White Knight Chronicles 2 is the sequel to 2008′s PlayStation 3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles, developed by Level-5. A third person JRPG, WKC2 picks up one year after the events that unfolded in its predecessor, with the Kingdom of Balandor once again threatened by the forces of evil.

After a brief introduction, WKC2 places you back into the shoes of Leonard and his friends at the beginning of a new chapter in their journey. Keeping potential spoilers to a minimum, the story is a fairly simple affair. A seemingly simple quest gradually unfolds into something much bigger than Leonard or his friends could have ever predicted, with the Kingdom of Balandor’s fate once again resting in their hands.

The inclusion of White Knight Chronicles on the disk allows you to start the adventure from the very beginning (for those who may have missed it), and the ability to import save states from the previous instalment also allows you to continue with a character set-up that you are familiar with. While not mandatory, those two options help ease players into the rather large shoes they’ll have to fill for WKC2.

Those who choose to start White Knight Chronicles 2 with a brand new character however, will literally be thrown into the deep end. While creating a custom character for the game is relatively simple, the freshly generated level 30+ team that you are presented with require huge amounts of customisation. With little in the way to guide you as you purchase new abilities from an exceptionally large list, it’s more than enough to make even the most hardened RPG fan flee in fear.

If you’re not a fan of JRPGs, White Knight Chronicles 2 will definitely not sway you into the fold. Its predictable story, flat unemotional characters, voice acting that’s on par with Hydrophobia, and extremely high difficulty curve are sure to drive you away. It’s safe to say that this game is not for the faint of heart, and it will test the patience of even the most seasoned of gamers.

Combat is one of White Knight Chronicles 2′s truly interesting concepts, both its saving grace and biggest downfall. Taking the form of semi-real time combat, the player is given the ability to switch between each party character at any point, move them freely around the map and choose their method of attack. While AI takes over move selection for those you choose not to control, the over complicated targeting system, countless menus, and erratic camera controls are cumbersome at best. This can often lead to distraction, confusion, and ultimately death. With nothing in the way of a tutorial, the player is dropped into combat within the first two minutes of gameplay, while knowing absolutely nothing about controls, or how to perform the most basic of attacks.

It’s a harsh wake up call for those who are unprepared.

However it’s the summons that help WKC2 stand its ground with similar games from the genre. The team initially have access to only a single Incorruptus, Wisel the White Knight, which Leonard can transform into in times of great need (or every 5 minutes in my case). Given the size of some of the enemies that are present in WKC2, these battle behemoths can turn the tide of an encounter when utilised at the right time.

By far, most of the 50+ hours of gameplay required to see White Knight Chronicles 2 to completion will be spent in combat. At times it can be a hard and almost unforgiving grind, as you travel from point to point.

Essentially two games for the price of one, and strictly for extremely hardcore JRPG fan, White Knight Chronicles 2 has plenty to offer. A fantastic soundtrack, epic boss battles, extremely challenging gameplay, and more character customisation options than you can throw an entire forest at; those who put in the effort are sure to find it all worthwhile despite the many shortcomings.

5/10

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