White Knight Chronicles II
- July 8, 2010
- LEVEL-5
An attempt to further merge the online and solo RPG, White Knight Chronicles is a beautiful and ambitious game that just doesn't quite have the execution to match its bold ideas
White Knight Chronicles II, the sequel to White Knight Chronicles: International Edition, is an epic role-playing game available exclusively on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. The game masterfully blends the cinematic storytelling of a single player role-playing game (RPG) with an entertaining and interactive co-op multiplayer RPG experience. From famed Japanese developer LEVEL-5,…
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story, stunning graphics, and an impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It includes both White Knight Chronicles I and II, allowing players to enjoy the complete narrative and character progression.
- The combat system is engaging, offering a mix of strategy and action, with the ability to customize character skills and tactics.
- The crafting system can be tedious and time-consuming, requiring players to save every piece of equipment for upgrades.
- The AI companions can be unresponsive at times, making combat feel less dynamic and requiring more player intervention.
- Many areas and enemies are recycled from the first game, leading to a sense of repetition and lack of new content.
- story100 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of creativity and cliché, featuring a typical "save the princess" plot that some players find engaging while others deem bland. Despite its generic elements, the narrative is complemented by strong character development and impressive graphics, with cutscenes resembling high-quality anime. While the story may not be groundbreaking, it offers enough intrigue and memorable moments to keep players invested, especially when combined with extensive side quests and online gameplay features.
“If you like a great story combined with awe-inspiring graphics and an unbeatable soundtrack, then grab this game pronto.”
“The story is well written, the graphics are very nice, and the combat system is one of my favorites.”
“Interesting premise, and the storyline is quite gripping, with only a few holes as far as I can tell.”
“For one, the story isn't very well developed.”
“But the story overall feels cliched to death.”
“The story itself is you follow a young man named Leonard as you try and save the princess from an ancient evil that awakens - meh, we've all heard this one before.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive high praise for their beauty and detail, often compared to top-tier titles like Uncharted 3 and Final Fantasy. Many users highlight the stunning visuals, vibrant color palette, and impressive character models, contributing to an immersive experience. However, there are some criticisms regarding the art direction and overall graphical quality, indicating a mixed reception among players.
“The graphics are absolutely breathtaking with overworld models having textures as good as Uncharted 3.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the characters feel strong and lively with very good voice acting.”
“The game has excellent HD graphics, excellent views, and good music for different towns and battlefields.”
“I don't like the graphics, character models, and art direction either.”
“The graphics in general are pretty bad too.”
“Until the fellow selling it to me told me that White Knight Chronicles II actually came with a complete copy of the first game, remastered to the new graphics levels.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging side quests and a solid RPG structure that rewards skill and equipment development, though some players find the combat mechanics lacking and the character customization underutilized. While the game offers a familiar RPG experience with appealing graphics and a decent storyline, there are calls for more depth in combat and multiplayer features to enhance the overall experience. Overall, it provides a satisfying gameplay experience, particularly for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding character involvement and combat dynamics.
“Errands, bounties, and other side quests allow for generous amounts of extra gameplay and goodies.”
“It rewards players for taking the time to carefully build their skills and equipment while maintaining a scaling, level-appropriate challenge during gameplay.”
“For the first few hours of gameplay, the story and system feel similar and in a good way, having a hint of Final Fantasy 12 and 9 (pardon me as an FF fanboy).”
“I just wish there was a lot more to offer with the combat mechanics.”
“The really odd thing is the character you make isn't the main character and makes me feel like I wasted time customizing one and seems to be just a tag-along character witnessing things but not taking action, talking, or doing anything else for the vast majority of gameplay. I didn't even have him in my fighting party.”
“The result is an awkward combat mechanic that just sucks.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the storytelling and atmosphere, particularly during boss fights and in various environments. While many tracks are described as beautiful and fitting, some players feel that the soundtrack lacks memorability and originality, with a noticeable rehash of previous compositions. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, but it may not leave a lasting impression.
“If you like a great story combined with awe-inspiring graphics and an unbeatable soundtrack, then grab this game pronto.”
“The soundtrack varies for each area and is good enough to close your eyes and listen to at times.”
“The music is superb, especially during boss fights, adding to the subtle level of epic in journeying across wide open fields or a great divide in the earth.”
“The music is also fitting, but few of the tracks really stick with you.”
“Sound - it's just not enticing; it's not memorable music for the RPG world.”
“But this just feels lazy; same music, same enemies, same environment pretty much.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the extensive opportunities for leveling and resource gathering, describing it as rewarding for those who enjoy grinding, others find the crafting system and combat mechanics tedious and time-consuming. Overall, players who relish grinding for gear and materials will likely find satisfaction, but those seeking a more streamlined experience may be frustrated.
“Gr leveling - if you like to grind, this is where you'll get your money's worth out of this game, cause you'll be grinding for months to max your GR.”
“If you like to spend countless hours grinding for gear, then you may like it.”
“Love everything about the game, except the battle concept, as I found my 'very quiet and useless' character getting crushed along with the entire party frequently when moving to a new area, and it's not easy grinding levels.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its creativity, highlighting how it enhances the overall story and is complemented by impressive graphics and music.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that genuinely impact their growth and relationships.”
“The depth of character development adds layers to the narrative, making every decision feel meaningful and engaging.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
“The characters seem to be stuck in one-dimensional roles, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks the replayability found in its predecessor, particularly in terms of online play, leading to a less engaging experience for some players.
“Overall, this game was a disappointment for me, but it still wasn't bad; it just doesn't have any of the replayability I got out of the first game for online play.”
