8-Bit Adventures 2 Reviews

this game is Final Fantasy 4 on crack what the hell

[i]8-Bit Adventures 2[/i] is a rare instance where a team seeks to capture the nostalgic magic of classic JRPGs and manages to deliver on virtually every front. A deeply narrative-driven adventure, finely-tuned combat, and a beautiful aesthetic package make up an unforgettable experience that would most certainly have been among my personal favorite indie RPGs of 2023. Since I can’t go back in time, I’ll settle for it being a frontrunner for the same title in 2025. [h3]What I Liked[/h3] [b]The Cast:[/b] A large, eclectic group of characters that are well written, fleshed out, and all have their various moments to shine over the course of the adventure. Returning characters from the original play pivotal roles without overshadowing the newcomers’ critical moments. The end result evokes a sense of nostalgia for the first adventure all while letting this new tale truly breathe and come to life. [b]The Combat:[/b] [i]8-Bit Adventures 2[/i] sits on that razor’s edge of challenging, but fair combat, and it only gets more technical as you unlock the various party members which can be swapped in and out (a la FFX) at any time, further encouraging strategy and depth. Each party member’s unique skill set can be further enhanced (or diversified) through accessory slots and the augment system. [b]Aesthetics:[/b] Bridging the gap between the NES and SNES, the 'NES+' look pushes the boundaries of what the former could handle, maintaining its nostalgic appeal by not fully committing to the latter’s 16-bit design. An exceptional chiptune soundtrack further enhances this, capturing the magic of classic JRPGs. [b]Plot Delivery:[/b] Cutscenes are highly expressive and emotive, which really helps the characters resonate with you on a level that you might not expect given the game’s 8-bit-esque aesthetic. Make no mistake: this is a deep story-driven experience despite the look on the surface! And the care given to continue and expand on some topics and events from the first game is both appreciated and commendable. [h3]What I Disliked[/h3] [b]Text Speed:[/b] While the amount of love and care put into the narrative is palpable, it can feel a bit sluggish at times due to how slowly the text boxes advance. There is little difference between the two options given, as both will automatically slow down during emotive scenes (which happens A LOT). Although I can understand why instant text would break a ton of cutscenes due to their expressive nature, there’s no reason why lower-key moments and generic NPC dialogue shouldn’t be able to be sped up significantly (if not instant). Speed readers (like myself) may struggle with this a lot despite the quality narrative. [b]The Villain:[/b] Let me be clear that the main villain is not bad - their backstory is intriguing and motives are logical, but their line delivery can feel a bit too..."muahaha" at times. This is a minor nitpick, however, as this was and still is very commonplace in JRPG-styled adventures. [h3]What Is Worth Mentioning[/h3] [b]Best Played Second:[/b] Being a direct sequel to the original, [i]8-Bit Adventures 2[/i] is best experienced after completing the first adventure. While efforts are made to catch new players up, there are many callbacks to the original journey that won’t have the same impact without firsthand experience. That said, this could be a double-edge sword, particularly for Steam Deck-exclusive players, as a fairly significant visual bug does exist in the first game that is, while playable, a bit annoying to play around. Perhaps a remake/remaster is in order, devs *wink wink*? [h3]Consider Buying This If…[/h3] You’re looking for that next grand retro-inspired JRPG adventure to sink your teeth into, and want to do so in a truly meaningful way. [i]8-Bit Adventures 2[/i] harkens back to those classic adventures while not relying on nostalgia alone - it is a true labor of love in every sense of the statement. [h3]Overall Opinion: GREAT[/h3] [i]Based on a BAD, OK, GOOD, GREAT rating scale.[/i] [i]Played entirely on Steam Deck.[/i] [i]If you love RPGs and like what you see from me here, consider following my [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45112017-The-RPG-Peddler/]Curator[/url] journey![/i]