Well this is my debut review for my new bi-weekly Monday browser game review column, "Running in the Background". Now I'm going to start off with a continuation of my last review of Sonny with the sequel.
Review can be found here: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.122347#2458362[/link]
Sonny 2 is the direct sequel to the original Sonny. The interface is the same and the core mechanics are the same. You click on the character you want to target and then the ability you want to use on them. You earn points when you level up that can be used to buy and upgrade abilities and your stats. However there have been some changes.
You now have a choice of 3 difficulties which decide the stats of the enemy. Easy is just that, the enemies are weaker.
Challenging is just a little bit more difficult than easy with slightly stronger enemies with more HP.
However Heroic, the equivalent of hard is on a whole different level. The enemies have way more HP than the other 2 difficulties and their stats are even higher. Also on Heroic you have a timer when it's your turn to choose your attack. If it runs out before you pick an ability, you automatically defend so you have to be able to adapt quickly. It's not exactly long either.
There are also 3 new classes to replace the original 4. Instead of affecting your starting stats and the different items you can equip, each of these classes have different ability trees that each focus on one of the elements.
Psychological is a shadow based class that has a high focus on Instinct (AKA magic) and specializes in debuffing your enemies. However longer battles are more difficult with few ways to recover focus.
The biological class is a more physical and speedy class. It also has a focus on poisons and can easily destroy your enemies. However supporting your team is not the easiest thing to do with it. Focus regenerates very easily. Good for beginners
The hydraulic class is ice based and easily the most flexible. It might end up having weaker abilities but high supports and strong debuffs make it a viable class. Focus is also regenerated easily. It does need some experience to make it powerful though.
They've also added a PvP thing, but you need to copy and paste a password to fight other teams and they aren't controlled by the AI.
The AI has been improved a bit and you now have more control over your smarter allies. You can choose to leave them to do what seems best, attack whatever, attack the weakest enemy, focus on supporting your party, or all out defensive abilities and it is really intuitive.
Now I don't feel like spoiling the story since that takes a lot of time but I'll give you a quick rundown of some events. You'll face strange experiments in a prison, listen to the tape from the first game, meet a new party member, fight a cult, get high in a cave, and fight the government. It's a whole lot more polished than the first game if you ask me, but "I'll knock you silly will get old really fast."
The high points are probably the combat, the story, and those little references. Like Drs. Leath and Hedger, the crowbar, Gregor the cockroach and so much more. The cave is probably one of the more creative parts with enemies that require you to actually think before you can beat them, like the aforementioned roach, it's also one of the most entertaining areas.
The weakest point has to be the final area. I didn't understand what was going on and the fact that the really good voice acting was missing. The time bomb enemy was also really bad.
But what it comes down to is: Will you like it? Yes you probably will if you liked the original and if you're a fan of turn based RPG's. It's sometimes witty and the game is a great time killer.
Found here at: [link]armorgames.com/play/2900/sonny-2[/link]
See you in two weeks with a new game.
Review can be found here: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.122347#2458362[/link]
Sonny 2 is the direct sequel to the original Sonny. The interface is the same and the core mechanics are the same. You click on the character you want to target and then the ability you want to use on them. You earn points when you level up that can be used to buy and upgrade abilities and your stats. However there have been some changes.
You now have a choice of 3 difficulties which decide the stats of the enemy. Easy is just that, the enemies are weaker.
Challenging is just a little bit more difficult than easy with slightly stronger enemies with more HP.
However Heroic, the equivalent of hard is on a whole different level. The enemies have way more HP than the other 2 difficulties and their stats are even higher. Also on Heroic you have a timer when it's your turn to choose your attack. If it runs out before you pick an ability, you automatically defend so you have to be able to adapt quickly. It's not exactly long either.
There are also 3 new classes to replace the original 4. Instead of affecting your starting stats and the different items you can equip, each of these classes have different ability trees that each focus on one of the elements.
Psychological is a shadow based class that has a high focus on Instinct (AKA magic) and specializes in debuffing your enemies. However longer battles are more difficult with few ways to recover focus.
The biological class is a more physical and speedy class. It also has a focus on poisons and can easily destroy your enemies. However supporting your team is not the easiest thing to do with it. Focus regenerates very easily. Good for beginners
The hydraulic class is ice based and easily the most flexible. It might end up having weaker abilities but high supports and strong debuffs make it a viable class. Focus is also regenerated easily. It does need some experience to make it powerful though.
They've also added a PvP thing, but you need to copy and paste a password to fight other teams and they aren't controlled by the AI.
The AI has been improved a bit and you now have more control over your smarter allies. You can choose to leave them to do what seems best, attack whatever, attack the weakest enemy, focus on supporting your party, or all out defensive abilities and it is really intuitive.
Now I don't feel like spoiling the story since that takes a lot of time but I'll give you a quick rundown of some events. You'll face strange experiments in a prison, listen to the tape from the first game, meet a new party member, fight a cult, get high in a cave, and fight the government. It's a whole lot more polished than the first game if you ask me, but "I'll knock you silly will get old really fast."
The high points are probably the combat, the story, and those little references. Like Drs. Leath and Hedger, the crowbar, Gregor the cockroach and so much more. The cave is probably one of the more creative parts with enemies that require you to actually think before you can beat them, like the aforementioned roach, it's also one of the most entertaining areas.
The weakest point has to be the final area. I didn't understand what was going on and the fact that the really good voice acting was missing. The time bomb enemy was also really bad.
But what it comes down to is: Will you like it? Yes you probably will if you liked the original and if you're a fan of turn based RPG's. It's sometimes witty and the game is a great time killer.
Found here at: [link]armorgames.com/play/2900/sonny-2[/link]
See you in two weeks with a new game.
