In my assessment of 2021’s Upward thrust Eterna, I said, “…the finishing could be very abrupt and unsatisfying. It felt tacked on, as though they had been going to arrange a sequel (which I’d like to look), then bailed.” Smartly, that sequel is now right here with Upward thrust Eterna 2, and it’s a forged growth over the unique.
This time round, our Fireplace Logo-esque journey makes a speciality of an Athracian soldier named Jacht. His kingdom is at the breaking point, leaving Jacht angered and vengeful as he follows his instructions with out wondering both their approach or ends. He’s paired off with an established buddy, named Celia, and a mercenary workforce, all of whom are extra mindful that possibly issues aren’t relatively proper.
The ethical ambiguity of Upward thrust Eterna 2 carries over from the unique, and it makes for a compelling narrative that may force avid gamers temporarily in the course of the recreation’s 24 ranges of turn-based, tactical struggle. It is a a laugh, brisk journey that may have Fireplace Logo fanatics fondly recalling the times of yore. It’s price noting, then again, that Upward thrust Eterna 2 isn’t merely a Fireplace Logo clone.
Sure, the elemental strategy to turn-based struggle is in large part the similar. You get started with a top-down view of the struggle grid, after which transfer all your warring parties. If you’ll be able to succeed in an enemy, you’ll be able to assault. If no longer, the enemy will then transfer their “items,” so that you’ll want to plan your protection. I don’t like that you simply nonetheless can not see the enemy’s vary when you don’t have your cursor on height of an enemy unit; you simply have to bear in mind how a long way they may be able to succeed in. However since their succeed in frequently extends past the display screen, now and again you’ll be able to’t decide the variability in any respect. This will have to had been mounted.
That oversight could be nerve-racking in any tactical RPG, nevertheless it’s particularly bothersome right here the place strategic placement of your celebration is so essential. If allied gadgets are status subsequent to one another, they may be able to each assault on a unmarried flip. While it’s frequently OK to depart one among your gadgets prone to a unmarried assault, getting double-teamed on more than one turns can lead to defeat. Making an allowance for that, I feel it might be honest for the builders to allow us to see when that’s a chance.
Anyway, again to the diversities at the Fireplace Logo theme. There’s no weapon triangle in Upward thrust Eterna 2. Your guns don’t degrade as they’re used. You additionally don’t degree up in the usual method. As a substitute of shopping for higher guns or bettering those you might have, you equip them (and your self) with gemstones you obtain thru struggle. Those can upload bonuses reminiscent of an building up for your important possibilities, a health-point buff, or progressed protection. Some will buff one side of your stats whilst debuffing any other. They may be able to be simply swapped between characters, and also you’ll recuperate gemstones as you move. It’s a very easy gadget to make use of and it lets you mix’n’match with out penalty right through the sport.
Every persona additionally receives talent issues that may be assigned to a restricted talent tree. The to be had talents are predetermined, however they have got paths to achieve other talents. This calls for some pondering, as you could finally end up having to redeem a talent you don’t essentially need so as to get one you do. Once more, simple to make use of, however the program calls for attention as you’ll be able to’t opposite your selections.
Even the fitness pieces and buffs require some paintings. The struggle grids have sources scattered about, and also you’ll want to transfer subsequent to them so as to gain them to craft more than a few potions and improvements. Some are relatively far off the overwhelmed trail, so that you’ll have to drag a personality clear of the motion to get them.
Additionally, lots of the ranges have traps. Those are undetectable till you commute them, except you’re the usage of your canine, Armond. This excellent boy (woman?) will robotically activate traps whilst heading off them, clearing the course to your squaddies. Armond can’t equip gemstones or elevate pieces, then again, so that you don’t wish to go away him stranded too a long way from the security of his crew.
Talking of sporting pieces, it’s additionally nerve-racking that you simply nonetheless can’t see the characters’ inventories with out deciding on them for motion and clicking the pieces choice. If I will succeed in a chest, I shouldn’t have to leap thru hoops to look which characters have a key and whether or not they have got the stock area to retain no matter is within the chest. Just like the enemy vary show, this used to be an issue oversight within the first recreation, and it will have to’ve been resolved right here.
Visually, Upward thrust Eterna 2 continues to straddle the road between the GBA and DS Fireplace Logo video games. The nature paintings seems nice, the struggle maps glance excellent, and the struggle animations glance OK—it’s like the sport is harking back to 3 a long time price of the video games that impressed it. I love that, however I don’t perceive why the central characters get detailed portraits whilst the goons are left closely pixelated. It makes the sport glance unfinished.
The tune, then again, does no longer. Even if it does get repetitive, the sweeping and majestic ranking provides the correct amount of 8 to the court cases with out crushing them. I’m an increasing number of by myself on this trust, however I all the time want symphonic ratings over the rock-infused tune of, say, Xenoblade Chronicles in my JRPGs.
With handiest 24 ranges, Upward thrust Eterna 2 is a handy guide a rough play. There’s no fluff between struggle to pull issues down, which is excellent. It’s additionally nonetheless too simple, which isn’t so excellent. Nevertheless it’s relaxing right through. It tells a excellent tale and fills it with fascinating characters who broaden effectively each strategically and narratively. Tactical struggle fanatics gets their cash’s price on the asking worth of $19.99. At press time, it’s on sale for $6.79, making it an absolute thieve. When you’re bored with looking forward to Nintendo so as to add Fireplace Logo: Trail of Radiance to Nintendo Classics, Upward thrust Eterna 2 will dangle you over.
