Death end re;Quest 2 Reviews
Death end re;Quest 2 represents another promising franchise spiralling down the drain at Compile Heart.
Death end re;Quest 2 follows the mold of its predecessor but is ultimately more enjoyable.
Death end re;Quest 2 is an exceptionally well-made RPG that encompasses great systems and characters. It does its best not to rely too heavily on the first entry and instead creates new relationships for new and returning players. There’s a bit of slow start as it sets up the plot, but once the game gets going, it’s full steam ahead for a dark and twisted set of events leading to the conclusion.
Death End re;Quest 2 is the horror RPG I never knew I wanted. Its mysterious and grim story is reminiscent of some of the all-time great Japanese visual novel and indie adventure experiences, but the fact that it's tied up into an addictive and enjoyable RPG package is the icing on the cake. The fun begins to get soured a bit by the sudden difficulty spikes throughout the game, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this terrifying and jaw-dropping story from beginning to end.
The sadistic events that surround the town of Le Choara is what makes Death end re;Quest 2 such a compelling read. While the combat is passable by IFI standards, it's the quality of writing that makes this such a memorable title on its own.
It's a game with an interesting and more murky story than its predecessor, which despite declining a bit in gameplay, has some endearing characters and many more misteries to add to the world of the Idea Factory saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I wish I could delve more deeply into the themes in this review, because there's a lot to talk about with this particular dark mystery and I'm looking forward to discussing it at greater length with people down the track, but just be aware going in that there are layers of nuance to this game that it will never get the credit it deserves for.
Death End re;Quest 2 tells an impressively dark story with aplomb, and if you can handle the subject matter and difficulty spikes is a must play.
If you're a fellow fan of the original Death end re;Quest then playing Death end re;Quest 2 is a must. Although it doesn't feel like a huge step up for the series, there's definitely a lot of fun to be had in its delightfully twisted world.
This has some merits to it that can't be denied, such as its artwork and very good English voice acting. The problems are, for a horror game, beyond some parts of its plot, the story gets lost with far too much fluff about dorm life, and walking around the same town over and over. This could easily have been cut in half to deliver a better narrative. The 'pinball' battle system is such a break from anything horror related, it serves as icing on a cake that had good intentions, but the ingredients simply were not right for what was required.
It goes without saying the darker themes and bleak elements won't appeal to everyone, but those willing to give Death end re;Quest 2 a chance will be rewarded. Not only is it a lot of fun to play, the story immediately hooks you and there is a lot to see. Combine that with improved visuals and some nicer touches and it's a great experience that might be a bit of a niche but certainly interesting in its own way.
Death end re; Quest 2 is an excellent addition to Idea Factory International games. An RPG whose atmospheric writing is striking, offering a unique experience within the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I highly recommend taking a look into Death End Re;Quest if you are a fan of JRPGs or Corpse Party, as I doubt you will be disappointed. Just be aware that the psychological thriller aspect can have some really not PG friendly scenes, so please heed the disclaimers.
Death end re;Quest 2 is a safe JRPG sequel but one I very much enjoyed when I finished it. The gameplay isn’t vastly different from the first game and the difficulty is a bit all over the place at times. The story though is once again dark and full of terrors and was the main driver for me to play this through. I like the characters within it a lot and was shocked at some of the story beats. If a dark and twisted JRPG is what you are seeking this fall then Death end re;Quest 2 should be on your playlist.
I have to say Death end re;Quest 2 is one of my favorite releases of the year. It takes everything the first game had to offer and refines it into a more streamlined package. It took me around 20 hours to get the True Ending. There are two other endings here as well, but the requirements here are much more obvious than the way the first game handled the endings. I think folks should definitely play the first game before jumping into this one. I loved all the characters here, the combat is still a ton of fun and soundtrack is one of the best out there. The PC version does have a few bugs that need taken care of, but if you have even a passing interest in this series I think you should take the plunge. If you’re a fan of horror with a little bit a fanservice thrown in, you’ll be glad you did!
I know that I’m probably shouting into the void, here, but I’m going to say this anyway; please learn from your mistakes in this game, Compile Heart. Death end re;Quest 2 shows that you’re truly capable of making a great horror game, but also that you aren’t there just yet. There were plenty of problems, but there were plenty of things to love about this title, too. I’ve seen the EX Ending (yes, I liked this game that much), and I know that you guys are teasing the possibility of a Death end re;Quest 3. I want that to happen, I want to love it, and I want to give it a stellar review. All I ask is that you took note of what worked and what didn’t, and continue to grow this series to be as great as it can potentially be. I know you can do it!
The battle system being the best thing about Death End Re;Quest 2 is good, because it’s the main thing you’ll be doing. On the other hand, with the way this game starts, I was genuinely invested in the story until Mai just became another sulky, edgy, boring anime protagonist. All in all, Death End Re;Quest 2 was a fun game with an interesting and unique set of battle mechanics, but the story, and consequently my enjoyment, fell flat solely due to the poor writing. The lack of difficulty also bored after a while.
This entry honed in on the things its predecessor did well, while stripping out some of the less-than-great fluff. That said, there are still some awkward parts to the game which may put some people off. The visual novel presentation can lead to some light pacing issues, while the anime archetypes may be a bit too much for others. The “Glitch Mode” costumes, while considerably tame compared to the first game, are definitely fanservice. Despite a few faults here and there, its numerous strengths make the game worth a look. Stellar writing, endearing characters, phenomenal voicework, eye-catching artwork, a catchy yet haunting soundtrack, and a delightfully dark atmosphere all stand as Death end re;Quest 2‘s strongest points.
Death end re;Quest 2 nails a lot of things: narrative, aesthetics, soundtrack, and character growth are all fantastic. It falters in narrative delivery, visual design, and difficulty spikes. It’s a commendable gothic JRPG from Idea Factory that does interesting things even if not all of them work.