Ni No Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM - PS4

Ni No Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM is an interesting swerve for the series. Anyone who played the first game - a collaboration between beloved developer Level 5 and beloved animation house Studio Ghibli - might be surprised to find this sequel starting with a nuclear bomb and an elderly president. Things quickly get onto a more familiar footing, however, when Roland finds himself 30 years younger, in another world and in the company of young King Evan. Evan and the cat folk have been cast out in a coup and, along with faithful friend Tani and the heart-powered Higgledies, you must help him not discover a world, but build one.

In an unusual move for a JRPG, a significant part of Ni No Kuni II is a city-building sim, albeit with inns, armories and spell factories to build in place of the usual power plants and sewage systems. Evan wants to build a perfect world, you see - one in which there need be no more fighting. Of course, a new kingdom needs new subjects, and that's where the more traditional RPG elements come in.

You'll go on quests to far flung corners of the world, meeting grumpy wizards and tramping across magical forests to recruit new citizens, many of whom will have quests of their own to give you. Although Studio Ghibli isn't directly involved in this sequel, the world is still populated by the studio's strange whimsy and lush visuals. This time out combat is full-on action-based too, so those who are put off by typical JRPG turn-based fare can take heart.

Some magical worlds can be discovered, but others need to be built, too. more