Lennus II (SNES)

Pub: Asmik | Dev: Copya Systems| July 1996 | 32 MEGS
Pub: Asmik | Dev: Copya Systems| July 1996 | 32 MEGS

Ah, sequels. You gotta love them. Well OK, if not the execution then at least the idea of what a good sequel should be. After all, no matter how bad a sequel might turn out, at least we’ll always have the original. But in some cases, the sequel is vastly superior. Lennus II is the little known sequel to Paladin’s Quest (known as Lennus in Japan). Paladin’s Quest had much potential but fell short in a few key areas. Lennus II is definitely an upgrade in many ways. It’s everything the original should have been. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not in the elite class of top flight SNES RPGs, but it more than holds its own. There’s also a charm to it being so obscure and the game itself being very weird in general. It’s got that Japanese flare to it and if you thought Paladin’s Quest was a bit off the beaten path, you haven’t seen anything yet…

THE FIRST LENNUS — PALADIN’S QUEST

PQFront

My previous review was for Paladin’s Quest, the prequel to Lennus II. It is a flawed RPG but there was some merit to it. Namely the mercenary system, its unique usage of magic skills and a bizarre dystopian universe. Unfortunately, the battles were a bit plodding, the control awkward, and character development lacking. A sequel was released (in Japan only) during the summer of 1996 under the name of Lennus II. It basically takes everything intriguing about the original and improves upon it. If you liked Paladin’s Quest then you’ll likely dig the sequel. A fair warning: the following review contains a ton of (late) in-game shots. While I don’t necessarily reveal any major spoilers, you may want to finish Lennus II before reading the rest of this review. But if you don’t mind, by all means read on… ^_^

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

LenII

Lennus II opens up rather auspiciously. Our hero is awakened in a strange cryptic world and is being heralded by the locals as some sort of SAVIOR. Everyone is counting on you to retrieve four hidden treasures. This must be done in order to unlock the “Great Union.” Hmmm…

The question is what happens after you find all four...
The question is what happens after you find all four…
Classic RPG fetch quest fashion, innit?
Classic RPG fetch quest fashion, innit?
With great power comes great responsibility...
With great power comes great responsibility…
Opening those item shells makes a satisfying sound
Opening those item shells makes a satisfying sound
This makes Lennus II a great pick-up-and-play RPG
This makes Lennus II a great pick-up-and-play RPG

It truly does. Whereas most RPGs you can only save when finding an inn or even select save points in a long dungeon, Lennus II allows you to save anywhere at any time. So you really can play this game for 15 minutes before bed and not have to worry about finding an inn. It’s not only convenient — it’s super inviting, too.

Um, I don't know how accurate the fan translation is...
Um, I don’t know how accurate the fan translation is…
But it sure makes for some laughs here and there!
… but it sure makes for some occasional laughs!
Once again, you can hire the mercenaries you want
Once again, you can hire the mercenaries you want
Master these eight spells in order to beat the game
Master these eight spells in order to beat the game
Proof that SIZE MATTERS! No puny dinky beds here
Proof that SIZE MATTERS! No puny, dinky beds here
None of the bosses will win any sort of beauty contest
None of the bosses will win any sort of beauty contest

The bosses are much improved for the sequel. They’re bigger, badder and much more satisfying to kill. Just seeing their sprites on the map is quite a sight to behold. Whereas I had some complaints about the boss battles from the first game, I have none here. Copya Systems definitely made up for the first game’s boss shortcomings.

You'll meet some strange wacky NPCs along the way
You’ll meet some strange wacky NPCs along the way

Part of the fun of playing RPGs is interacting with all the quirky non-playing characters. Of which Lennus II has in no short supply. The fan translation is a joy to read and made me want to push on to see what weird new NPCs I might run into next…

