Brandish 2 | RVGFanatic

***Pub: Koei | Dev: Falcom | August 1995 | 24 MEGS***

People seem to either hate or love Brandish. Rarely will you find someone split right down the middle. I’m in the camp of those who loved its methodical hack and slash gameplay, its magic-infused combat, its atmospheric music and an overall somber mood that works like gangbusters. A sequel was released in Japan but of course, with Brandish being not so well received in North America (and released a bit later in the SNES’ lifespan — February 1995 to be precise), Brandish 2 was doomed to stay in Japan. However, like many Super Famicom-only (A)RPGs, dedicated fans have translated the game to make it accessible to those who can’t read Japanese. If you loved the first Brandish, you’ll like the sequel as well. Let’s dive in and take a closer look.

A CASTLE DIPPED IN MOONLIGHT.
A LABYRINTH LOST TO TIME…

"Come here, lad, and sit on my lap..." — *“Come here, lad, and sit on my lap…”*

Brandish came and went with little fanfare. It’s one of the few SNES games I didn’t know existed until 2006. But upon discovery of the game via a magazine ad, it sucked me right into its sordid underworld. The plot intrigued me in a unique way that few other SNES games have. Playing as public enemy #1 Varik, you find yourself buried many floors below the surface and forced to battle monsters and demons in order to crawl out of this hellhole. One late night in February 2006, I had an overwhelming urge to play Brandish. So at 3 in the morning, I flung myself out of bed and I shuffled my way through the darkness to do just that. I was instantly greeted by a soothing tune as a castle dipped in moonlight came into view. The atmospheric intro still haunts me to this day. Next thing I know, I find myself deep underground in some God forsaken labyrinth lost to time. The visuals were a little crude, but man, that music. It perfectly captured the feeling of being 40 floors below the surface. Along the way you’ll meet eccentric NPCs, a menagerie of menacing monsters and some decent puzzles to work through. It was one of the most captivating gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

THE STORY GOES…

Wandering swordsman arrives…

Whoa… the heat blurs your vision.

Unable to stand any longer, you collapse face first.

“HAHA! Look at this stupid fool!”

While Karl didn’t appreciate the king’s decree, she sure did. Call it schadenfreude…

WHAT IS THE PLANET BUSTER?

"Is that THE Planet Buster?F*ck the INFINITY STONES!" — *“Is that THE Planet Buster? F*ck the INFINITY STONES!”*

THE JOURNEY BEGINS…

They'll regret not killing him when they had the chance — They’ll regret not killing him when they had a chance

Some give clues. Others don't. Weed out the riffraff — Some give clues. Others don’t. Weed out the riffraff

The dialogue with NPCs adds to the game's atmosphere — The dialogue adds to the game’s atmosphere

You don't hafta say it. It's hard being this handsome — You don’t hafta say it. It’s hard being this handsome

There are few things as satisfying as finding the exit

Such a clandestine and furtive underworld.... — Such a clandestine and furtive underworld…

The prison is crawling with shady and surreptitious cats — The prison is crawling with shady, surreptitious cats

The art style is simple yet loaded with personality

I've heard some bad things about you too, Santa — I’ve heard some bad things about **YOU** too, Santa

Dialogue like this fuels the sense of hopelessness

Uhh, I'm good. Hey pal, better check your eyes... — Uhh, I’m good. Hey pal, better check your eyes…

Seek out breakable walls. Look for strange markings

Damnit. I was just about to hit the Vegas Strip

Are ya kidding me? I never disappoint. Ask your mom — Are ya kidding me? I never disappoint. *Ask your mom*

Your half-nemesis, Dela (AKA Alexis), returns

Hold on tight! Welcome to the creepy island of Islet

[Ah, now I get it. Dela wants your sword... -Ed.] — *[Ah, now I get it. Dela wants your **sword**… -Ed.]*

Little touches like this pull you in even more

Makes you wonder what killed him and is it still around? — You find a note lying by the dead body…

Whatever this Supreme Dominion is, it can't be good — Whatever this Supreme Dominion is, *it can’t be good*

Despair fills the air... — Despair fills the air…

You can hear the animalistic growls already — You can already hear the unruly growls

Just who IN THE BLUE HELL is this creepy looking kid? — Just who *IN THE BLUE HELL* is this creepy looking kid?

I sure as hell didn't mean "what's kraken?" — I sure as hell didn’t mean *“what’s kraken?”*

Oh I see PLENTY that I like — Oh I see **PLENTY** that I like

C'mon Ares. Release the Kraken... — C’mon Ares. Release the Kraken…

Like a FaceBook add from an old high school classmate — *“Remember the time Mr. Koi lost his toupee? Haha!”*

You feel a chill gazing up at the imposing structure

Sure looks like a trustworthy citizen to me

I like Brandish more than Zelda [Blasphemy! -Ed.]. I kid — ***“ONE TIME… AT BAND CAMP…”***

NO! For the last time... I DO NOT HAVE GREY POUPON — *“NO! For the last time… I DO NOT HAVE GREY POUPON!”*

Someone's got a potty mouth — Someone’s got a potty mouth

See, Ares isn't that bad a guy... — See, Ares isn’t that bad a guy…

Where's Chris Hansen when you need him? — Where’s Chris Hansen when you need him?

