Lately, there’s been an inflow of tales throughout media set in magic academies, the place these gifted with magical expertise hone their abilities. Function-playing visible novel Arcadia Fallen II has gamers step into the educational sneakers of a pupil of their ultimate 12 months on the fantastical Seven Winds Academy, an institute the place mages are ranked by their grades earlier than setting out into the world for the supposed betterment of society. However, in a fantasy realm the place captive demons are handled as energy sources and magic itself is strictly regulated and monitored, the world is just not as peaceable as the scholars’ remoted upbringing on the academy suggests. With worldwide battle brewing outdoors its hallowed halls, it isn’t lengthy earlier than the employees and college students of Seven Winds Academy are compelled to face it themselves.
Arcadia Fallen II is ready seven years after its predecessor. Gamers with personalised playthroughs of Arcadia Fallen can alter key carryover story knowledge from that recreation as they want. The out there selections approximate how later Dragon Age titles proceed every participant’s plot. That’s a pleasant bonus for returning gamers, displaying how choice-heavy Arcadia Fallen is from the beginning. At occasions, the narrative references occasions in Anemone Valley and options some returning faces. Nevertheless, it’s equally straightforward to strategy Arcadia Fallen II as a self-contained story. Returning gamers will love the Easter eggs, however prior information isn’t required to benefit from the recreation.
Proper from the beginning, you discover detailed customization choices to your protagonist. We name them Scarfy on this overview, as referenced by a dragon within the recreation. You choose their voice, identify, coiffure, eye colour, clothes colour, and gender—together with a nonbinary possibility, which displays the Arcadia Fallen sequence’ dedication to an inclusive LGBT+ setting. Whereas the character customization is easier than in video games like Code Vein II or Monster Hunter Tales 3: Twisted Reflection, it stays spectacular for an indie VN. Subsequent, you choose Scarfy’s roommate from two childhood pals: Soren, who’s obsessed with broadcasting, or Nina, who’s interested by journalism. You additionally decide a magic main for Scarfy. There are 4 majors in complete, however the recreation presents a selection amongst three: Tinkers, who invent magical gadgets; Illusionists, who use magic for inventive arts; and Menders, who heal. Scarfy’s chosen main will unlock totally different dialogue choices and branching story paths.
Arcadia Fallen II performs very very similar to an interactive piece of fiction, with roleplay mechanics and loads of selections to find out how the narrative unfolds. You usually select the place to go from an in depth point-and-click map of the academy, noting the places of essential characters and factors of curiosity. You see a scene play out or discuss to characters, and then you definately select both specialised reactions to an occasion (similar to making an attempt to heal somebody who’s damage if you happen to’re a Mender) or emotional/character responses that decide how scenes and potential later occasions transpire. For instance, you possibly can steal an merchandise wanted someplace else within the Academy, or you possibly can come clear about needing it to its proprietor and why, getting rewarded with very totally different outcomes.
Most dialogue/response selections supply a number of choices, so it doesn’t really feel overly limiting when approaching points. Binary selections which may set occasions on a sure path are duly famous and haven’t any clear “proper or unsuitable” reply both, like forgiving somebody or not, or nudging one other character in direction of a future aim they may not have considered earlier than. The sheer variety of permutations and outcomes ensures that no replay will probably be precisely the identical because the one which preceded it. I used to be truthfully astounded by how even a few of my earlier, seemingly insignificant selections might come again in relatively significant methods, similar to my extra civil remedy of three haughty noble mage college students lifeless set on being rivals to my pals all through the plot’s early phases.
The romance and platonic friendships that may develop between Scarfy and a few of their closest companions are believably developed, too, with loads of sensible hurdles to beat that showcase how the characters develop. I wasn’t certain at first what to make of flirty Mender Elias or the entrepreneurial Tinker Puk, however later story scenes displaying how the initially forced-upon-them group dynamic warmed up received me over by the point the credit rolled.
The rapport between Scarfy and firm was nice to see, however I additionally loved how their interactions with different characters within the solid additionally modified in gentle of everybody else’s private developments. I ended up growing a romance with the light Nature/Spirit Mage Kim, who is perhaps a well-recognized face to those that performed the primary recreation, and was pleasantly stunned by how touchingly candy and heartwarming their bond was. I respect that you could tailor your romance responses to your private preferences with out settling for a proper or unsuitable reply. You possibly can play it cool or joke if you happen to’d like, or blush and be bashful, with any end result nonetheless advancing the romance.
Alongside the ever-present response and dialogue selections, there are additionally easy point-and-click puzzles. For instance, one aspect quest has you collect knowledge concerning the academy’s feline residents. You can too return misplaced objects to homeowners, which can reveal plot particulars or unlock future dialogue choices. As a result of dragon Ragnar’s chaotic magic, Scarfy and pals traverse college interiors by way of directional puzzles. In these, you join a begin and endpoint by sliding tiles or having somebody, like Illusionist Hannah, stand in as a “connection level.” Hannah can bridge two in any other case unconnected tiles. These puzzles are pleasing, present a break from story scenes, and add interactivity with out being too difficult or feeling compelled.
All in all, the story and characters of Arcadia Fallen II—and the variability in how they develop—are the sport’s strongest promoting factors. If I had a criticism, it’d be that the narrative is sluggish to hit its stride. Early on, one would possibly suppose it’s merely teenagers dealing with college drama and finding out magic. Nevertheless, familiarity with the earlier recreation or refined lore factors trace at darker elements beneath the floor. The story doesn’t really amp up and take an surprising flip till almost midway by way of, which might make the preliminary chapters appear deceptively sluggish and deceptive. As soon as the sport reaches that time, although, momentum really builds!
Visually, Arcadia Fallen II stands out with daring traces and vibrant colours, just like The World Ends With You. Its story is a darker fantasy like Dragon Age, however the comedian book-inspired colour palette creates a definite distinction, making the visible novel’s darker components much less obvious at first. I benefit from the character designs, CG illustrations, and UI, though the characters might present extra various expressions. The background music enhances the sport’s ambiance. There’s a standout vocal monitor in a single combat scene that I want I might have heard extra of, together with extra probabilities to listen to the magical “Stepping Stones.” Voice appearing is partial: some essential scenes are totally voiced, whereas others use quick soundbites. The performances are typically sturdy, particularly the mechanical Librarian’s, although at occasions, spoken dialogue is delivered unexpectedly slowly. The script has a handful of minor typos, however given the heavy textual content and scene variations, that is minimal.
A mean playthrough of Arcadia Fallen II takes roughly eleven to 12 hours. I genuinely had a blast with mine. Regardless of a sluggish begin, I discover Arcadia Fallen II to be even stronger than its predecessor. It brings us again into an evolving fantasy world the place your selections really feel impactful. The ending is satisfyingly conclusive and units the stage for future adventures in a colourful panorama filled with memorable characters and heartfelt bonds. Arcadia Fallen II is certain to thrill each visible novel and RPG followers.
