Game Review by Kenneth Andrews
Game Rating = 3/5 Balls
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Laxius Force II is a bizarre experience. I suspect English was not the first language of its creators (“Your lecture of my mind..” is a particular gem) and it seems to have been designed with a handheld gaming console in mind rather than a PC.
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Story
Luciana, a half-Goddess, finds herself on an idyllic island, but receives a letter from her friends Random and Sarah that the Order and the ‘Grand Commendater’ are back, and some shrine needs to be destroyed in distant Adretana. She toddles off to talk to the chief to help her decide whether she should go or not. And so begins an epic journey. Probably.
Gameplay
The tiny playing area contains a top-down view familiar to Harvest Moon players, and the controls are easy enough to master. Luciana wanders around talking to people, moaning that she can’t cook, recruiting party members and fighting flying worms to gain levels. So far, so RPG, but it’s all very easy to play and quite inutuitive. I skipped the tutorial and didn’t have any problems. The combat screen is a little unexciting with little animation, but very simple.
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Graphics
Cutesy little sprites toddle around nicely drawn buildings and landscapes. It’s all very manga, especially the chapter screens that pop up every so often full of large-chested teenage girls doing magic and stuff. Some of the artwork on these screens looks a bit amateurish, but it sort of adds to the game’s appeal. A few of the characters you can talk to, even in the very first level, don’t have portraits, which is a bit sloppy.
Sound
The sound is mostly simplistic beeps and pops, while a breezy tune loops in the background. Uninspired, but mostly apt to the game’s style.
Creativity and Innovation
The whole thing feels very derivative of a dozen other anime inspired RPGs, almost as though it’s trying to be a kind of handheld Final Fantasy. The author has gone all-out to try and create memorable characters through the dialogue sections, but this mostly translates into Luciana whining. I struggled to find anything new or different about the game, but it was enjoyable enough. It is the sequel to Laxius Force, and apparently you can import your character from that game, so perhaps fans of the original will find more to enjoy than I could.
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Is Laxius Force II worth $19.99? I’d have to say probably not. I think it’s worth playing, but it’s been ‘ambitiously’ priced. I can’t really see the point of designing a Nintendo DS game for PCs, but I can’t deny it’s mostly very competent good fun stuff. Probably best for younger players though.
Buy Laxius Force II if:
- You liked Laxius Force
- You’re into anime
- You enjoy Nintendo DS games, specifically Harvest Moon
Don’t buy it if:
- You prefer more involved combat in RPGs
- You’re over the age of 13
- You appreciate quality music in games
