When the first Ni No Kuni was announced back in 2013, most users just didn't know what to expect. The collaboration between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli certainly bode well, so the expectations that were created for the title became really high. To the delight of the software house, sales went great, also thanks to the great quality of the game. The first chapter was obviously not without flaws, such as the not-so-dynamic combat system. Ni No Kuni 2: The Destiny of a Kingdom unquestionably improves what was seen in the first episode, expanding its formula and providing the player with a complete product from different points of view. Despite the absence of Studio Ghibli in the development of the work, the house has been able to give its best. Almost two years after its official announcement, we are finally ready to tell you about the adventure of Rolan, a man who will have to teach the young Prince Evan how to become a good King.
The Prince becomes King
For those who were wondering Ni No Kuni 2: The Destiny of a Kingdom it is a stand alone chapter, so it is totally unrelated to the first, even if it shares its universe. The story of the game tells the story of Rolan, President of an unspecified nation who, after being the victim of a terrorist attack in his dimension, is magically catapulted into the world of Ni No Kuni 2. To be exact, the interdimensional overhang makes him come out of Prince Evan's quarters but the latter, frightened by the presence of a stranger in his rooms, does not yet know that the situation is about to take a bad turn. Just as the two protagonists are getting to know a loud noise attracts the attention of Rolan who, driven by curiosity, will decide to go and check. Soon the duo will discover that a ferocious coup d'etat is taking place precisely in those situations and precisely for this reason, Evan's survival will immediately become the top priority: Rolan's task will therefore be to escort the Prince out of the city.
The councilor of the court who, with Prince Evan out of the game, has full control over the whole kingdom of Gatmandu, was the one who planned the coup d'état. The story told in Ni No Kuni 2: The Destiny of a Kingdom it lays its foundations on strong and adult themes, despite the fact that the facts are told in fairytale colors and tones. The game deals with issues such as death, the despair of a people or even the whole world, because in the chaos there is not only the city of Gatmandù. Evan's journey will lead the player to the discovery of a universe saturated with chaos, full of clichés that, day after day, poison the kingdoms from within. Between swindling rulers and self-proclaimed kings, the Prince will have to build his new kingdom brick by brick, an empire in which you will always have to laugh and where there will be no conflicts, a flag with which to unite the whole world. Unfortunately, however, despite the many praises to be made to the narrative, some of the numerous dialogues seemed to us quite superfluous and repetitive: Evan's purpose is clear from the first minutes of the game, always saying the same things in the long run leads to boredom. Contrary to what has been said, other exchanges of words between the characters will be really interesting and full of details, so much so as to put some protagonists in a new light. Ni No Kuni 2 tells the story of a young Prince who is not yet ready to become King, but fate thinks differently and Rolan has been sent to make the boy become a man.
A new way to fight
Many users will still have clearly imprinted the combat system of the first Ni No Kuni. We can assure you that the gameplay of this new chapter has been totally revisited, so as to improve that much criticized weakness.. The combat system is mainly based on the classic use of light, heavy, ranged, dodge and parry attack, nothing too shocking. Nevertheless, the fights will revolve around three different interchangeable equipable weapons during the fights: each of these blades hitting the various monsters will get an increasing charge which, once reached 100%, will allow you to unleash more powerful attacks. Furthermore if this hits are made in combo to a special move, you can activate another very powerful one: you can give your characters up to a maximum of four skills, obviously these special techniques require a conspicuous consumption of MP, which, however, will be easily recharged during clashes by attacking enemies. Also, once the effects of the charge are activated, it is then reset. It follows that the best technique will be to set aside an item with the maximum charge to be used in extreme situations.
The fight takes place as in the first Ni No Kuni: once the fight has started you can move freely in a well-defined area and, if you overcome the edges, your escape meter will continue to increase until it reaches the maximum level allowing you to to run away. Another element on which a large part of the combat system revolves is undoubtedly the integration of Cioffi to the clashes: these small creatures will automatically help you during the battles, both in attack and in defense.. These little creatures are very different from each other and, for this reason, each of them will have a different way of fighting. During your clashes it may happen that a cioffo will give you a clear signal that will show you to get close to him to activate his special power: this, especially in the most chaotic battles, could be decisive for victory or defeat. Depending on the case, by holding down the skill button, it will be possible to absorb the clumps allowing you to change the effects and increase the strength.
