Summoner 2

It is often said in movies as well as games that a sequel can never compete or come close to competing with the original. The first Summoner was not what you might have called a very memorable game, but it did have a good story and interesting concepts.  Summoner 2, though, has not only fixed all the things that were wrong with the first game, but has improved them enough to make a fresh gaming experience complete with an all new cast of characters.  Be not mistaken, Summoner 2 breaks that old rule . . . and the best part is that you don’t even have to go through the first game to enjoy it.    

You take up the roll of Maia, warrior Queen of Halassar, who is seen by prophets as the beloved Goddess Laharah reborn.  According to the Book of Prophets, Maia is to heal the Tree of Eleh and bring peace to the entire realm.  The only problem is that King Azraman feels that he should have been sitting behind that throne and prophesy be damned, he will not stand by and allow Maia to fulfill her birthright.  Still, Maia is quite a determined girl and sets off on a fantastical quest to find truth to this prophecy once and for all.

The game starts on board Maia’s ship when it is under attack by a group of nasty pirates.  This is basically a tutorial of sorts that gives gamers an idea how combat and spells are used.  You are given full control of a character during combat (you can focus your attention on any foe and attack at will) and are free to perform spells or use helpful items at any time.  Each battle you fight not only earns you items but experience points that level up your character’s strength and a number of other skills and attributes.

You will also find that Maia does not take this quest on all by herself.  She is accompanied by an assortment of interesting characters complete with their own personality traits and abilities--and the best part about this is that you also get to control them at any point.  Selecting other characters is as easy as pushing the L1 button and you can also choose to temporarily leave the party to scout ahead.

The RPG elements of the game are actually pretty good and you can distribute points among characters to strengthen certain abilities or spells (there are various healing or damage spells at your disposal) you might need in the vast world that is Halassar.  There is also a nod to the Final Fantasy games that come in the form of the Summons creatures that was introduced in the original game.  Maia can transform into four types of Summons creatures that can do some real damage, although there’s a time limit. 

Incidentally, the visuals in this game are like a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, the graphics can come off as a bit bland in certain spots and--surprisingly--improve during animated cut sequences.  Character models can look downright plain during the in-game exploration or battles, but, on the other hand, they can look pretty cool during close-ups.  The world of Halassar is a massive one and is also nice too look at, especially those places that are lush with greenery. Still, the graphics could have been a lot better than this and would have been great appreciated since this world is beyond fantastic.

The same thing can be said about the sounds, which is pretty much second-rate when it comes to the sound effects.  Sure you’ll hear the blade of your sword strike your enemy’s blade, but there’s no real intensity to it like something you might hear in The Mark of Kri.  The voice acting is solid, though and the best part is that it makes the characters in the game even more interesting than they already are.  And the game’s score is both interesting and cinematic and a delight to hear throughout the game.

Summoner 2 is an admirable sequel with a fascinatingly lengthy quest, great characters and plenty to see and do.  And while it’s not a completely comprehensive RPG in the same manner as the Final Fantasy series, this is still an action-packed roll-playing game you can really get lost in and love every minute of it.

 Gameplay: 8.3
The world of Halassar is a massive one and you are free to move around and explore your surroundings as a group or alone is just one of the many interesting features found in the game.  Aside from the four summons creatures (Blood, Tree, Sand, and Eye) that can also level up just like the rest of the characters, the controls are customized simple enough to easily cast spells or use power items on the fly.

There are several moments in the game where your can accept the challenge of side quests or to perform your royal duty as Maia.  For instance, there’s a part in the beginning when Maia returns to her palace where she can tend to her queenly duties of resolving problems and making decisions.  The town sculptor wants to know if he should create a statue of Maia as the warrior Queen or as an infant of promise.  Although not crucial to the main adventure, these little gems are welcome additions.

Graphics: 7.8
The graphics might not be as exquisite as Final Fantasy X and there are certain times when it can be really plain to look at, but there are some really great cut scenes in between the action and during pivotal moments that advance the story.  This goes mostly towards the characters that can look pretty boring but look great during the cut scenes, using spells or when Maia transforms into a Summons creature.

The enemies, especially the monsters found in the game, are an exception to the plain character models.  You’ll love the various monsters that vary in appearance and their appearance can go from wondrously fascinating to frighteningly bizarre.  Backgrounds are also something to behold since the world is huge and no place (or palace) is really the same. 

Sound: 8.0
The sound can also be a bit of a letdown since the sound effects in this game are really dull in certain places that could have used some neat effects.  Swordfights don’t have that great metal-striking-metal sound and even the flaming sword doesn’t sound as if the blade were engulfed in flames!  At least the spell casting kind of makes up for it and so does the transformations between Maia and the Summons beasts sound fantastic.

Another highpoint is the soundtrack filled with tribal rhythms and mellow Arabic-influenced instrumentals.  It fits beautifully with this fantasy realm and the story itself and it is--quite possible--the best part of the sound besides the voice acting.  The voice acting is well done and it fits every character like a glove, although much of the dialogue is delivered through shouts.

Difficulty: Medium
Like most role-playing games featuring a vast world, the playing universe is practically littered with numerous enemies and wild monsters.  Each enemy posses different challenge and some are even too powerful to take on if your characters are not experienced enough.  You’ll encounter enough enemies to keep you on your toes and there are some that will have you experimenting with spells and Summons creatures.  Thankfully you can save your game anywhere on the map at any time.

Concept: 8.7
Combining action with RPG elements doesn’t often work, but then again if done right the payoff can be genuinely rewarding.  Fortunately, Summoner 2 manages to do both right . . . except that sometimes the hack-and-slash combat might lose its appeal after so many encounters.  Still, this world has much to see and there are so many side quests to tend to that the RPG parts really shine enough to keep gamers interested.  The fact that the main character can transform into different powerful creatures is also a big plus too.  

Overall: 8.4
Those gamers looking for a really good RPG with a good dose of action and adventure should most definitely consider Summoner 2.  There is enough to do in this world and the story will keep gamers interested enough to care about the characters and the quest itself.