Breath of Fire II (SNES)

Pub & Dev: Capcom | December 1995 | 24 MEGS
Pub & Dev: Capcom | December 1995 | 24 MEGS

The original Breath of Fire, released in the US 23 years ago this month (August 1994), was fairly well received. Despite the original Japanese release coming in April of 1993, Breath of Fire managed to still stand toe to toe with the big SNES blockbusters released that summer of 1994. The fact that RPGs were a bit sparse in North America definitely helped, as any decent RPG was lauded in that time when the pickings were rather slim. Capcom, no stranger to sequels, followed up on the success with Breath of Fire II. Originally released in Japan December 1994, SNES owners in the west had to wait an entire year for the American translation. Sadly, by December 1995, the SNES was nearing the end of its lifespan and many folks had moved on to the 32-bit war machines. As a result, Breath of Fire II sort of got lost unless you were one of those diehard SNES players who stuck by the system until the very bitter end. Thankfully, as is so often the case, over the years people have had the luxury to go back and right past wrongs. While no Final Fantasy III or Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire II is definitely worth trekking through.

Play this instead!
Play this version instead!

But wait! Not only did Capcom make those of us in the US wait an entire year, but the NA version of Breath of Fire II is notorious for having one of the worst translations of all time. So much so that it prompted “Ryusui” to release a “retranslated” version on April 30, 2009. It’s how I played through Breath of Fire II and how I recommend you do so as well.

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Thank you for this amazing effort, Ryusui!
Thank you for this amazing effort, Ryusui

MEET THE CAST

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THE STORY GOES…

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Well… at least the girl didn’t get kidnapped for a change…

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Thanks for the painful reminder. But she’s got a point. The world is going to need you, after all…

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Dragon? Note to self: avoid the back mountains. Note to self part two: knock before you open the bathroom door next time…

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Being an adventurous lad though, you can’t help but explore them back mountains. Not only do you find your wandering little sister and the mammoth dragon, but you’re also greeted by a nasty little critter for your troubles.

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Luckily, the Beak is mere cannon fodder. Good thing you were there to save your little sister, Yua.

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Dangerous? Not for the likes of me, you see! Your father, Ganer, grants you the respect you crave. He is your idol, after all.

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“Sometimes I wish you simply had imaginary friends instead, Yua.”

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Look… it’s one of many typos you’ll encounter if the play the North American version. Like I said, the retranslation is the way to go!

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Breath of Fire II resumes the original’s classic day-night cycle.

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Converse with all the locals. One of the cool things about this game is the inclusion of the “Dragon Tears.” The different colors represent the various emotions that the NPC is currently feeling. Pretty neat stuff.

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It’s a small touch, but it adds that extra little bit to the game :)

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Loyalty is his game, Bow is his name. He’s the first ally you’ll meet up with and he’s great at hunting. A most welcomed asset to the team. He’s a bit of a kleptomaniac, though.

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Downpour soon comes raining down on our plucky heroes. It’s not quite the same “ooooh, ahhhh” effect as seeing the rain lashing down from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but it gets the job done.

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Quick! Take cover in the cave there before you die of pneumonia. Sometimes it pays to steal, as you can see here. And who says video games aren’t educational?

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Spooky cave, init? Um, what was that?!

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Guessing purple doesn’t stand for warm fuzzy feelings… I mean, I’m just going out on a limb there.

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Sadly, our hero is no match for this monstrosity at this early point in the game. We then find out his father (Ganer) and sister (Yua) have gone missing. He dreams a terrible nightmare of a towering monster ripping him limb from limb. In his dreams, a demon also screeches to him, “YOU ARE THE ONE.” What could all this mean? Was this all just a bad dream? Somehow, you know it isn’t…

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Seasoned into a hardened warrior over the past 10 years, you’re ready to find out some answers…

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Forget eye of the tiger — it’s the eye of the dragon!

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Every hero has to start somewhere. And sometimes, heroes are born from very humble beginnings.

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Interact with the environment and villagers. Tips may be provided and you can also unearth helpful items.

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Sometimes you’ll read silly dialogue but it’s all part of the fun.

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Occasionally you’ll see random things pop up on the world map. This includes a traveling circus.

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Fishing is also in play as well as a spot of hunting. For the latter, be sure to position Bow in the front.

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Breath of Fire II resumes the classic ¾ perspective of the original game.

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Enemies can prove to be tough early on. Thank goodness then for this healing fountain. This is a good place to level up ;)

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Encountering a new enemy for the first time leads to a “?” for their health. It adds slightly to the drama and tension and I found it to be a nice little touch. Head up this mountain to face Palo, Peach and Puti.

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They’re tough, the bastards. Peach and Puti (on the sides) have 40 HP while the middle one, Palo, has 80 HP. I recommend targeting and eliminating Peach and Puti first before tackling Palo.

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Battle a family of cockroaches later on. It’s a nice nod to the original.

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Speaking of honoring the original Breath of Fire, you can morph into a dragon later on.