One treasure down. Getting closer to this "Great Union"
One treasure down. Getting closer to the Great Union
Um, no comment here. Moving on, then...
Looks like this couple is making their own Great Union
Some basic but fun sequencing sections come into play
Some basic but fun sequencing sections soon appear
Search every nook and cranny for far-out items
Search every nook and cranny for far-out items
Who's this cryptic Zordon wannabe -- Bryan Cranston?!
Who’s this cryptic Zordon wannabe — Bryan Cranston?!
I love RPGs with ridiculously high HP and money stats
Love RPGs with ridiculously high HP and money stats
He's a magic spirit. Defeat him to gain his services
Defeat this magic spirit in order to gain his services
Igles is a friendly giant. Hmm, a case of deja vu...
Igles is a friendly giant. Hmm, a slight case of deja vu
The Stone Golem from Breath of Fire
The Stone Golem from Breath of Fire
Aw, it's Groot!
Aw, it’s Groot!
Almost there... just one hidden treasure left to attain...
Almost there. Just one hidden treasure left to attain…
... but you knew it wouldn't come so easily, didn't cha?
… but you knew it wouldn’t come so easily!
I have a bad feeling about this...
I have a bad feeling about this…

“You did it Steve!”

“Of course. Now what?”

“Place each one in its proper slot, and see”

“You promise nothing bad will happen?”

“Oh but of course…”

Not the brightest bulb in the pack, is he?
Not the brightest bulb in the pack, is he?

Told you there was something fishy about this fetch quest farce. You knew the game couldn’t end after securing the four artifacts. In fact, it is only just beginning.

Gotta love how some try to convince you of their worthiness
Some try to convince you of their worth

Part of the fun lies in deciding which mercenaries to recruit. Some are better than others in certain areas. Who will you pick and invest in? Who will you let go of? Character development is still a little thin but it is better than Paladin’s Quest.

*WINCES* Don't mess with Myra
*WINCES* Don’t mess with Myra
Especially since she's 1337
Especially since she’s 1337
Lennus II: The Legend of the Seven Stars, er, Seals...
Lennus II: The Legend of the Seven Stars, er, Seals…

After securing the four artifacts and unleashing the Great Union, it’s up to you to right your wrong by collecting seven seals. It’s not called Lennus II: The Apostles of the Seals for nothing.

No judgment here Tara. Do your thang, girl
No judgment here Tara. Do your thang, girl
Some dodgy fellows there. Guess where the pee goes
Some dodgy fellas there. I wouldn’t pee in front of ‘em
This fan translation has its fair spot of (subtle) humor
So that’s where the urine goes. Yum…
Ah, the slums. One of the best parts of Lennus II
Ah, the slums. One of the best parts of Lennus II
Lennus II contains moderate religious overtones
Lennus II contains moderate religious overtones

In the spring of 2013, I played the Blind Man in a major Easter musical. 10,000+ people came to watch our show over the course of two weekends. I minored in Theatre Arts in college so acting has always been something I’ve enjoyed. It was a great experience and a blast to get healed by Jesus every night. After which, I’d run around the stage screaming “I CAN SEE! I CAN SEE!” So when I came across this scene in Lennus II, you bet your ass it brought back fond memories!

There are some quirky side quests along the way
There are some quirky side quests along the way
Haha is that so... WAIT WHAT?!
*laughs* Is that so… WAIT WHAT?!
Lennus II was ahead of its time. It knew the future
Lennus II was ahead of its time. It knew the future

I don’t know about you but where I live libraries are reducing hours drastically. Book stores are rapidly becoming rare. There’s even talk that one day libraries might even cease to exist. What a shame that would be. It’s bad enough that Toys R Us are going out of business, but libraries? That better NEVER happen. I’ll be damned should that day ever come! *shakes fist* My childhood was built on library and book store visits. And I want my future children to experience the same joys I did when I was a kid.

Zaygos was the villain in Paladin's Quest. Nice callback
Zaygos was the villain in Paladin’s Quest. Nice callback
Some deep questions are posed... awaiting answers...
Some deep questions are posed and await answering
Come on, I don't want to be in Paranormal Activity 13!
Come on, I don’t want to be in Paranormal Activity 13!
I love how the translation breaks the fourth wall
I love how the translation breaks the fourth wall

It makes me chuckle when I think about how I used to blindly detest RPGs back in the ’90s. It wasn’t until 2003 that my mindset toward RPGs did a complete 180. All the credit goes to the epochal Sega Saturn Magazine (the best gaming magazine of all time in my humble opinion). SSM championed the RPG genre like no other, and their overwhelming passion quickly won me over as I read through their issues. Glad I got over my youthful ignorance. 15 years, eh? Here’s to another 15 years!

