Two party members wake up on a makeshift raft in the middle of the ocean. They go through the survival steps—how they got there, where they are, and what to do next. And then, the unexpected: a raw conversation between two adults who see each others’ best and worst tendencies. 8-Bit Adventures 2 often catches me off guard by simmering JRPG fundamentals down to something bracingly real.
8-Bit Adventures 2 is a sequel, but no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy it. I grew up on 16-bit RPGs and their descendants. It felt a little intimidating to go back to absolute fundamentals. But I grew to love how 8-Bit Adventures 2 cut to the quick. Even when plot antics or fights stretched a little too long, the game’s immediacy (and the Quick Resume function on my Series X) pulled me back in.
Comfort Feud
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8-Bit Adventures 2’s base plot is simple: Charlie, a plucky street urchin, learns history and combat at the castle thanks to the last game’s rogue (named Cherry in my playthrough). Charlie’s desire for adventure clashes with his care for Cherry. And when he eavesdrops on a worrying conversation, Charlie and the other orphans work to stow him away on the departing ship Cherry is boarding. Antics and character growth ensue.
The game digs into the real trauma past heroes face: a warrior and a thief scared of losing each other, a wizard toiling away in obscurity in case of potential catastrophe. The events of the first 8-Bit Adventures—and the heroes’ brush with the all-knowing Computer—have scarred them in ways not even a precocious teen orphan cannot fix. Coming-of-age antics give way to bracingly raw conversations about what it means to keep going and rely on each other.
Slash Friction
Turn-based combat in 8-Bit Adventures 2 is deliberately paced with modern concessions. Up to three party members fight at once, with turn order displayed on the right side of the screen. Character specific abilities add spice to the usual attacking, defending, and item-using.
There is no skill tree. Character stats and abilities progress at certain levels. Some players may mourn build customization, but I was relieved to navigate one less menu. And once some party members bond with each other, they can pull off special combo attacks that pool their magic. A meter at the bottom fills when dealing and receiving damage, culminating in an ultimate attack of the player’s choice.
Smart updates to the 8-bit era’s battle system made it easier to claw my way to victory. Fights that aren’t bosses are fully visible on the world map, taking out more unnecessary guesswork. But that doesn’t mean enemies pose no threat.
Neglect to buy new equipment or health potions and risk getting walloped by groups of roving monsters. Defending in battle restores a character’s health, feeling less like giving up and more like a strategic decision.
Level Cap
Despite some snappy systemic additions, 8-Bit Adventures 2 can’t escape the larger gravity well of the 8-bit era’s pacing problems. The somewhat manageable world map turned into a snarl of interconnected areas as the game progressed. And despite my attempts to power level, even later enemies felt like a chore.
Knowing that things could be worse—randomized encounters, less signposting, no respawning options—couldn’t shake the feeling that it could be better, too. And all the ways 8-Bit Adventures 2 streamlined traditional tedium focused my attention on the smaller problems left behind.
The humor, broadly jokey and sometimes referential, started to wear out its welcome. Attempts at levity after serious conversations felt more like whiplash. Swapping between a coming-of-age protagonist and full-fledged adults made me really feel my thirties. Younger players will love Charlie’s antics and the narrative fourth-wall poking, but it mostly made me tired.
The Verdict: 8-Bit Adventures 2 Is Better Than You Remember
8-Bit Adventures 2 pulls off a near-impossible balancing act. It’s a standalone sequel that doesn’t exclude, an 8-bit RPG homage that doesn’t grate. And despite my unfamiliarity with the era, the game’s modern touches fully won me over. Characters felt real in unexpected ways. Game systems were streamlined for the better.
8-Bit Adventures 2 is held back by its own framing device. The latter game drags and the jokes don’t always land. It’s a refreshingly streamlined romp, but I can’t help but wonder what will happen when Critical Games paints with a wider JRPG brush. The careful pacing and gradually unfurling plot hint at a bright future ahead.
Great
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Combat is brisk and streamlined. | Latter game still drags a bit. |
| Characters get their moments to shine. | Jokes don’t always land. |
| Blissfully short runtime. |
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