Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 67 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon Game Cover
We should really be saving the world, but have you been to the pool?
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In "Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon," players journey through treacherous dungeons with a party of allies to fight against unique fiends. Aluche, the player's character, can perform powerful Lily Bursts with her humanoid companions, while Servans offer unique abilities and elemental attacks to aid in battle. Each team member brings their own skills and fighting styles to the party, ensuring diverse strategies in combat.

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Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews
story12 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The game features improved combat mechanics with new combos and partner interactions, making battles more engaging and dynamic.
  • Exploration has been enhanced with a better map design and the need to strategically choose Servans to overcome obstacles, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • The character designs and art direction are visually appealing, with a strong emphasis on fanservice and a diverse cast of characters.
  • The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
  • The combat feels slower and more monotonous compared to the first game, with limited weapon options and a less effective Servan system.
  • The time limit mechanic can be frustrating, forcing players to rush through the game and potentially miss content, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
  • story54 mentions

    The story in the game is a mix of familiar themes and new elements, focusing on Aluche's quest against the Moon Queen while incorporating character-driven narratives that require players to pay close attention to fully grasp the plot. While some players appreciate the depth added by character interactions and the emotional weight of the yuri/gothic storytelling, others feel the overall narrative lacks originality and is hindered by repetitive side quests and a less engaging quest system compared to the first game. Overall, the story is seen as decent but not as compelling as its predecessor, with a blend of intriguing moments and frustrating pacing issues.

    • “The game gives you hints about the story details without directly telling you what happened in the game's world (through character affinities and the DLC story, which adds motivation for the main villain and the context before the protagonist fights her), which is cool but also forces you to play through it all to get a full understanding.”
    • “The buildup of these relationships has twists and turns that actually matter to the main plot and, at times, it's rather heartbreaking.”
    • “The story follows a similar narrative to the last entry, but successfully manages to feel new and refreshing.”
    • “The story feels like more of the same, with Aluche needing to defeat the Moon Queen or sacrifice the priestess.”
    • “Overall, the game has bland characters and an unfleshed out story.”
    • “When I buy a new game, I like to explore and take my time, but this game just punishes you by forcing you to rush the story to complete it.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of slower combat and various combo mechanics, allowing for customization and strategic interactions with partners. While the introduction of a limited time mechanic adds a layer of challenge, it is generally easy to adapt to, and many players appreciate the improved battle systems and engaging character interactions. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and offers a mix of RPG elements, though some feel it lacks depth compared to its predecessor.

    • “Despite the slower combat, they compensated with the addition of various combos, interactions with your partners for combo attacks, and the ability to switch weapons using the servans with that function, which allows you to customize gameplay.”
    • “The new mechanic of a limited number of in-game days to complete each chapter may seem daunting at first, but it is very easy to get used to, and once you start planning your hunts before departing, it poses no trouble at all.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, much like the first game, you can interact with characters/servans and upgrade your weapons and items in the hotel and time-limited areas/maps. Battle mechanics have improved from the first entry, such as Lily Burst, support, and additional servan mechanics, making it more enticing and engaging.”
    • “There is a limited time mechanic but it's barely noticeable unless you're trying to 100% it.”
    • “However, the gameplay has taken a huge hit.”
    • “Such as the point allocation, which is a step in the right direction, but the 'reincarnation' feature is a waste of time and could've been replaced with some other more useful mechanic.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as enchanting and fitting for the gameplay, while others find it less memorable compared to the first game, describing certain tracks as forgettable or overly experimental. While many appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its ability to enhance the gaming experience, there are notable criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and lack of variety. Overall, the music is generally considered good, but opinions vary on its impact and memorability compared to previous installments.

    • “The music is excellent, which is standard for most Gust games; in my opinion, the music in this game is among their best.”
    • “Background music/OST: it's soothing when not in combat, and fits perfectly when in battle.”
    • “The graphics and fan service are a lot better, but the music and character interactions are a bit worse than the first, in my opinion.”
    • “The music score is enchanting and simply wonderful.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning art style and decent visuals, though some players report issues with pop-in effects and minor stutters during cutscenes. While the visuals have improved compared to the previous installment, there are still limitations in graphical settings on the PC port. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some technical drawbacks.

