Capcom continues the current trend of updating ancient SNES games and releasing them on the Game Boy Advance. As far as were concerned, this is cool, especially considering the quality of many SNES games. Breath of Fire 2 is a portable port of the 1994 Super Nintendo game of the same name.
We'll try not to give too much away of the intriguing storyline, much in the same way that game reveals information in short, twisting bursts to keep you guessing, so here goes. The story involves you falling asleep with your father and sister near the remains of a once great dragon. When you awaken, your father and sister are gone, leaving you orphaned, and with only the local church to look after you. Soon you make friends with another boy in a neighbouring village, and you set about exploring the surrounding landscape. You find a cave that contains a terrible beast that knocks you unconscious. Ten years pass before the game continues again.
The aim of the game is to uncover the mysteries of your past, the truth behind the religions of the world and the story of the ancient evil. Hmmm.
In ideal lighting conditions, Breath of Fire 2 on the Advance looks sharper and more detailed than its 16-bit incarnation. Detailed and colourful graphics make up the landscapes, and hardware special effects make the spells look even more impressive. The soundtrack is accptable, if only slightly repetitive in places, but when have you heard truly amazing music come from a portable?
Similar in style to the SNES Final Fantasy games, or even The Legend of Zelda, Breath of Fire 2 has all the trademarks of a good RPG classic. Adventuring, party-building, experience-gaining, random battles, spells, and a 'suck-you-in' plot. The fact that its portable is an added bonus. If you missed out on this game the first time around, make sure you dont make the same mistake this time. Enjoy.