Once the tutorial phase in the game is over, a world to discover will open up before your eyes. You will have the opportunity to go almost anywhere but don't think it's all a walk, even the open world of Ni No Kuni 2 is full of monsters that if touched will immediately start the battle. They will start chasing you as soon as you are in their field of vision and, if you feel that a fight is too difficult for you, it will be better to run away. When the enemy attacks you from behind, however, you will suffer "The Attack in the Back": in this case the charge level of the weapons will be reset and you will not be able to escape. To recognize if a creature is or is not within your reach, just look at the color in the name at the top of their head: those in red would be better to avoid them, while those in blue will undoubtedly be more affordable. In the title there will also be flying monsters that will need a nudge to be knocked down: as mentioned earlier in the game you will have the ranged attack available, useful for taking them down and allowing you to finish them. After hours and hours spent leveling up the characters we can say with certainty that the combat system of the Level-5 work is one of the most beautiful and dynamic seen in recent years: although apparently it can be boring, when you find yourself struggling with clashes you will really understand that you can no longer do without it.
Spears will be shaken, shields will be shattered
One of the most interesting introductions within Ni No Kuni 2: The Destiny of a Kingdom is the Pitched Battles mode: these are military operations in which you have to control four different troops. The goal is to guide them to victory against the enemy. To start this special conflict you will need to approach one of the many banners scattered around the game mode e, once started, all you have to do is gather the army and prepare for the assault. The troops used will move around Evan who during this clash will be the focus of everything even if he will not actively participate in the different phases. Each troop differs in specialties and characteristics: as in a normal stone, paper and scissors, here too each soldier is strong on a certain type and suffers from another. Choosing who to put in the army or how to lead them in attacks is in your hands. To all this is added the possibility to accelerate or cheer your soldiers, but only when your field meter bar is full.
As previously mentioned, Evan's aim is to build a new kingdom where people can be happy with each other. Obviously, however, the will is not enough to do things: in Ni No Kuni 2 you will have to manage a kingdom in 360 degrees, from the crates to the buildings. Once you are seated on the throne of your city you will be able to access the Kingdom Management menu. Here you can develop your realm to obtain new items and spells. You can create structures, employ populations on certain researches or focus on new studies. Thanks to all this, the power of the kingdom will continue to grow more and more every day. To administer so much power, however, special currencies will be needed, obtainable only and exclusively from citizens' taxes. These coins will be used for any internal spending, so make good use of them. Each building has specific functions and can be useful for making new discoveries or collecting materials. In addition, you can level up the buildings, so as to further enhance their functions. By increasing the level of the castle, that of the kingdom will also increase, so as to make it possible to unlock new properties.
To carry on the construction and work in Evan's kingdom, however, are the citizens who in the game will be called Talents. Each of them has certain characteristics, through which you can understand which job they are most suitable for. These attributes are essential for carrying out specific searches. For example, for military research, a talent with war knowledge will be required. Entrusting each subject with a job suited to his abilities, greater benefits will be obtained which will also affect the development of the realm. The main function of the buildings is that of research: these will be useful for creating new objects, learning skills, cioffi and much more. Every studio needs a talent with the right knowledge, but in some cases they may require other certain types of requirements. Having also implemented Kingdom Management and Field Battles in the basic formula of the game it only adds to both the longevity of the title and the entertainment that Ni No Kuni 2 has to offer. In the long run, the clashes in the open field have amused me more than the normal ones, while the creation of a kingdom will take you a lot of time without even realizing it.
The fire of hope cannot go out
Ni No Kuni 2 it did not give any problems on a technical level, except for some slight drop in frame rate: nothing to worry about though. The bright colors and the particle effects used by the software house fit perfectly together, forming a homogeneous and well-painted picture. If you are looking for a title with great longevity, you have found bread for your teeth, since the videogame will offer an amount of hours worthy of a real role-playing game. Compared to the predecessor, the secondary quests have also increased significantly: now not only more numerous, but also more interesting to play. Some of these will lead you to cutscenes that will make you bond even more to certain characters. The music can make the player travel and, in some cases, even make him identify with the adventure.
In conclusion we can say that Ni No Kuni 2: The Destiny of a Kingdom it is, in part, everything its predecessor never was. The title improves its basic features, implementing others that work and do not distort the multimedia work. The one told by Level-5 is a fairy tale that deserves to be lived, complete from every point of view and difficult to repeat. Obviously the work is not free from defects such as an excessive linearity of some quests or too repetitive dialogues and not really in perfect style with the production. Despite this, the story told speaks of love, revenge, hate, hope and many other themes that we would like to see being addressed in all games with this presumption. Ni No Kuni 2 is a game that has turned its weaknesses into strengths, is the moral slap in the face to anyone who thought that a title with this graphics and lightness cannot afford to deal with certain burning points. Although we are still more or less at the beginning of this 2018, the product seriously risks being already among the best of this year. Despite the too much linearity of the narrative felt in some points of history, our experience did not leave a bad taste in our mouth, but rather, from the very first minutes of the game, we have experienced the desire of the software house to improve what has been done in the past. Sincere congratulations to Level-5 which, as usual, proves to be one of the most talented development houses in the gaming scene.
