In my assessment of 2021’s Rise Eterna, I acknowledged, “…the ending may be very abrupt and unsatisfying. It felt tacked on, as in the event that they have been going to arrange a sequel (which I’d prefer to see), then bailed.” Effectively, that sequel is now right here with Rise Eterna 2, and it’s a stable enchancment over the unique.
This time round, our Hearth Emblem-esque journey focuses on an Athracian soldier named Jacht. His kingdom is on the breaking point, leaving Jacht angered and vengeful as he follows his instructions with out questioning both their means or ends. He’s paired off with a longtime good friend, named Celia, and a mercenary group, all of whom are extra conscious that maybe issues aren’t fairly proper.
The ethical ambiguity of Rise Eterna 2 carries over from the unique, and it makes for a compelling narrative that can drive gamers rapidly by means of the sport’s 24 ranges of turn-based, tactical fight. This can be a enjoyable, brisk journey that can have Hearth Emblem followers fondly recalling the times of yore. It’s price noting, nevertheless, that Rise Eterna 2 just isn’t merely a Hearth Emblem clone.
Sure, the essential method to turn-based fight is basically the identical. You begin with a top-down view of the battle grid, after which transfer your entire combatants. In case you can attain an enemy, you may assault. If not, the enemy will then transfer their “items,” so that you’ll must plan your protection. I don’t like that you simply nonetheless can not see the enemy’s vary in case you don’t have your cursor on high of an enemy unit; you simply have to recollect how far they’ll attain. However since their attain usually extends past the display screen, typically you may’t decide the vary in any respect. This could have been fastened.
That oversight could be annoying in any tactical RPG, however it’s particularly bothersome right here the place strategic placement of your social gathering is so vital. If allied models are standing subsequent to one another, they’ll each assault on a single flip. Whereas it’s usually OK to depart certainly one of your models susceptible to a single assault, getting double-teamed on a number of turns can lead to defeat. Contemplating that, I feel it might be truthful for the builders to allow us to see when that’s a chance.
Anyway, again to the variations on the Hearth Emblem theme. There is no such thing as a weapon triangle in Rise Eterna 2. Your weapons don’t degrade as they’re used. You additionally don’t stage up in the usual manner. As a substitute of shopping for higher weapons or enhancing those you’ve got, you equip them (and your self) with gems you purchase by means of battle. These can add bonuses similar to a rise to your important probabilities, a health-point buff, or improved protection. Some will buff one facet of your stats whereas debuffing one other. They are often simply swapped between characters, and also you’ll get higher gems as you progress. It’s a simple system to make the most of and it permits you to combine and match with out penalty all through the sport.
Every character additionally receives talent factors that may be assigned to a restricted talent tree. The out there expertise are predetermined, however they’ve paths to succeed in totally different skills. This requires some pondering, as chances are you’ll find yourself having to redeem a talent you don’t essentially need as a way to get one you do. Once more, simple to make use of, however this method requires consideration as you may’t reverse your choices.
Even the well being gadgets and buffs require some work. The battle grids have assets scattered about, and also you’ll want to maneuver subsequent to them as a way to purchase them to craft varied potions and enhancements. Some are fairly a methods off the crushed path, so that you’ll have to tug a personality away from the motion to get them.
Additionally, most of the ranges have traps. These are undetectable till you journey them, until you’re utilizing your canine, Armond. This good boy (woman?) will robotically set off traps whereas avoiding them, clearing the route in your troopers. Armond can’t equip gems or carry gadgets, nevertheless, so that you don’t need to depart him stranded too removed from the safety of his crew.
Talking of carrying gadgets, it’s additionally annoying that you simply nonetheless can’t see the characters’ inventories with out choosing them for motion and clicking the gadgets choice. If I can attain a chest, I shouldn’t have to leap by means of hoops to see which characters have a key and whether or not they have the stock area to retain no matter is within the chest. Just like the enemy vary show, this was an issue oversight within the first sport, and it ought to’ve been resolved right here.
Visually, Rise Eterna 2 continues to straddle the road between the GBA and DS Hearth Emblem video games. The character paintings appears nice, the battle maps look good, and the battle animations look OK—it’s like the sport is paying homage to a few many years price of the video games that impressed it. I like that, however I don’t perceive why the central characters get detailed portraits whereas the goons are left closely pixelated. It makes the sport look unfinished.
The music, nevertheless, doesn’t. Though it does get repetitive, the sweeping and majestic rating provides the correct quantity of eight to the proceedings with out crushing them. I’m more and more alone on this perception, however I all the time choose symphonic scores over the rock-infused music of, say, Xenoblade Chronicles in my JRPGs.
With solely 24 ranges, Rise Eterna 2 is a fast play. There’s no fluff between fight to tug issues down, which is sweet. It’s additionally nonetheless too simple, which isn’t so good. However it’s pleasurable all through. It tells an excellent story and fills it with attention-grabbing characters who develop properly each strategically and narratively. Tactical fight followers will get their cash’s price on the asking worth of $19.99. At press time, it’s on sale for $6.79, making it an absolute steal. In case you’re bored with ready for Nintendo so as to add Hearth Emblem: Path of Radiance to Nintendo Classics, Rise Eterna 2 will maintain you over.
