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Evolution 2: Far Off Promise (Dreamcast)

Evolution 2: Far Off Promise review

Game: Evolution 2: Far Off Promise
Platform: Dreamcast
Genre: RPG
Developer: Sting

Reader review by pestes

Date unavailable

Wow. A mere 6 months after we get the first RPG for Dreamcast, we get a sequel. Actually, Evolution 2: A Far Off Promise is more of a remix than a full-blooded sequel, in my opinion.

Everything in Evolution has been improved on in Evolution 2. The graphics are crisper, the control is tighter, and the story makes a wee bit more sense, as the lovely Linear meets a mysterious character who seems to know her better than she knows herself.

The game's dungeons no longer randomly generate. Instead, they are replaced by preset dungeons that increase in size as you go through them. The only way to make money in the game is by either selling equipment or going into the game's dungeons too look for treasure and bring it back to the Society, which is easily found in the only town in the game (much like the first one). Skills and Cyframe upgrades are obtained much like they were in the original: through TP distrabution and upgrade kits. The coolest improvement in the game has to be the behind-the-back camera; it adds a little bit to the game.

As I said before, the dungeons are not randomly generated. They change to represent elements as you progress. There is an ''earth'' one that goes down into the ground, an ''ice'' one that has slick spots, and so-on, and so-on. The game also features a huge Tower accessed from the left of the Society court that is randomly generated and filled with secret, and somewhat useless, items. The is huge, and it can get a bit repetative especially since you can't leave until you complete every 10th level. Luckly there is a ''pause save'' feature that lets you stop and start again between levels. But be warned- once you load a pause file it erases and the game can't be saved until you complete another level. The same goes for the regular dungeons- you can't simply leave the floor you're on; you either have to work your way back (this can't be done in the Tower) or you have to use the item. The game seems to be flawed that way a lot like its predecessor. The game can get long and tiring in later levels, so you may end up throwing your controller down in anger (something I did the first time I played). Still, though, the game has its pluses.

A major plus is its top-notch, cutesy-Japanese art design (except Pepper). Kind of like in Lunar it sort of helps keep you going. Another cool thing is a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time-inspired ''rumble feature.'' When you obtain a certain object in the latter part of the game, you can plug in the DC rumble (puru puru) pack to find secret items. Just as with Zelda, the pack will go off when you are near secret entrances or columns that may contain items or rooms. That is very cool.

Evolution 2 definitely has a few faults in its reptition and the fact there is still only one town, but there is something endearing about the whole game, making Evolution 2 a nice time waster as you paitently wait for Grandia 2, Skies of Arcadia and deSpiria (if that comes out here).

Rating: 9/10

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