Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire

About

Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire is a roguelike deckbuilding game where you play as Aria, fighting to survive in her school overrun by evil creatures. Craft your deck and manage card cooldowns to defeat foes, with multiple difficulties, modes, and two playable classes for varied gameplay. Experience a special card adventure with attractive rewards and custom challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

story13 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features stunning artwork and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The introduction of two distinct classes, Blade and Mage, adds variety and depth to gameplay, allowing players to explore different strategies.
The cooldown-based card system offers a unique twist on traditional deck-building mechanics, making each encounter feel engaging and strategic.

The game can feel repetitive after several runs due to a lack of significant variation in gameplay and card synergies.
Some players find the difficulty curve to be too easy initially, with challenges ramping up only later in the game.
The story is fragmented and can be confusing, lacking depth and character development compared to expectations.

story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth and the lore surrounding the characters, though some express a desire for more content and clearer connections to the previous installment. While the narrative can be engaging and thought-provoking, it is also noted to be somewhat short and occasionally confusing, with multiple endings that may leave some players wanting more resolution. Overall, the game offers a mix of intriguing storytelling and character development, enhanced by quality-of-life features that help players track their progress and lore.
- “I really love the story as it can be really deep sometimes and can leave you pondering all day about what happened.”
- “The introduction of the 'talk' feature in some encounters offers more insight into the lore and story of these characters and their place within the game.”
- “The story is interesting, and there are plenty of gaps for you to fill in yourself as you go, creating a nice hook.”
- “The story itself falls short.”
- “I found the game very easy and not too fun to play; the feeling of progression wasn't very satisfying compared to other roguelikes, the story is almost nonexistent and quite fuzzy.”
- “But for the story, it's very short and it has quite an inconclusive ending, just serviceable enough for you to get through the 'tutorial phase' of the game.”
gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The gameplay of Phantom Rose 2 is praised for its engaging mechanics, variety, and depth, with a unique cooldown system that enhances strategic decision-making. While it retains similarities to its predecessor, it introduces new classes and card mechanics that add replayability and challenge. However, some players express frustration with mobile game elements and perceived padding, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “However, the gameplay and the challenge aspect are what'll keep you playing for more than a dozen hours.”
- “Gameplay: an addictive gameplay loop that's just a straight upgrade of its prequel and mobile game sister Phantom Rose, which also throws the main rule of deck-builders (keep your deck small) out the window while managing to keep the game fun and interesting. Furthermore, the addition of the mage mode was an interesting way to spice up the gameplay when things start to get too repetitive.”
- “Phantom Rose 2 also introduces a new class system with the blade and mage classes, each possessing distinct cards and mechanics, adding depth and replayability to the gameplay.”
- “Despite this, there are some bizarre mobile game/microtransaction-filled game mechanics added in.”
- “But the reason for my negative review is just how there are mobile game elements embedded into the gameplay.”
- “This is padding out gameplay so ridiculously that it's offensive.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
30%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their exceptional art style, detailed character designs, and vibrant visuals, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While the artwork is praised as a standout feature, some players noted a lack of variety, particularly in card visuals, which detracts slightly from the overall aesthetic. Overall, the combination of polished graphics and engaging artwork enhances the game's appeal, making it a visually satisfying experience.
- “The artwork and character design in this game is just top notch.”
- “The game has an excellent art style; when I saw pictures of it, I knew it was a sequel to Phantom Rose, even before I saw the title.”
- “Many players have praised the game's polished graphics, smooth performance, and delightful character designs.”
- “There is next to no artwork for the cards.”
- “Combat effects, however, sound a little flat, and coupled with the almost total lack of artwork for cards, except for a little icon, it noticeably detracts from the fun of fighting enemies.”
- “From what I could tell in my short playtest of the game, I could say the graphics are a lot more polished, but the almost total lack of artwork for cards is disappointing.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
16%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and beautifully composed soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the variety and emotional depth of the music, noting that it effectively complements the game's aesthetic and gameplay. While some fans of the original game prefer its more serious tones, the new soundtrack is celebrated for its grooviness and quality, making it a standout feature.
