We recently reported that the upcoming RPG 8-Bit Adventure 2 is coming to consoles following its success on Steam. The lovely folk over at Ratalaika Games, which has ported the game to consoles, has kindly sent a review code for the Switch version. It’s also available on Xbox and PlayStation, with all versions being released digitally on 16th October 2024.

It harks back to the glory days of JRPG titles with the developer citing NES, SNES and PS1 games as specific influences. Right from the get-go the inspirations are clear and this is truly paying homage to the 90s. You don’t need to have completed the first game in the series either, for this review we dived straight in and the charctaers, story and combat made sense.

The story is good enough to capture the imagination but sticks to some basic constructs we’d all expect in an 8-bit adventure title. Friends from school suddenly find themselves on an adventure trying to uncover some secrets. Superfans of JRPGs will probably love the interactions and complexities the characters bring. For everyone else, this is a good story without being outstanding or particularly different from games like this before.

Without spoiling too much of the story, the world is a computer constuct, think Matrix, but in different time frames. You’ll uncover more about this strange world and start unravelling its mystery. The story of the first game is also retold in some unique ways and makes sure you won’t have to play it first before diving into this one. If you’re a big retro RPG fan though, it may be prudent to play the first game before the sequel. The story continues to develop in interesting ways with little scenes here and there. This helps bring an 8-bit cinematic feel to proceedings, it does feel like a grand adventure from 1989.

The opening scenes include exploration, a few simple battles and easy tutorials to get you started. Each character has an Omega move which is fun and adds a dynamic to the combat. It charges slowly with each attack and it feels good to use at the end of a tough battle. There are also a few simple puzzles to solve during discussions with NPCs to persaude them to do things that move the story along.

The main game takes place on an overhead map where you can walk or run. There are also fun secrets to be found by pushing boulders and rocks so it’s worthwhile exploring every nook and cranny. There is a satisfying element to slowly building up your unique attacks and abilities and all the playable characters are unique.

A standout part of 8-Bit Adventure 2 is the beautiful chiptunes with authentic 8-bit sounds. You’ll be tapping your feet along to the vibrancy of the tunes and there is a real quality that brings you right back to the era. There is also very colourful pixel art that is in tune with what the developer is going for. Some set piece fights show off some lovely huge sprites to showcase bosses. We would have liked a bit more animation or bigger hero sprites, but this is a harsh criticism considering the game looks gorgeous throughout.

Another thing that helps this game excel is the menu system. Once you get used to where everything is, there isn’t much time spent on item managing or faffing around with equipment. There is an optimise option on the equipment screen which is very useful to speed up gameplay and helps get the most out of items. Another interesting mechanic is stealing items from enemies that can sometimes be used against them.

Overall, 8-Bit Adventure 2 is a fine retro RPG. It hits all the right notes and offers everything you’d expect from the 8-bit and 16-bit era of classic RPGs. The story is a little safe in places but some interesting ideas help it stand out from the crowd. The gameplay is fast and the menu system helps to keep you focused on exploring and enjoying the battles.

On that note, the battles are balanced, not too easy or too tough, and some of the enemies require some out of the box thinking to beat. If you like the golden era of RPGs then this is a game for you. Those who are more casual fans may find it a bit similar to what has gone before, but this is a high-quality game from developers that understand the genre, and their audience, very well.