23-Jul-2002 Fast running out of puff or a true rival to Golden Sun?
The first Breath Of Fire on Game Boy Advance was a faithful port of the Super NES original and the same can be said of this sequel. The action commences 500 years hence from the time of the first game. The hero is once again a young Dragon Warrior called Ryu, at first unaware of his Dragon Powers and living a humble life on a farm with his father and sister. They disappear and everything changes. Ryu finds himself roaming strange lands in search of answers, aided by fellow travellers he picks up on the way.
Whale meat again As Ryu's quest unfolds, he explores towns, dungeons, witches' towers and the pink, fleshy (and frankly a bit revolting) insides of a whale's belly. He and his friends develop special abilities, fight turn-based battles, save lots of strange creatures and build up experience points. It's role-playing business as usual - but it works. BOFII looks and plays exactly like a straight port of a Super NES role-player, which is not necessarily a bad thing. So if you're looking for innovation, turn the page. But if you still have a hunger for old-skool RPGs with cute characters and grand storylines, gobble this up.
Maura Sutton
// Overview
Verdict
The second-best role-player to appear on the GB Advance to date, but still falling some way short of the majestic Golden Sun.
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