Fans of the original will appreciate this
Fans of the original will appreciate this
No relation to Hamlet from Illusion of Gaia
No relation to Hamlet from Illusion of Gaia
I certainly wasn't prepping to eat her...
I certainly wasn’t prepping to eat her…
If it weren't for bad luck, he would have no luck at all
If it weren’t for bad luck, he would have no luck at all
Alright you twisted my arm but sure, I'll do it
Alright you twisted my arm but sure, I’ll do it
Remember? You and girls? It never goes well...
REMEMBER? You and girls? It never goes well…
Where have I seen this before?
Where have I seen this before?
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel. Uh, nevermind my pet here
I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel. Uh, nevermind my pet here
Doesn't sound the least bit kinky at all
Doesn’t sound the least bit kinky at all
I like being able to see the characters through the box
I like being able to see the characters through the box
More kinky shenanigans ensues
More kinky shenanigans ensues
I love when RPGs log your playing time
I love when RPGs log your playing time
I also love having different text box options
I also love having different text box options
It's my party and I can change if I want to...
It’s my party and I can CHANGE if I want to…
Sure, a "plant person." Not a drug dealer at all...
Sure, a “plant person.” Not a drug dealer at all…
Wait a second, I could have sworn I saw this before...
Wait a second, I could have sworn I saw this before…
Lennus II (AKA Paladin's Quest II)
Lennus II, AKA Paladin’s Quest II
Wow. Similarities are undeniable
Wow. Similarities are undeniable
Ugly freaks await... and big monster bosses, too
Ugly freaks await… and big monster bosses, too
What's the plant person's connection to this tree?
What’s the plant person’s connection to this tree?
Can't be an RPG without some epic mountain scene
Can’t be an RPG without some epic mountain scene
How could we tell you Milli Vanilli were lip synchers?
How could we tell you Milli Vanilli were lip synchers?
GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE
GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE
This is awkward...
This is awkward…
But we totally shared the same Capri Sun straw!
But we totally shared the same Capri Sun straw!
Gotta love the retranslated version
Gotta love the retranslated version
Our big bad means business
SERIOUS BUSINESS
All in a ranger day's work!
All in a ranger day’s work!
ATTACK!!!
ATTACK!!!
Gotta love Rand -- he's easily my favorite of the lot
Gotta love Rand — he’s easily my favorite of the lot
His heart is even bigger than his arms
His heart is even bigger than his arms
Someone was a fan of Breath of Fire II, clearly...
Someone was a fan of Breath of Fire II, clearly…
Mom to the rescue
Mom to the rescue
Oh shit
Oh shit
I like the sound of that. It has a certain ring to it
I like the sound of that. It has a certain ring to it
Big bad monsters await
Big bad monsters await
[PUH-LEASE -Ed.]
[PUH-LEASE -Ed.]
Gossip and rumors run amuck
Gossip and rumors run amok
Nothing like a good old flashback
Nothing like a good old flashback
Boy, Firebrand sure gets around!
Boy, Firebrand sure gets around!
Pub & Dev: Capcom | November 1994 | 16 MEGS
Demon’s Crest is such a sick game
[What a terrible way to go... -Ed.]
[What a terrible way to go… -Ed.]
Now you're playing with SUPER power
Now you’re playing with SUPER power
Treasure chests always a welcomed sight
Treasure chests always a welcomed sight
That can't be good...
That can’t be good…
But healing fountains definitely are
But healing fountains definitely are
Oh snap, one of the best drops ever
Oh snap, one of the best drops ever
Nina's attack stats just jumped by 55 points!
Lin’s attack stats just jumped by 55 points!
Holy crap
Holy crap
Good luck partner
Good luck partner

EXTRAS

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

What some said about the game's translation...
What some said about the game’s translation…

Breath of Fire II received pretty solid scores. EGM gave it ratings of 7, 7.5, 7.5 and 8. Super Play rated it 81%. However, the US translation was not so well received. It features some of the worst translated text in all of 16-bit history, making the retranslation almost a necessity. For example, you know things are bad when you talk to the innkeeper and he refers to his inn as a motel, despite having an INN sign hanging nearby. Want to go fishing? Then equip your lod. Ouch. Also, get ready for awkward looking abbreviations. Thankfully, the retranslation fixes these silly errors and provides for a much more authentic experience.

Beautiful
Beautiful. This version is the only way to play it

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Beautiful
A fun cast of rag tag heroes and freaks :P

Breath of Fire II is a very strong entry in the stacked SNES RPG library. While it may not quite stack up against the likes of a Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy III, it does its job more than reasonably well. The graphics are very colorful and the details on the various sprites are fairly intricate. Some of the music is extremely catchy, though a few are somewhat underwhelming. That final boss theme though! There’s a ton of things to do in this adventure — it took me 50 hours to beat and I didn’t even scratch the surface of the Shaman system. However, not all of those 50 hours is pure bliss. There’s a shit load of random battles (thank God for the auto battle option) that can drag the game down a bit, not to mention artificially inflate its playing time. There’s also some annoying backtracking and the difficulty veers on the cheap side on occasion. It’s definitely not perfect, but it’s more than playable.

Two very respectable efforts
Two very respectable efforts. Not bad, Capcom. Not bad

I enjoyed playing through both Breath of Fire games. They may not be world beaters, but they are very enjoyable if you’re a fan of that JRPG style. The day-night system is a unique feature for its time, even if it comes with its flaws. I think both games are more than good enough to warrant at least one playthrough. Breath of Fire II is the better game, but the original has its merits as well. Just remember to play the retranslated version of Breath of Fire II. Trust me on that one. Or should I say, lust me on that one. Whoa, wait a minute. Something got lost in translation there…

Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 8.5
Longevity: 8

Overall: 8.5

Double Silver Award
Double Silver Award

 

 

 

WARNING!!! SPOILERS BELOW!

Breath of Fire II features multiple endings. Here’s the less than good one…

The ending tugged at my heartstrings :(
This ending tugged at my heartstrings :(
Though it dragged at times, I really liked it a lot :)
Though it dragged at times, I really liked it a lot :)