"Go ahead... take a seat..." — **“Go ahead… take a seat…”**

Talk to everyone to gather helpful clues

Finding all three Dimension Boxes is key. Don't miss one! — Finding all three Dimension Boxes is critical

Wise men talk because we have something to say

But fools talk because they have to say something

Whoa! Not in public, my dear. Yer makin' me blush — Whoa! Not in public my dear. *You’re making me blush*

Hey, I warned you it's big. And now, you're choking... — Hey, I warned you it’s big. And now you’re choking…

Use the pillars for defense. Attack and rest when ya can — Use pillars for defense. Attack and rest when you can

What's the worst that could happen? — What’s the worst that could happen?

Miss this late in the game and you're kind of screwed — Miss this late in the game and you’re kind of screwed

Its eyeball tracks your every movement and breath... — Its eyeball tracks your every movement and breath…

He sure as hell doesn't look like a Fred — He sure as hell doesn’t look like a Fred

I like how Fred tries his best to be hip and cool

Don't EVEN, Ares. You can't be THAT desperate... — Don’t **EVEN**, Ares. You can’t be ***THAT*** desperate…

Not a horn man but beggars can't be choosers — I think I’m good, but thanks

What?! I thought we were bros, bro! — ***“What?! I thought we were BROS, bro!”***

Even though it looks more like a a misplaced Lego arm — Even though it looks more like a misplaced *Lego* arm

Um, not really, I guess? So OK, there was this one time... — *Um, not really I guess? So OK, there was this one time…*

Fine, ask and you shall receive... — Ask and you shall receive…

Karma's a BITCH. What comes around goes around — Karma’s a *BITCH*. What comes around goes around

Wait, did you say MONSTER?! Screw this shit! — Wait, did you say **MONSTER**?! Screw Karl!

*A twinkle in his eye throws you off. Is he friend or foe?*

Hit, run, hide, heal and repeat. You can also block

It's that damn kid from Sixth Sense again... — It’s that damn kid from *Sixth Sense* again…

Gosh, you're worse than an emo hipster — Gosh, you’re worse than an emo hipster

Someone needs anger management — Someone needs to take an anger management class

I was working on my tan. I've been called worse, hun — I was working on my tan. I’ve been called worse, hun

PRO TIPS

Indeed. Resting during boss fights can be ill-advised

Most swords have a use limit before breaking. You got to be wise. Save the big breakable swords for bosses and use the weaker and unbreakable swords you pick up along the way on cannon fodder.

It's the game's BFG 9000! — It’s the game’s BFG 9000!

Having the proper magic spells helps greatly

Don't forsake this, or else — Don’t forsake this, or else

Any white space means you've yet to pass through — Any white space means you’ve yet to pass through

WILSON WILSON WOULD BE PROUD

They always found funny ways to cover up his face

FINAL STATS

Level: 88
HP: 222
MP: 200
Strength: 99
Intelligence: 83
Magic Resistance: 99
Attack: 249
Defense: 243

Time: 26 hours, 13 minutes
Steps: 11,214
Kills: 2,243
Map: 90%
Died: 91

Brandish stats by comparison

Time: 31 hours, 56 minutes
Steps: 77,327
Kills: 5,154
Map: 85%
Died: 78

Ares is cool, but I gotta admit I miss Varik — Still not showing his full face. Wilson would be proud

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Plenty of merit awaits open-minded players

The original Brandish is a love or hate game. I for one loved it. It was one of the most immersive SNES games I’ve ever played. Discovering there was a sequel released only in Japan was like finding a $20 bill hidden in an old jacket. On the surface, Brandish 2 looks like an improvement. The visuals are much better, and now instead of being confined strictly underground, you’re out and about in the wide open. It seems as if it has the makings to be a superior game but I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I did the original. Brandish 2 just lacks the simplistic charm of the first one, not to mention the puzzles and monsters.

It’s nice to see the added diversity for sure but oddly I rather prefer the original. The idea of being trapped some 40 floors below the surface made the original have sort of a horrific unholy feel to it. That’s not to say Brandish 2 is crap. The graphics are considerably improved and the addition of more NPCs was much welcomed, but there was just something about the original that really hooked me and didn’t let go. I felt like I was really flung deep underground and right into Varik’s shoes. Scratching and crawling every inch of the way, I fought demons, t-rexes, goblins and even Death itself all in the name of survival. There was a feeling of desperation in the air and it was accompanied by a haunting soundtrack. The original had over 55 different types of monsters roaming the labyrinths. I was a little bit disappointed then to find a glaring lack of variety in the enemy roster of Brandish 2. There’s only maybe 25 types and too many of them repeated themselves based on which level you were on. There were also too many human enemies for my liking. Still, I’m glad I went through Brandish 2. And if you liked Brandish, you probably should too.

Graphics: 6
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 7.5
Longevity: 7

Overall: 7.5
Bronze Award

EXCLUSIVE MUSIC VIDEO

And now, an exclusive debut on the internet. 22 years after its release, I’m proud to share with you the mega obscure never-before-seen BRANDISH 2 MUSIC VIDEO! Click on the video and follow the pictures on this site below.