There are not many titles that are coming lately linked to the classic Action RPG genre of Japanese essence. GUST aims to fill that gap with Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon, a direct continuation of the remarkable Nights of Azure.
Despite being an Action RPG quite estimable and despite its great peculiarities, Nights of Azure went unnoticed in the West ... something that is possibly going to happen once again with the continuation that will appear shortly and we have already been able to play in deep. Moreover, why do I predict such an unflattering destiny? Well man, because coinciding on the day of release (the 27th of this month) with video games like Super Mario Odyssey, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus or Assassin's Creed: Origins (among other games) I do not think it's the best slot for a title as niche as Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon.
Chaos and despair
This adventure places us on the European continent towards the end of the 19th century. A moment in which chaos and despair reign because of the blue blood ... which has nothing to do with the monarchy. Not at all. After what happened in the first part of this title and that I will not reveal, because of the aforementioned blue blood (which makes monsters who have the misfortune to come into contact with it), the world in which the adventure has been taken over by all kinds of infernal creatures. Moreover, these monsters are commanded by the fearsome Moon Queen. To counteract all this the Curia organization, which has been safeguarding the peace of our world for years, weaves a very simple plan: to offer the life of Liliana, the so-called Bride of Time (wife of time), as a sacrifice for that evil queen.
The problem with all this is that Liliana is the childhood friend of the great protagonist of this adventure, the brave Aluche, who will safeguard her friend even sacrificing her existence ... which happens during the first minutes (it is no spoiler, I promise), becoming a completely different half human half demon. A very Japanese plot (with all the peculiarities that all of us who enjoy this type of works know very well) that, moreover, is becoming more and more body and complexity as they are parading other important new characters. It is not the best narrative ever devised, at all, but it is curious.
Team battles
Far from assuming a secondary role, both Liliana and the other protagonists who are joining the adventure (almost all of them female as the exuberant Ruenheid, Camilla Alucard, etc.) serve as support for Aluche, especially during battles.
Precisely and like a good game of their idiosyncrasy, the confrontations acquire a very important importance. These combats take place in real time and without being the most exciting that I have been able to enjoy within their genre, they have their grace and also enjoy several innovations about those experienced in the first part of this saga. The most striking is the importance acquired by the Lilies, that is, the companions of the protagonist who fights with her and who are controlled by the CPU. We are always accompanied by a Lily, although it is also possible to get hold of a pair of Servants, or what is the same, demonic allies very curious and useful in full combat. However, despite the fact that the Lillies act autonomously, it is also possible to give them certain orders (which are framed in the digital cross) to concentrate their attacks on a specific enemy, to act freely, etc. However, there is more.
Depending on the characteristics of each, which are quite different from each other, give us a certain support during the fights in several different ways. On the one hand, it is possible to carry out a kind of combined attack called Double Chase that is very damaging to the adversaries, wiping out most of them at a stroke. Along with this are the Special Skills, special abilities that Lillies possess and that are automatically activated under very specific circumstances, such as when we are about to die. Enhancing our offensive level, regenerating health or creating a protective shield around Aluche are some of the benefits that can be acquired through such passive skills.
We can also move through the varied scenarios of Nights of Azure 2, which do not have too large dimensions and are generally quite linear, an aspect that although there will be users who do not convince, I do not suppose any inconvenience. Moreover, finally, there is everything related to the increase of skills and experience of Aluche, a fundamental element in any game of this style. Gameplay that is not surprising at all and perhaps lacks a bit more depth in overall and sparkle but which, in any case, is entertaining once you immerse yourself in the game. Of course, despite all this I still think that the first part was a somewhat more fun, direct and absorbing, keep this in mind.
Nights of Azure 2 Bride of the New Moon
As for its graphic plot, we can see that this is a "minor" production. The highlight by far is its striking aesthetic line, clear manga/anime essence, which offers us pretty stylized and well-characterized characters. It also deserves to be highlighted the great diversity of different environments that we can visit, as well as how well represented, are the many video sequences that can be seen throughout the adventure. Everything else is simply functional (being generous), from the animations of the characters to the appearance of the textures that are seen in the backgrounds.
It should be noted that the great difference that is perceived between the PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions (which are what I have been able to test) has to do with the resolution and the rate of images, where the Sony console comes out better. However, come on, given the humble graphic nature of Nights of Azure 2, it seems like a minor detail.
The sound is clearly superior thanks to the magnificent dubbing in Japanese and the remarkable soundtrack, although the sound effects are clearly below and lose prominence.
Made in Japan
This Action RPG offers a peculiar plot, a great representation of support characters and a more than striking setting. However, the combat system, without being bad at all, could have been better exploited by the developers, to which is added a nonexistent capacity for surprise. The result is an entertaining title but only recommended for hardcore fans of the genre, who will appreciate the virtues offered by this work of Gust over its defects.
-Zardoz-
7/10
Developer: Tecmo Koei
Publisher: Gust
Genre: JRPG
Release Date: 24th of October 2017
Pro
+ Great cast of supporting characters
+ Large number of special actions that bring dynamism to battles
+ Technically it is quite functional
Cons
- Technically it is quite functional
- The combat system is not bad, but it lacks some depth
- It is not at the same height as its predecessor
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