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,…
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- It includes both White Knight Chronicles I and II, allowing players to enjoy the complete story with improved mechanics.
- The character customization and town-building features provide a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
- The combat system can feel repetitive and lacks a sense of uniqueness, leading to boredom during battles.
- Many areas and enemies are recycled from the first game, which detracts from the overall freshness of the sequel.
- The online component is largely inactive, limiting the multiplayer experience and making certain quests difficult to complete.
- story134 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % 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 and repetitive. While the character development and cutscenes are praised for their anime-like quality, the overall narrative is criticized for being generic and filled with predictable tropes. Despite its shortcomings, many players appreciate the depth and charm of the characters, making the story enjoyable for those willing to invest time in the gameplay.
“If you like a great story combined with awe-inspiring graphics and an unbeatable soundtrack, then grab this game pronto.”
“Beauty - the cutscenes are like watching a high-quality anime movie that keeps you engaged in the story throughout the game.”
“The story is well written, the graphics are very nice, and the combat system is one of my favorites.”
“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.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their beauty and high-definition quality, often comparing them to titles like Uncharted and Final Fantasy. While some users noted a lack of innovation in character models and art direction, the overall consensus highlights stunning visuals, vibrant color palettes, and impressive cutscenes that enhance the gaming experience. Despite a few criticisms, the graphics are generally regarded as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The graphics are absolutely breathtaking with overworld models having textures as good as Uncharted 3.”
“The game has excellent HD graphics, excellent views, and good music for different towns and battlefields.”
“I just started the game and I love it already - beautiful graphics (close to Final Fantasy except the cutscenes).”
“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.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging side quests, skill-building opportunities, and a level-appropriate challenge, making it rewarding for players who invest time in character development. However, some reviewers expressed disappointment with the combat mechanics and the role of the customizable character, who often feels sidelined in the narrative. Overall, while the gameplay offers solid RPG elements and customization options, it could benefit from more depth in combat and character involvement.
“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.”
- music15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the storytelling and visuals, with a varied soundtrack that complements different areas and boss fights. However, some reviewers noted that while the music is enjoyable, it lacks memorability and originality, feeling repetitive and not particularly enticing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect, but it could benefit from more fresh compositions.
“If you like a great story combined with awe-inspiring graphics and an unbeatable soundtrack, then grab this game pronto.”
“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 soundtrack varies for each area and is good enough to close your eyes and listen to at times.”
“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.”
- grinding11 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 it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in crafting and combat. The revamped combat system has improved the experience, but the overall grind can feel overwhelming, especially for players who struggle with the steep learning curve and frequent character deaths.
“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.”
“[tedious grinding, boring story, steep learning curve]”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the character development as a strong point, noting its creativity and depth within the story. The integration of well-crafted characters enhances the overall gaming experience, 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 game allows for meaningful choices that impact character growth, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
“The depth of character arcs and the emotional journeys they undergo truly elevate the overall experience of the game.”
- 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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players finding the experience tedious due to repetitive grinding, an unengaging story, and a steep learning curve that detracts from emotional investment.
“The emotional depth of the story felt lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing, which diminished my overall experience.”
“Despite the game's attempts at emotional storytelling, it often came off as cliché and predictable.”