Hearkens you back to Harry Potter a bit, doesn't it?
Hearkens you back to Harry Potter a bit, doesn’t it?
Keep a notepad nearby to jot down critical notes
Keep a notepad nearby to jot down critical notes

I love archiving and always recommend the like-minded to keep some sort of log. It pays to keep a record of things. And games like this are perfect for keeping a list of notes on.

Uh, I usually pay, but YOU wanna pay? OK then....
Uh, I usually pay, but YOU wanna pay? OK then….
I know how he feels. I like staring at my collection too :)
I know how he feels. I like admiring my collection too
Where have I seen this before? Feels like deja vu...
Where have I seen this before? Feels like deja vu…
From Breath of Fire II. What a strange coincidence...
Ah yes, from Breath of Fire II. Eerily similar, innit?
Only thing missing here is a tent!
Only thing missing here is a tent!

This scene reminds me of Black Friday. One of my favorite gaming memories was Black Friday 2010. Having partaken in the fiasco the year before, I decided to ditch the festivities in 2010. Rather than shopping with my cousins and wading through the masses, I went home to begin my trek through Terranigma. A most glorious evening, to say the least :)

Lord Steve, eh? I can get used to that... [Please -Ed.]
Lord Steve, eh? I can get used to that… :P
Props to these good folks for translating this game!
Props to these good folks for translating this game!
Nasty bosses guard each one of the seven seals
Nasty bosses guard each one of the seven seals
That's true for ALL women. Did I say that out loud? :P
That’s true for ALL women. Did I say that out loud? :P
Being kind pays off. What comes around goes around
Being nice pays off. What goes around comes around
Give Goltork the belt to unearth another seal
Give Goltork the belt to reveal one of the seven seals
Oh Lord. Some people just never learn their lessons...
Damn, some people never learn from their mistakes…
This part conjures some painful memories
This part conjures some painful memories

It’s a flashback to the first game’s most difficult section. This version, however, is thankfully a cakewalk. Whew.

Don't even start....
Don’t even start…
[Steve tends to have that charming effect on people -Ed.]
[Steve tends to have that charming effect on people -Ed.]
Come on, what am I, Donald Trump?! *rimshot*
Come on, what am I, Donald Trump?! *rimshot*
Items, experience points and a world of pain lie ahead...
Items, experience points and lots of pain lie ahead…
You don't want to know what's lurking behind that...
You don’t want to know what’s lurking behind that…
I love it when RPGs feature ridiculously high statistics
I love it when RPGs feature ridiculously high statistics

Another thing I appreciate about Lennus II is that stat increments across the board are shown when leveling up. Not all RPGs do this and it’s always annoying when that’s the case.

Wait, eight seals?? I thought there were only seven...
Wait, eight seals?! I thought there were only seven…
Castle of Illusion Starring Midia Mouse? Ahem, sorry...
Castle of Illusion Starring Midia Mouse? Ahem, sorry…

Lennus II does a splendid job of referencing back to Paladin’s Quest from time to time. It isn’t necessary to play through Paladin’s Quest first, though it doesn’t hurt if you want to know the entire backstory.

Did somebody mention Castle of Illusion... :D
Did somebody mention Castle of Illusion? :D
This racing bit adds some diversity to the proceedings
Sure, why not
I love those Rita Repulsive looking ears back there
I love those Rita Repulsa looking ears back there

Lennus II continues the unique looking visuals from the first game. But now they’re significantly improved from the 8-bit looking predecessor. Speaking of which, did you know Paladin’s Quest originally started as a Game Boy game? But due to the rising popularity of the SNES in 1992, the Game Boy vision went up in flames. Although the visuals of Lennus II aren’t up to par with some of the RPGs that came before, they get the job done. I like this part in particular. The clouds zoom by in the background at a breakneck speed, creating a nice atmospheric scene.

