Chronicles of a Dark Lord: Episode 2 War of the Abyss
- January 15, 2015
- Kisareth Studios
Get on SteamExperience the 30+ hour long continuation of the saga of the Dark Lord, Magus Drakhen Lee, in this innovative next installment that will draw you into the world of Cora like never before...
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Reviews
- The game captures the essence of old-school RPGs with a great soundtrack and engaging storyline.
- Character customization and a variety of party members enhance replayability and enjoyment.
- The visuals and music are well done, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- The writing quality is poor, with a lack of depth and coherence in the storyline and character interactions.
- The battle system is flawed, with ineffective status effects and a lack of elemental weaknesses in enemies.
- There are numerous bugs and crashes, which can significantly hinder gameplay and enjoyment.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its continuation from the previous game and the emotional depth of various party members, while others criticize the lack of cohesive plotlines and character development across different groups. Although the game features engaging boss battles and replayability through multiple choices, it ultimately feels less satisfying in terms of closure compared to its predecessor. Overall, the soundtrack and visuals are praised, but the narrative execution leaves room for improvement.
“Many different party members for a variety of combinations, very feelsy story, skill trees with multiple paths, multiple choices in certain events for replayability, and really fun boss battles that have some cool themes.”
“Great continuation of the story from episode 1.”
“The visuals, music, and storyline are all done well.”
“Then we play as 5-6 separate groups one after another, with no real plot to each group, just go to a place and do a thing and, boom, done, with what feels like even less time for each character (who practically stop talking, outside of generic lines, after these sections), and often they say like 3 sentences to the main character ever.”
“Even though this game wraps up the main plot started in the previous game, it actually feels like it gives less closure.”
“The first game resolves its immediate plot, and very clearly sets the stage for the plot of this one, which is okay since it was meant to be chapter one.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting its great soundtracks that complement the visuals and storyline effectively. The musical score enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere and challenging gameplay.
“The visuals, music, and storyline are all done well.”
“Fantastic visuals, awesome musical score, challenging combat, and a few fun extras like boat combat and free movement fighting in the arena.”
“Just like FF1, great soundtracks, storyline, and you can make it more difficult by just charging forward.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their quality, complementing the well-executed visuals and musical score. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of old-school RPGs that prioritize story over high-end graphics, others highlight the game's fantastic visuals and engaging combat mechanics. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience.
“The visuals, music, and storyline are all done well.”
“Fantastic visuals, awesome musical score, challenging combat, and a few fun extras like boat combat and free movement fighting in the arena.”
“Graphics are very nice.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the game's initial linearity and grinding somewhat tedious, particularly due to a lack of context in the storyline. However, the leveling system is balanced, with the scion system allowing for character upgrades without excessive grinding, and the final boss presents a challenging encounter that rewards strategic preparation rather than mindless grinding. Overall, while some grinding is necessary, it is not overwhelming or overly tedious.
“The game starts out fairly linear and grindy, and with the lack of a proper context, all you really get to know is that the dark lord must stop a war with the abyss, instead of an attack by another empire in the first game.”
“About leveling; we level the same, for gaining stats, typical grinding experience.”
“I even did a couple of hours of grinding beforehand! That being said, I'd just like to also make clear that the game wasn't too heavy on the grinding levels either, so it doesn't get tedious.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a more complex leveling mechanic and some unique moments, but overall remains simple, straightforward, and lacks depth, similar to its predecessor.
“The gameplay feels overly simplistic and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“While there are some unique moments, the overall mechanics are still straightforward and shallow, similar to the first game.”
“The leveling system is complicated, but it doesn't add much to the overall experience, leaving the gameplay feeling flat.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability through diverse party member combinations, multiple skill tree paths, and significant choices during events, enhancing the narrative experience. Additionally, engaging boss battles with unique themes contribute to the overall replay value.
“There are many different party members that allow for a variety of combinations, a deeply engaging story, skill trees with multiple paths, and multiple choices in certain events, all contributing to the game's replayability. The boss battles are also really fun and feature some cool themes.”
“The game offers a wealth of choices and character combinations, making each playthrough feel unique. The skill trees and branching storylines encourage players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
“With its diverse cast of characters and multiple story paths, the game invites players to experience new adventures with each replay. The engaging narrative and challenging boss battles keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
