8-Bit Adventures 2

Genuinely one of the best JRPG's I've played, it takes the best of the best from 90's and 2000's RPG's and leaves the fluff behind, everythingfrom the art to the music to the flawless writing leaves nothing to be desired, one could say this is the closest RPG I've seen to get close to an absolute perfection. Kudos to everyone who worked on it.

I’d been eagerly awaiting this game and it was absolutely worth the wait. 8-Bit Adventures 2 pays tribute to the aesthetics, mechanics, and storytelling of classic RPGs - think Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior - but avoids becoming a mere pastiche of classic titles. The story lets you play as a party of heroes charged with saving the world from a formidable villain, a child known as the Glitch with the powers to totally disrupt the world. This story arc is a clever nod to the glitches of the 8-bit era, but what could easily be a one-off joke develops into an unexpectedly poignant narrative arc. The writing is consistently a standout, with clever humour, knowing references, and rich storylines adding up to a great experience. The gameplay is smooth and well-paced, with great quality of life features that show that while the devs may be paying tribute to classic RPGs they’re not afraid to innovate when it improves the player experience. Things like the ability to save anywhere, save reminders before challenging boss fights, and a neat combat system that rewards strategising are all great features. You don’t need to grind per se, but the difficulty ratchets up just enough as you progress through the story, striking a good balance between between being too challenging and too easy. Exploring the world is hugely enjoyable, and made more so by the great graphics and catchy soundtrack. Overall, this is a hugely enjoyable game that truly captures the essence of what made the classic RPGs classics.