably is. Just bear in mind that the Switch version has some technical issues, at least of this writing.
There is plenty of untapped potential in Dusk Diver 2 but poor gameplay choices and badly paced overarching story limit what the improved combat and charming cast have to offer.
First and foremost, the cast of playable characters, which is easily one of the best elements in the game and stands out for the best reasons. On the other hand, the changes to its combat make it a lot less engaging due to a low difficulty level that will have players spending a lot of time to defeat an enemy with very little challenge from their weak combat skills. The level design too falls below expectations, as its dungeons are too repetitive and unoriginal, which ends up making it hard to keep the player's attention. There was a lot of potential that unfortunately was not explored and Dusk Diver 2's good ideas don't quite mitigate the rest.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Improving practically every aspect of the first part, Dusk Diver 2 is presented as a great and striking Action RPG thanks to its fun combat system. However, the Nintendo Switch version, although functional, lags behind the others on a technical level.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dusk Diver 2 greatly improves upon the foundation of the original game and creates an enticing gameplay loop with stylish visuals. The game's main scenario is a compelling step above its predecessor to complete a great, well-rounded sequel.