Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

About Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom arrived on March 23, 2018 as the second major entry in LEVEL-5's beloved franchise. You play as Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young monarch who lost his throne after his father was poisoned by the advisor Mausinger. This action RPG launched simultaneously on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC under Bandai Namco's publishing umbrella. The story picks up right after Evan escapes Ding Dong Dell with Roland, a boy from another world, following the betrayal that killed his parents. You navigate a vibrant open world while rebuilding your lost nation. The visual style remains true to the Studio Ghibli aesthetic fans expect, blending high fantasy adventure with kingdom management mechanics throughout the campaign.

Gameplay

Your daily routine involves moving Evan through a large open map where you can find quests and hidden treasures. Combat shifts between controlling Evan directly and issuing commands to party members who fight alongside him. A key mechanic uses Higgledies, small elemental creatures that cast spells and provide buffs. You collect these spirits and assign them to your kingdom's production lines later on. Battles rely on timing your magic attacks while dodging enemy strikes. Between fights, you manage resources to build up your new capital city. The game features sixty-three achievements to unlock as you progress through the single-player campaign. Control feels responsive during exploration but can get clunky when managing large groups of enemies in tight spaces.

What Players Think

Critics and players agree this sequel stands tall with a Metacritic score of 82 out of 100. The IGDB community has given it an average rating of 81.7 based on one hundred forty reviews. Most players find the world worth exploring since the historical low price sits at just $7.38 on GameBillet. Community mood analysis shows that fans enjoy the kingdom building aspect more than the combat depth. Average playtime for a full completion runs around sixty hours for most users. Review snippets frequently praise the art direction and music while noting repetitive boss fights. The achievement data suggests many gamers stick around long enough to collect all sixty-three trophies. Overall sentiment remains positive despite some pacing issues in the mid-game.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for players who want a charming story with gorgeous visuals over complex mechanics. You should pick it up if you can find it near its historical low of $7.38 since full price often feels steep for the combat depth. The sixty-three achievements provide enough long-term goals to justify the sixty-hour runtime. Do not expect a deep tactical system or challenging difficulty spikes in this adventure. It serves as a solid entry point for newcomers to the genre who prefer exploration over grinding. Finish your collection with this one if you appreciate the art style and have a PC or console ready to run it.

Storyline

The game begins with Roland witnessing a missile exploding over a city. In the aftermath, he vanishes and reappears in front of Evan in Ding Dong Dell, with his youth suddenly regained, just as Mausinger, the advisor to Evan's late father, stages a coup. As they escape, they learn that Mausinger poisoned the previous king and intends to have Evan killed to assume control of the kingdom. Assisted by Evan's governess Aranella, who sacrifices herself for their safety, Evan and Roland escape safely from Ding Dong Dell, with Evan promising to her that he will establish a new kingdom in which everyone can be happy and free. Since then, he is occasionally approached in his dreams by a mysterious boy around his age, who becomes his confidant.