White Knight Chronicles II Review

UK REVIEW--Fifty hours into White Knight Chronicles II, you finally gain access to the gear you've been aiming for. That might seem like a high figure, but for a game so steeped in massively multiplayer online principles, it's a drop in the ocean. This sequel is definitely an improvement over the original White Knight Chronicles, but it takes a long time to find out exactly why. It's still the same, slightly incongruous blend of online and offline play, with the former far more enjoyable than the latter. There's an air of stubbornness to the game; rather than changing things up, elements have been polished and tweaked. These improvements may not win over anyone who disliked the original, but they certainly make things better for those already invested or toying with the idea of stepping into the White Knight's shoes.

White Knight Chronicles II opens with a brief section in which you play as mysterious knight Scardigne before returning to Leonard and friends, who are the heroes from the first game. There's no attempt at a tutorial. It's just you, a menu screen, and hundreds of skill points to dish out and moves to select. Rather than being its own thing, White Knight Chronicles II is very much the second half of one game. It's hardly surprising that there's a remastered version of the original White Knight Chronicles on the disc that has been overhauled with the sequel's improved battle system. There's no benefit in diving straight into the sequel. Playing the remastered original allows you to just carry on through, and there's also the option to import your save from the original. Importing resets your character level to 35--a bugbear for those who spent hundreds of hours reaching a high level, but it's an understandable decision.

For the most part, White Knight Chronicles II focuses on grinding, farming, collecting and stomping around as a giant robotlike Incorruptus. It's the kind of role-playing game that requires hundreds of hours of time and patience, with the process of gaining better equipment and items a slow one. The plot begins one year from the events of the first game, with the heroes attempting to foil the rise of the decidedly evil Yshrenian Empire. It's a throwaway, forgettable tale, which by the end has suffered so many needless twists and turns that it's reminiscent of one of the game's labyrinthine dungeons. Somehow it manages to be even less exciting than the original, although once again, it picks up quite a bit toward the end. Leonard and company haven't really improved either. The characters are still charmless, poorly voiced nonentities. The most interesting character is the one you create, who doesn't even talk.

Thankfully, the battle system this time around is considerably improved. Numerous subtle tweaks have been made since the original release, many of which aren't immediately apparent but come together to form a more engaging experience. The game plays out in real time, and you can move around the battlefield. Commands are issued from a set of menus and take time to prepare based on your armour/equipment weight. Being able to launch your first attack instantly now, as opposed to waiting for the gauge to charge, helps the combat pacing. Having to be conscious of distance--because attack damage can vary depending on how far you are from a foe--adds a more interactive element to the usual menu-based system. Switching to the Incorruptus is also a more interesting affair this time. You end up with four different giant knights in your party, and transforming characters into their Incorruptus can be the turning point in a battle. Added for the sequel is a turn break, which is a powerful interrupt attack that stops enemies from using the current ability they're charging. The regular moves are improved too, adding a bunch of new attacks to spend your skill points on and offering more varied visual feedback. With a few exceptions, every character can be equipped with any build, and the level of customization is impressive. You can set a character up to be anything from an elemental magic-using spear-wielder to a healer who also bashes things with a giant hammer.

Combat is a lot better than in the first game; a pretty tactical affair.

Even with the improvements, it's still slow going at times. Your AI companions fluctuate between competent and utterly useless, although they thankfully favour the former option. Even so, it can be annoying when, despite setting your healer's tactics to "heal first," she dives in to whack a powerful enemy with a staff when the rest of the team is on the verge of death. Trying to hold out against a giant foe (of which there are many) while you wait for your Incorruptus to charge can be a pain, especially when turning the next corner can lead to yet another giant dragon or spider. As in the original, some enemies have vast health bars and don't fall easily. The difficulty has been significantly increased with the odd spike that, while occasionally feeling unfair, offers a far more interesting challenge than its precursor. When you're unable to use any of the knights later in the game, battles become very tactical and require careful planning. It's a particularly fun section, despite your loss of abilities, when evasion and avoidance become equally as important as felling foes. Also enjoyable are the new bounties, which are optional boss fights that can be activated at any guild store. Rewards for these range from cash and superior armor to weapons and items.