The first White Knight Chronicles role playing game received mixed reviews from critics and gamers alike, however developer Level 5 has now returned with a far more promising sequel. With the rare RPG option to create your own avatar, a compelling and complex plot and an interesting combination of offline and online play, this could be a great game for fans of the genre.
Storyline
The story in White Knight Chronicles II follows on directly from the plot of the first game, just one year on. You don’t need to worry if you never purchased and played the original though, as the full version is included on the very same disk as the new game, allowing you to play it through before starting on the new title.
Many of the familiar and much loved characters from the original game will be back to grace your screen, along with two entirely new main characters. You’ll need all the help you can get as you take your own custom-created avatar (don’t worry, if you still have your old avatar from the old game saved you can import it) on his or her mission to bring a conclusion to the stories started in the title’s predecessor.
Gameplay
Players familiar with White Knight Chronicles will notice many differences in gameplay, such as the new importance of positioning your team in a battle formation. Many of your attacks will fail to land on your foes if you aren’t close enough to an enemy, and the closer you are, the more damage you may be able to deal. All in all, the combat includes more tactics than previously, as you must think about making certain attacks at just the right moment for the best result.
There is no denying that White Knight Chronicles starts slowly. Your introduction will feature a long cut-scene, followed by a still longer first mission in which you will receive little to no instruction as to how to control your character. Once completed, you will be instructed to allocate a plethora of skill points to the members of your party, to a range of abilities that, as yet, you are unlikely to understand. You may need to grit your teeth to get through this process but don’t worry, things do pick up quickly after this initial ‘introduction’.
It’s obvious that Level 5 have looked at the range of MMORPGs available today for inspiration as, along with the detailed single-player campaign, you will also find the ability to jump online to play with friends. Up to six players are able to enjoy a vast range of side quests and various missions as a team.
Graphics
As with the majority of RPGs to come out of Japan, White Knight Chronicles II is a good looking game. The level of detail created in this virtual world makes the visuals so spectacular, as both locations and characters are accurately represented. A diverse range of appearances of foes to fight and over 400 new pieces or armour and weaponry also add to the immersive world created by Level 5.
Conclusion
The vast majority of gamers will identify White Knight Chronicles II as a game far improved compared to the previous title. Although it may take a while for your teeth to sink firmly into all this game offers, with a complex and poorly explained battle system and occasional dips in the storyline, once you get going you are unlikely to look back.