Steve has unlocked 1337 status [It's only a game -Ed.]
Steve has unlocked 1337 status [It’s only a game -Ed.]
More than a passing reference, Midia shows up
More than a passing reference, Midia shows up!
Place the dragon statues over those red dots
Place the dragon statues over those red dots
Aww. Good ol' Midia was always the sentimental type
Awww. Good ol’ Midia — always the sentimental type
To truly discover yourself, take the path less traveled
To truly discover yourself, take the path less traveled
Major deja vu...
Major deja vu…
Bingo!
Bingo!
What lies inside? You hope it's worth the hunt and hassle!
What lies inside? You hope it’s worth the hunt…

I don’t know about you but I tend to have OCD when it comes to RPGs. I must explore every last nook and cranny so as not to miss any key items. It irks me when there are multiple routes and I happen to select the one that leads to a boss. And there goes my chance of finding any treasure! There’s nothing better than finding treasure on your first try when there are multiple routes.

Some items are stashed away in obscure locations
Some items are stashed away in obscure locations

Shades of the Runaway Five from EarthBound! Lennus II features its own musical group and it’s up to you to locate their five missing instruments. Nothing bad happens should you fail to secure them all. It’s just a silly little side quest for the OCD gamers out there, like myself!

Kick mercenaries to the curb as you please
Kick mercenaries to the curb as you please
I love Chest's last remark. Don't hold your breath!
I love Chest’s last remark. Don’t hold your breath!
Better get in line, toots. And it's a long line [Riiight -Ed.]
Better get in line toots. And it’s a long line [Riiight -Ed.]
Movement is not as slow as it was in Paladin's Quest
Movement is not as slow as it was in Paladin’s Quest

I like the overworld map. Your hero looks a lot like a SD (Super Deformed) character. Later in the game you can move around the map by riding that funky looking animal there, or via airship.

Ain't that a cold slice of truth, Nel. Preach it, bro!
Ain’t that a cold slice of truth, Nel. Preach it, bro!

I love when RPGs hit close to home with comments like this. They are thought-provoking and it’s always gratifying when a game makes you ponder for a moment about life itself.

I love the storytelling aspect of RPGs
I love the storytelling aspect of RPGs

Enter the theatre and bear witness to a masterful montage of Lennus’ history. Moments like this helps to sweep you away to a far away land of awe and wonder.

Translators having a bit of fun here, me thinks
Translators having a bit of fun here, me thinks :P
Only you know for sure why. BIG being the key word!
Only you know for sure why. BIG being the key word!
Unearth all sorts of weird items throughout your quest
Unearth all sorts of weird items during your journey
A rather touching and heartfelt moment :)
A touching and heartfelt moment. Poignant, even
More cool references to the first game abound later on
More cool callbacks to the first game appear later on
Chezni is a beloved and revered hero in Lennus
Chezni is a beloved and revered folk hero in Lennus
Yes, Chezni embarked on a quest... Paladin's Quest :P
Yes, Chezni embarked on a quest… Paladin’s Quest :P
Which path to take first? Hope you don't miss any items!
Which path to take first? My OCD is already kicking in
Don't you hate it when you get blue blobs... O_o
Damn blue blobs… always stopping a good time, eh?

This cave is pretty rough. Those annoying blue blobs follow you around like a lost puppy. You’ll have to fight them if enough flies follow. Sure they look small and weak on their own, but they’re a sight for sore eyes when they combine together to form one huge blue blob of destruction.

Love this part! Fan translation is super self-aware
Love this part! Fan translation is super self-aware
You gotta play this game on the real SNES hardware :)
You gotta play this game on the real SNES hardware!
This boss guards not one but two seals. Double tough!
This boss guards not one but two seals. Double tough
Some battle zones, like this one, seem to drag on
Some battle zones, like this one, seem to drag a bit
One seal left! But a grumpy geezer blocks your path
One seal left! But a grumpy geezer blocks your path
Lots of diverse locales to explore, including Lennus
Lots of diverse locales to explore, including Lennus
Can you make it to the last boss? Can you survive the finale?
Behold, the instrument of death. Can you save Andel?
Steve offers sage advice to comfort this lost lass
Steve offers sage advice to comfort this lost lass
This guy is HILARIOUS! We all know one in real life...
This guy is HILARIOUS. We all know one in real life…

[Whoa Steve! So much for "blue blobs"... -Ed.]
[Whoa Steve! So much for “blue blobs”… -Ed.]
[I guess a tiger can't change its stripes after all -Ed.]
[I guess a tiger can’t change its stripes after all -Ed.]

