Lost Kingdoms II

"Much better then the first!"

Graphics: 8/10
Generally the graphics are nice, with pleasant looking environments and real nice special effects when you use various cards. The only problems I have is that in most of the videos the characters' faces look just plain ugly (like Gimli's in the Two Towers), and while some of the monsters look cool, others look just plain retarded.

Sound: 7/10
The addition of voice acting is nice, and its generally pretty good, except sometimes it can go into stupid territory. The music is also pretty good, though most of it is of the easy listening variety, which can cause headaches after prolonged play.

Control: 9/10
The controls for this game are excellent. Each card in your hand is mapped to one of the face buttons on the GC pad, and you never press one button by mistake when you're trying to press another. On top of that, From Software has fixed almost everything wrong with the controls of the original. Now you can actually move, and you have full camera control, which is excellent.

Gameplay: 8/10
For those who don't know, what makes Lost Kingdoms so unique is that while helpless by yourself, you possess a magical Runestone that allows you to use magical cards that can give you god like powers. The cards range in type from weapons, to helpers, to independents, and to summons, and every card has an elemental attribute, which are either Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, Mech, and Neutral. The gameplay is incredibly unique and there's nothing like it on the market. I personally had more fun upgrading and catching new cards then actually completing the story mode, but they are both quite fun to do. The only problems are that the battles can get a bit tedious after a long time, and its too easy to run out of cards. Another thing that makes this game better then the original is that the battles are no longer random and there is not separate battle screen, so you can see enemies before you fight them and can avoid them if you are running out of cards.

Length: Average
The story itself is quite short, but if you try and get every card, it lasts a long, long time.

Overall: 8/10
Its got good graphics, nice sounds, excellent controls, and fun and unique gameplay, and only a few bad things. Its a very good game.

Rent or Buy?
Unless you're planning on trying to get every card in the game, I suggest you rent the game for a week or so. Not only will you get the same experience as if you bought the game, but you will also save around 45 bucks.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/30/03, Updated 07/30/03