Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls

Yo-kai Watch 2 may be too similar to the original at some points but that's not an obstacle in the way of this being a quality sequel that delivers on what is expected or even towards becoming the best game of the Yo-kai series. Its immense content will keep players interested for well over one hundred hours of play and its online multiplayer combats are a very welcome addition to the series, even if the combat system in the regular one-player mode may feel too passive at times.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 is far from being a bad game: its storyline is pretty entertaining and rather funny if you are fine with comedies made for 10 years old kids. However, the gameplay mechanics are not as good as we are used to with Pokemon games, especially the fighting mechanics, which become quickly boring.

The fights are too simple and the very frequent fetch quests are too taxing to hold interest. Even the pretty art style, fun dialogue, and immersive city (complete with metro rides) aren’t enough to make the game last [for] you.

It may not be as tight of a package or have enough variety in its quests, but the additional multiplayer components and new Yokai make this worth picking up.

While the game does introduce a number of new Yo-Kai and a follow-up story, this second entry feels too deeply rooted in the original to where many of the same faults are still present, with it really feeling like Level-5 played it way too safe in Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits & Fleshy Souls.

The map changes are great, but the other aspects feel like modified retreads of the first game. Even with the story’s interesting attempts to look at the origin of the Yo-kai Watch, it plods along without ever rising up to something worth seeing to the end. Yo-kai Watch 2 still stands as a worthwhile Pokémon competitor, but its forward progression is only happening by small steps.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 is quite literally a case of more of the same, albeit with a minor sprinkling of new ideas and some brand new annoyances to go with the package. It’s still massively likable and perfect for kids, but it’s not to shy to hide its lack of originality this time around behind a curtain of fetch quests and endearing characters.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 works great for someone that never played the first iteration; however, those who did will receive the same experience with no new game mechanics or elements that provide a different feeling. Whit no animation upgrades and a corny narrative, Yo-Kai Watch 2 is an RPG that took one step forward and two —or maybe three— steps back by not contributing with something fresh.

While the game doesn’t have the generation spanning appeal of the great Nintendo canon, what we have here is a very competent entry level role playing game for younger players. More mature players will find little to be impressed by with Yo-Kai Watch 2’s plentiful but basic offerings.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 is a charming, but passive and repetitive experience. The game lacks an enjoying fight system and the writing is horrible.

I was excited to play Yo-kai Watch 2, hoping it would expand on the enjoyment of the first title. Unfortunately, even a narrative of travelling back in time to witness the creation of the first Yo-kai watch was not enough to help me look past the repetitive nature of the game’s mechanics. Rather than persevering with ‘collecting them all’ in Yo-kai Watch 2, I think I’d prefer to travel back in time and revisit my dream team of Yo-kai from the original game.

Yo-kai Watch 2 isn't worth your time, no matter how stinking cute Jibanyan is. [Issue #24 – November/December 2016, p.13M]

Instead of evolving, Yo-kai Watch 2 plays it safe by fusing new content – some good, some trivial, and some bad – onto a recycled frame, and the result is what we refer to as a sophomore slump.

The world can be fun to dive into, but actually playing Yo-kai Watch can shift from tedious to outright boring. For every new story idea or impressive blend of humor and pathos in its writing, Yo-kai Watch 2 fails to breathe life into the act of actually playing it, and until something’s done about all the issues with combat, no amount of delicious doughnuts can cover up its problems.

Yo-kai Watch 2 may enamor younger audiences with its charm and simplicity, but its appeal for adults will largely depend on how much patience they have.

The game feels old hat, taking you through well-trod ground--albeit with a fresh coat of paint and a few new faces.