- “The soundtrack is super good, the music fits everything and is so well done.”
- “The game has an incredible soundtrack; I hope it is released so I can have it to listen to outside of the game.”
- “It successfully combines engaging gameplay with beautiful artwork and music.”
- “The music is lauded for being more groovy than its predecessor, though some nostalgic players still have a soft spot for the original's serious tones.”
- “While it's not without its minor quirks, such as some players missing the tone of the original game's music, the overall experience seems to be highly positive.”
- “Which is nice, but honestly I still adore Scarlet's more deep, kind of serious music.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game is well-optimized, featuring polished graphics and smooth performance, which has been positively noted by players. While it emphasizes adaptability over strict optimization in gameplay, the technical aspects, including character designs and vibrant item sprites, contribute to a solid overall experience.
- “Many players have praised the game's polished graphics, smooth performance, and delightful character designs.”
- “From what I could tell in my short playtest of the game, I can say the graphics are a lot more polished, the game is pretty optimized and runs very fast and smooth, the character designs look very cute, the voice acting is nice, and the item sprites look overall a lot more vibrant and smooth.”
- “This franchise is a different take on the roguelite deckbuilder genre, rewarding adaptability more than optimization, and with a more consistent difficulty route.”
- “[h3]Technical issues and performance[/h3]”
- “Overall, solid performance from the devs.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the introduction of new cards and a class system that enhances depth and variety, others feel that the overall experience lacks sufficient diversity between runs.
- “Introducing a whole new set of cards that are playable, completely changing how you play the game and feeling like an identity of its own.”
- “Phantom Rose 2 also introduces a new class system with the Blade and Mage classes, each possessing distinct cards and mechanics, adding depth and replayability to the gameplay.”
- “It does have very nice replayability.”
- “Lacks replayability; there's not much variety between runs.”
- “Phantom Rose 2 also introduces a new class system with the blade and mage classes, each possessing distinct cards and mechanics, adding depth and replayability to the gameplay.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional artwork and design, with players praising the polished graphics, smooth performance, and charming character aesthetics. The vibrant animations and appealing voice acting further enhance the overall experience, contributing to a visually delightful and engaging environment.
- “The artwork and character design in this game is just top notch.”
- “Makaroll's art is impressive—there are so many great backgrounds, animations, UIs, and character designs.”
- “Many players have praised the game's polished graphics, smooth performance, and delightful character designs.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game features no microtransactions, which is a positive aspect for players who dislike mobile game monetization methods. However, the presence of a "premium" currency during gameplay can be off-putting, even if it does not involve real money.
- “For the record, there are no microtransactions in this game.”
- “I personally dislike mobile game monetization methods, so seeing something very similar added does annoy me, even if no money is involved.”
- “At the very least, there are no microtransactions in the game, but always seeing the 'premium' currency mid-game irks me.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The atmosphere of "Phantom Rose 2: Sapphire" is characterized by its surreal imagery and innovative yet somewhat dysfunctional design choices, creating a unique and immersive environment that enhances the roguelike deckbuilding experience.
- “This is a game where the imagery as well as the atmosphere crafts the surroundings.”
- “Phantom Rose 2: Sapphire is a roguelike deckbuilder with a surreal atmosphere and some experimental but also dysfunctional ideas on how to innovate the genre.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and fails to immerse you in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential, the ambiance is flat and uninspiring.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to feel engaged.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its amusing moments, particularly with character interactions like Stalling, though some players find certain elements, like the time lady, frustrating. Additionally, the English translation offers occasional comedic touches, but the lack of detailed descriptions can lead to a more trial-and-error learning experience rather than a straightforward understanding.
- “The English translation is a bit funny at times, and the descriptions don't always have the full details - easier to learn by trial rather than theorycrafting, at least at first.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be well-balanced, offering a variety of approaches that range from easy and time-consuming to challenging and efficient.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find the grind to be overly repetitive, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is frustrating and feels like a chore rather than fun.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly without any crashes, bugs, or glitches reported by users.