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

16 MEGS? Try doubling that. 32 MONSTER MEGS!
16 MEGS? Try doubling that. 32 MONSTER MEGS!

Lennus II was never officially released in North America due to the simple fact that Paladin’s Quest didn’t exactly set the SNES world on fire. Also, the 16-bit era was all but dead by the summer of 1996. An English translation would have pushed a potential release date into late ’96 and there was no chance in hell of that even being considered. Lennus II is fairly obscure and not often talked about. After scouring the net for information on this game, I can count the total number of Lennus II reviews on one hand. But here are some of the comments I managed to dig up: “Truly fantastic” and “One of the best sequels ever.” While I wouldn’t go so far, Lennus II is definitely a solid and worthy sequel.

Classic ol' Super Play
Credit Yousuke Kato and Keisuke Goto for the design

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Superior to its predecessor, Lennus II is a solid sequel
Superior to its predecessor, Lennus II is a solid sequel

Lennus II is a sensible example of how to do a sequel right. The first game had potential but ultimately fell short in several categories. The sequel improves on every aspect while continuing the storyline and unique artistic style of Paladin’s Quest. It’s just simply a competent RPG in every respect. It doesn’t do any one thing in particular to knock your socks off, but it does it all in a quietly satisfying manner. Visually, it’s much improved over the first game. That’s to be expected though since Lennus II came out nearly four years following Paladin’s Quest. If you compare Lennus II to other SNES RPGs that came out around the same time or even a little before, it is admittedly a bit visually lacking by comparison. But it still gets the job done. The music is pretty good. It’s very ambient, which helps to set a striking mood. Most importantly though, the game plays much better than the first one did. It flows better than Paladin’s Quest. Movement is a lot smoother as are the battles. Those were two parts that hampered the first game big time. Thankfully, Copya Systems got it right second time around.

You'll be greeted by some fascinatingly bizarre sights!
You’ll be greeted by some fascinatingly bizarre sights!

So what stops Lennus II from being great? Similar to the first game, the characters never feel fully fleshed out. The mercenaries come and go, some with very minimal development. Also, as with the first one, I felt the last third of the game started to dragged a bit. It took me 46 and a half hours to beat. I definitely took my sweet time, but it’s on the longer side when talking about RPG length from that era. On the bright side, the translation is entertaining as hell and there are plenty of fun NPCs to interact with. In addition, there’s the occasional side quest thrown into the mix to keep things relatively fresh, like building your own house. This was 20+ years before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did it — in your face, Link! There are some truly memorable moments to witness such as Jubal’s sordid fate. I loved all the references to Paladin’s Quest, especially anything involving Midia. I had fun collecting all the various spells and building them up in strength. When you beat the game and finally save Andel, you’re treated to a nice long 15 minute ending. You travel the world of Andel to catch up with several characters you’ve met along the way. These interactions run the gamut, ranging from silly and amusing to thought-provoking and poignant. It’s easily one of the best endings I’ve ever seen in a Super Nintendo game. Lennus II is a fun, simple and quirky RPG that does most things competently but not any one thing really well. If you’re an RPG buff (especially of the 16-bit era), Lennus II is worthy of a playthrough.

Graphics: 7.5
Sound: 7.5
Gameplay: 7.5
Longevity: 7.5

AwardOverall: 7.5
Bronze Award

 

Love the game's unique style
Nope, definitely not a cult or anything…

Lennus II is full of religious overtones. Also expect the following: big ugly bosses, magic spells galore, sacrifices, deceit, exploitation and dear old friends, among others. Not to mention the brilliant feature of being able to save your game at ANY point at ANY time. This means you won’t need to locate a blasted inn or statue to save. You can even save anywhere inside a dungeon for goodness sake! You’re in control of how long you play rather than being “held hostage” to locate the next save point. The save anywhere anytime system will spoil your ass as much as it will make you wish every other RPG did it too. In an ever increasing world of adult duties and less time to game, it’s really cool because you can play Lennus II in small 15 minute chunks each night before going to bed. So strap on your healing boots and explore the bizarre dystopian world of Andel… if you dare.

Now THAT'S the good life! :D
Now THAT’S the good life! :D