action role playing game developed playstation released japan square_enix june february march north_america europe respectively second entry series direct sequel original story revolves boy raised dragon fighting faction knights encountering characters previous game fate world like original combines foot hack slash aerial combat stages rpg game mechanics previous game producer writer character designer returned respective roles game designed mainstream game light previous game dark aesthetic story game sold copies end western reviews praised story gave mixed opinions graphics widely criticized gameplay spin series released entry series released december japan north_america europe gameplay original game split chapters subdivided ground based airborne missions story game missions come initial play player progresses new remixed versions playable levels called free missions unlocked allow player missions story elements removed player jump game world self contained areas world map unlocked chapter chapters missions player builds characters experience points earned battle characters weapons abilities abilities player dragon gradually improved player view world fixed camera tracks player progress player area form weapons items armor health points items needed progress level available player seek game features normal hard expert difficulty levels multiple weapons items collect levels combat game similar predecessor main series missions beginning opening game features ground based hack slash gameplay aerial combat ground combat player controls multiple characters switching pause menu order use different weapons characters use physical attacks character weapons short range battle magical attacks long range attacks groups enemies magical attacks vary playable characters weapons characters magical abilities leave grow stronger player gains experience points combat weapons level cap aerial gameplay puts main character atop dragon guided round player attack enemy formations large structures ground enemies sky player jump dragon ground ground based missions dragon ability launch types variety deals damage single enemies widespread attack higher damage groups alongside dragon perform special attack called dragon kills normal enemy units outright deals high damage stronger units bosses dragon gains experience levels combat dealing damage attacks grows stronger grows stronger points directly linked game narrative story setting characters takes place unnamed land nearly decades events original game powers empire union engaged religious war seals magical tied chosen goddess seal kept dark entities known appearing mortal world destroying humanity caught conflict human dragon pact magical ritual linked souls fought try seals goddess safe ultimately failed new seal end world eighteen years later seals protected knights seal eventually grow dominating force land game main character knight seal gifted powers companion dragon helped raise involved events years accompanying journey main antagonist game seeks free people oppression knights female knight seal childhood friend knight pact grim exchange mortality main villain game leader knights seal returning game previous game main protagonist current goddess seal companion minor characters include guardians seals helped raise plot game begins fully fledged knight seal mission begins doubt ethics knights methods seals require human sacrifices remain strong second mission ensure protection seal encounters kills guardian destroys seal sentenced burnt stake uses magic escape returning mission poisoned reveals killed adoptive father surviving escaping pursued knights including wishes persuade return eventually meet join quest destroy seals mind free people knights oppression way second seal shows true horror knights oppression fully winning fight kill destroying seal joined lieutenant knights rout group attacked knights unexpectedly saved working destroy seals free dragon pain goddess seal taking destroying seal captured knights sentenced death manages rescue heads seal guarded fled fear attacked district face mortally wounds driven dies content seal destroyed head final seal guarded battle wounded transforming shadow like block final attack dead pursue met unsuccessfully tries stop confront reveals survivor empire eighteen years defeated destroys final seal releasing imprisonment reveals true consequences actions pursue find find driven mad pain final seal asks kill dies share final moment fading away seals destroyed world begins fall chaos driven mad memories actions eighteen years fortress holy dragons hear prophecy concerning according prophecy new breed created aid dragons war reunites healed madness takes promised land dragon stronghold holds object given dragons power speed evolution new breed gone initiate new goddess seal game endings achieved separate ending group arrive promised land prepares enact prophecy instead chooses find new goddess calls holy dragons battle leads army lost share final kiss transformation new breed battle killed reveals new goddess initiated world restored feel sad solution found ending arrive reveals fate new goddess chooses follow plan trying enter rejects battle sacrifices destroy power lead war ending events proceed ending attacks manages win fight summons holy dragons events proceed defeat destruction dragons fade leaving world safe humans free create new future development announced december producer character designer returned team alongside actor voiced dragon partner previous game original director originally proposed space adventure involving dragons vetoed early stage involved creating narrative tied project able observe project progress director suffered creative differences result termed relationship project love hate story interview concerning series relationship inspired stories created game weapon eventually brought fairly late game production act video editor cgi cutscenes trailers game cast featured multiple film television actors including veteran actor commented time felt gathered good voice cast game decisions far colorful previous game wanting opposite contrast previous game game contained far mature themes found original speaking interview said reason square_enix company japanese publisher wanted aspect toned mainstream game designed dark aesthetics predecessor previous game theme key character narrative themes themes war death themes explored love hate represented world prevalent factions knights seal highlighted aspects story father son relationship matured events promote game japan created light toned joke advertisement referring original names dragon characters square enix published title japan entered agreement developer publishing company publish title overseas handled game localization character design main concepts main protagonist surpassing father fight special gameplay functions mechanics needed created mixed feelings final fight saw drastic change game series mechanic protagonist riding dragon ended writing dialogue emphasize relationship difficulty fighting paralleling earlier scenes deaths intended short ruthless changed sentimental version present game dialogue scene cut game previous portrayal mute created supportive big brother party main characters designed character previously known black dragon designed monster designer addition designing characters drew character portraits character dialogue boxes game cutscenes feature initially objected contrast protagonists series designed concept stereotypical hero favorite characters design enthusiastic redesign reflected evolved personality traditional depiction fantasy heroine elements designs taken representing passing torch characters different roles design movements altered second incarnation design inspired character tried copy parts design tried convey aspects personality tried balance depiction tender feminine idea mind image honors student dance like fighting style generally suggested game staff redesign meant represent status music soundtrack composed supervision worked music acted sound director game criticism work game asked bring outside help second game soundtrack brought work songs brought request soundtrack designed fusion pop conventional video game music evoke emotions characters feeling battle game theme song japan sung worked sound producer theme song game english release growing wings localized version game theme song sung reception sold japan game considered hit japan selling units week reaching sales units end month second best selling game june sega port king beetles eventually sold copies end game eventually released square_enix ultimate hits series releases high selling titles received score japanese gaming magazine famitsu game received average reviews according video game review aggregator metacritic story received mixed positive reviews ign said continued bizarre medieval world established original game gamespot called interesting plenty twists turns eurogamer cited story good found little watch dark pretty good plot called story highlights package reviewer called clear maybe good guys bad guys main reasons playing game contrast reviewer called cutter rpg plot players predict nearly plot twist game throws graphics received mixed reviews lewis called interesting game marginally called dated environments bland enemies looking generic reviewer praised character animations cited environments bland felt game engine driven cutscenes described awful criticized game graphic capacities commenting players stop watching main screen instead fixing little map corner guide character hostile red dots seconds lock swords said improved previous game called colors dark said graphics don hold visual quality titles like ghost shell stand complex gameplay universally criticized called battle gameplay lightweight balance ground aerial combat poor despite good character system lewis described strategy game dumping boring enemies wade said new called dull best frustrating worst said combat look cited rpg elements feature simply called gameplay old old citing major fault game legacy september game given honorable mention best games ps2 rogers gave praise game mechanic atmosphere year release japan game received novelization written pen teamed create game series eventually developed spin game fifth ending release absorbed left freelance attempt begin development game interactive unsuccessful eventually unveiled returning roles story set original game voiced willingness continue series generation consoles sufficient sales funds expressed interest making second spin specify set world
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