Say you have several groups of good friends. Work friends, neighborhood friends, online friends; each group great in their own way. You throw a shindig to get them all together. Why? It doesnāt matter, as long as everybody gets together and has a good time. Thatās Project X Zone 2
Top GIF from the Japanese version of the game, because I stole it from Richard
Itās also the original Project X Zone, for that matter. The 2012 tactical role-playing game brought together characters from Namco Bandai, Sega and Capcom in a flashy, funny, almost completely nonsensical battle for the fate of all realities. Iām guessing the same thing is happening in the sequel? Iām several hours into todayās 3DS release and Iāve no idea. And I donāt really care. I just want to see three generations of Tekkenās Mishima clan arguing about which one of them is going to kill the other two while Morrigan from Darkstalkers summons Phoenix Wright to attack demons.
https://lastchance.cc/ive-no-idea-whats-going-on-in-project-x-zone-and-i-d-583668243%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Itās not the gameās narrative thatās important here. Itās the interactions between characters who shouldnāt be interacting. Itās āWhat would happen if Goro Majima from the Yakuza series met Morrigan and Demitri from Darkstalkers?ā
Itās obvious from the start of the game that Project X Zone 2 is built around these quirky character interactions. An early stage features every ninja in the gameās roster, from Strider to Virtua Fighterās Kage-Maru. They just keep popping out of this dimensional gate and talking about time nonsense and itās a beautiful moment. Itās one of many, so far.
There are new characters and fresh interactions, but otherwise not a lot has changed. Combat is still an each timed-button pressing affair with plenty of opportunities to pile on with support characters. I will say that playing on a New 3DS is recommended, as the 3D effects during fights are quite lovely, with layers upon layers of spectacular sprites doing incredible things.
Letās see, what else is new?
Nintendo joins the fray this time around, with a pair of Fire Emblem Awakening characters (and one from Xenoblade) making this the easiest Fire Emblem game ever.
If seeing these displaced characters interacting fills you with joy, then this is a game worth playing. Without those moments Project X Zone 2 would be a relatively easy, mildly boring tactical role-playing game with a stupid plot. If you want depth, there might be another 3DS game coming out soon thatās more your speed. If you want goofiness and spectacle, then welcome to the party.
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