Video Game Review: Death End Re;Quest 2

Compile Heart

Idea Factory

Genre: JRPG

Nintendo Switch

In my review of the Nintendo Switch port of Death End Re;Quest, I stated that it is one of the better Idea Factory ports of one of the publisher’s best JRPGs.The Death End Re;Quest series has a dark story and a unique “bumper cars” mechanic that makes it refreshing. The same can be said about Death End Re;Quest 2, however, the port isn’t nearly as smooth as it’s predecessor.

Death End re;Quest 2 has one of the better stories in Idea Factory’s library. Players are introduced Mai, a protagonist who is admitted into an all-girls orphanage. After the disappearance of her sister and an exposure to some strange organizations with cult-like behavior, Mai sets decides to uncover the secrets that surround her. During the day, players will get to know the supporting cast and have the story set up, and during the evening, players will explore and fight creepy enemies. The setting is much more sinister this time around, with a creepy environment surrounding players rather than the MMO world of the first.

Death End re;Quest 2 uses a turn based system that allows for players to freely place their character anywhere on the field before striking. The knockback system allows for players to send enemies flying around the battlefield, bouncing off of walls and each other to deal extra damage. The system adds a fun gimmick to the genre and it stays fresh throughout the game. Power ups and corruption makes a return to this entry, but the systems don’t hold the player back too much, allowing for the experience to be streamlined. Players can freely focus on the battle, making the action feel faster throughout Death End re;Quest 2.

Death End re;Quest 2’s framerate is choppy throughout. The framerate consistently stays below 30 FPS, and the graphics are also severely downgraded on the Switch. When the camera is moving during exploration, everything somehow looks worse. Fortunately, visual novel story segments run great, with beautiful art throughout.

All of the DLC from the original game are present int the Switch port of Death End re;Quest 2, which does make up a little for the port’s shortcomings. Everything from new weapons to extra money make their way into this experience, somewhat enhancing the game’s quality of life. The Switch version also does away the PlayStation version’s censorship, giving players more costumes that reveal more skin if they are into that kind of thing.

Death End re;Quest 2 is a fantastic JRPG that is held back by the limitations of the Switch port. Whether players are playing handheld or docked, there is no denying that this is an ugly game. If it is the only way to experience this fascinating tale, the Switch version will do, otherwise even the portability of the Switch doesn’t make Death End re;Quest 2 more appealing.