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> Results: Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch
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Last year's Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion was a bit of a surprise. Although it was derivative and somewhat uninspired, it was charming and entertaining beyond what objective analysis suggested. Namco returns to the Legend of Heroes world with a sequel that is actually a prequelﾗthat's right, everything in this game happens before the original. It features the same whimsical design and richly detailed graphics and soundtrack as the original, but loses much of the charm due to lackluster characters and changes to the battle system removing any strategy or challenge.
The game centers on two young teens on a traditional pilgrimage to visit sacred shrines as part of a coming of age ceremony. You run around the world where monsters roam free and either attack or flee based on the relative strength of your party. Battles use a traditional Final Fantasy-style turn-based system, augmented by a greater role for your group's ﾑpet' and massive attack spells based on the spirits of the shrines your group has visited. The story contains enough detail and variety to be at least as interesting as the original, and the same assortment of colorful characters in towns greets the party with the same strangely translated dialogue, but there is something missing. Between the boring combat and characters that never quite connect, it is difficult to keep playing without setting the game aside for something more interesting. Much of what made the original game compelling is gone, and all that remains is an average experience that is easily forgotten and best avoided by all but dedicated fans of the series or genre.  
In the review for the T-rated original game I said "I see no reason this couldn't have been rated E-10, and therefore am recommending it for anyone 10 and older", and The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch was released appropriately rated E-10. The content is nearly identical in theme and depth to the original game. It's cute, charming, friendly and positive in its presentation. The main characters are all attractive and are constantly striving to do what is right. They try to learn from those with more knowledge and always show respect to their elders.
As the party travels through the land, they meet up with many good and evil characters, and have a number of experiences that are not meant for kids of their age. There are inns and taverns in most villages as well as gambling casinos. Yet even in these venues there are adults seeking to impart wisdom to the young pilgrims. Older tavern-goers warn them off of consuming alcohol at their age, and an older man who seems a hopeless gambler turns out to be a philanthropist who helps a poor town and saves the party from being swindled of their gold and possessions at the casino. There is some budding tension between the two main characters when they share a cabin on a boat and need to change, but it is all very innocent as Chris warns Julio not to look, and he asks why he would want to do that. It is all good, clean, harmless fun that is easily accessible and acceptable for kids over 10. This review edited by Dave Long Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "legend of heroes" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch |
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