Alundra 2

"A sequel that failed to live up to the original"

Alundra is (IMO) the greatest Zelda-esque game ever released for the PSX. So what happened to the sequel? It stinks awfully as both a sequel and as a stand alone game.

Gameplay - 3/10

While the original Alundra was a joy to play, Alundra 2 just doesn't live up to it.

The basics remain the same. You go through dungeons, solving puzzles and searching for treasure. Unfortunately, it just isn't as fun as the original. Early in the game puzzles are simple, but they get harder and harder as you progress through the game. You may end up pulling out some hair while trying to solve some of them.

You start out with a weak sword and your only attack, a single slash. You can find puzzle pieces throughout the game, and once you get enough, you get a new move to add to your combo (double slash for example). You'll also get rings that allow you to cast spells and give you new abilities. To use any item or ring, you have to put it in a belt.

There are plenty of mini-games, which are all more fun than the game itself overall.

The reason Alundra 2 isn't as fun as Alundra is that I just don't think it makes the transition into 3D very well. Suggestion to any game developers: If it isn't broke, don't fix it!

Control - 6/10

Control of Flint is very loose, which sometimes makes it more difficult to dodge things than it should be. In 3D, it is often very difficult to perceive depth, which makes some jumps that require accuracy very difficult to make. The poor camera angles don't help any.

Story - 3/10

We have Flint, renegade swordsman. He is on a quest to free a kingdom from the grip of a sinister ruler. Nothing special.

Forgettable. That's about all I can say. You won't remember the story or even want to. Also, Alundra 2 has nothing to do at all with Alundra in this area. If you were looking for a true sequel, don't bother.

The only thing that saves the story from being boring is that it has a lot of humor. This is definitely a very light game.

Audio - 4/10

Blech. The music of Alundra 2 is very forgettable. You'll most likely get annoyed quickly. There isn't much variety either.

Video - 3/10

One word. Hideous! The graphics of Alundra 2 are awful, even for its time. The faces look worse than any game I've ever played (and I've played hundreds). Even the FMVs look awful.

Replayability - 1/10

After beating the game without collecting 100% of everything, I can pretty much guarantee that you probably won't want to play again. I immediately deleted my Alundra 2 saves after finishing it.

To buy or to rent? - Even (especially) if you loved the original Alundra, I suggest you avoid Alundra 2 like the plague. It's not even worth a rental.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 10/30/01, Updated 10/30/02