    • “Great visuals and music, nice story, fun and addicting gameplay.”
    • “The visual art style is stunning.”
    • “Worth a buy if you enjoyed the original as the follow-up keeps the same appealing art style, seemingly fixed most of the flaws and adds more demons to the mix.”
    • “The graphics have major pop-in issues, especially with post-processing effects for mid-distance geometry, which can be very distracting.”
    • “As much as I love playing Nights of Azure, I want to support its second entry on Steam. However, every KT port has fewer graphical settings available, such as resolution and depth of field. So far, NoA2 is pretty much an okay port from my end since I'm not having any issues, and the game runs at a constant 60 frames, but it suffers from 720p resolution movies and minor stutters during cutscenes, which is not game-breaking but still disappointing.”
    • “Decent visuals with a little tweaking.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant, with some describing it as tedious, particularly in sub-quests. However, many still enjoy the overall experience, suggesting that the grind can be rewarding and adds to the enjoyment of the action RPG.

    • “The game can be really grindy.”
    • “The sub-quests are tedious.”
    • “Though that made the more tedious parts of the game less so.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game experiences significant stability issues, including unpredictable crashes and long freezes, with players reporting multiple instances of these problems during gameplay. Additionally, some boss encounters are notably buggy, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Severe issues of note: crashes at unpredictable moments (2 times in 12 hours, 2 other long freezes/hitches).”
    • “Additionally, I experienced 2 long freezes that felt very dicey.”
    • “One boss who uses a single attack showed up twice; one was so buggy it clipped into a wall and died, while the other had you standing stationary and waiting for it to throw projectiles so you might knock them back at it.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful relationships that significantly influence the main plot, often leading to heartbreaking moments. Players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling, particularly in its representation of yuri themes, making it a compelling action RPG experience.

    • “The buildup of these relationships has twists and turns that actually matter to the main plot and, at times, it's rather heartbreaking.”
    • “I like what this game is - a heartfelt action RPG that does yuri storytelling right, and I'm ready for more.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is generally enjoyable, with many players appreciating the calm and cozy ambiance reminiscent of the first installment, particularly its pleasant hotel setting and music. However, some feel that the sequel, while still comfortable at times, lacks the same level of atmospheric charm as its predecessor.

    • “I also missed how calm and comfy the first game was, with its pleasant hotel atmosphere, its music, and the altar where you leveled up.”
    • “That's not to say Noa2 isn't comfy with atmosphere; it can be at times, just a lot less than the first game was.”
    • “Enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “That's not to say Noa2 isn't comfortable with atmosphere; it can be at times, just a lot less than the first game was.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the character designs and gameplay elements are enjoyable, the reviews suggest that the character development may lack depth or meaningful progression, leaving some players wanting more in terms of narrative and emotional engagement.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form meaningful connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, each with their own unique arcs that keep you invested in their journeys.”
    • “The way the game handles character growth is impressive, making every choice feel impactful and shaping the narrative in unexpected ways.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally strong, with good performance reported; however, players have experienced mild stability issues, including occasional crashes in the hub area, which can be mitigated by frequent saving. Additionally, a minor controller support issue was resolved by disabling the Steam overlay.

    • “There were some mild stability issues (occasional crashes while in the hub area, but saving frequently prevented any potential loss of time/progress) and a small issue with controller support (fixed by disabling the Steam overlay), but overall great from a performance perspective.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization model is praised for its absence of microtransactions, indicating a straightforward and player-friendly approach.

    • “There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
    • “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to progress.”
    • “The absence of microtransactions allows for a fair and balanced gameplay experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the charming and enigmatic character Christophorous, whose amusing moments resonate well with players. Fans appreciate the comedic elements intertwined with the narrative, particularly in relation to beloved characters like Arnice, adding depth and enjoyment to the experience.

    • “The always adorable and mysterious Christophorous is in it as well! I thought she'd be a goner from the first game because of Arnice (whom I still love in the series and have so many questions regarding her in this game), but her funny moments I will never get tired of.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

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