Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls

 3DS
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
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  1. Digitally Downloaded
    Nov 2, 2016
    90
    I’m still surprised that Nintendo ever thought that there would be an audience for Yo-Kai Watch 2 in the west, but boy am I glad that they did.
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Mar 31, 2017
    88
    Yo-Kai Watch 2 is a solid sequel: in addition to two hundred new yo-kai, Level5 is been able to expand the open world and the combat system with some new interesting mechanics. However, the recruitment system is still pretty poor.
  3. Hobby Consolas
    Mar 31, 2017
    86
    It's the same formula as in the first game, but this time we have much more content and many more things to do, including online battles. Yo-kai Watch 2 consolidates this franchise as the best alternative to Pokémon.
  5. Everyeye.it
    Mar 31, 2017
    85
    Quotation forthcoming.
  6. EGM
    Sep 28, 2016
    85
    A solid sequel to the original, Yo-Kai Watch 2 opens up to the wild world outside of Springdale. With even more wild and wacky Yo-Kai to befriend and the added benefits of Internet connectivity, Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls stretch out to a wider breadth than ever before—though perhaps a slightly shallower depth.
  7. Meristation
    Mar 31, 2017
    82
    Yo-kai Watch has improved almost everything from its predecessor, despite being very conservative in its mechanics and gameplay. However, the new additions and quantity of content turns out to be a more solid and better game.
  8. The Games Machine
    Apr 3, 2017
    80
    Yo-kai Watch 2 improves everything done in the past, but at the same time overlooks some elements that fans wanted to be fixed. There are some new game modes, online multiplayer, new Yo-kais and a bunch of different activities, but overall the game still remains too easy for seasoned players.
  9. IGN Spain
    Mar 31, 2017
    80
    It's fun but conformist. If you liked the first game you'll like what you'll find here.
  10. 3DJuegos
    Mar 31, 2017
    80
    Yo-Kai Watch 2 keeps the iconic feeling of the first title, but adding some ingredients to boost the original formula. It succeeds, but it also feels like we have seen the game before. It's a sequel in narrative terms, but not from a gameplay standpoint.
  11. RPGamer
    Dec 19, 2016
    80
    Despite some mechanics that didn't get the necessary fix they sorely needed, Yo-Kai Watch 2 definitely is stronger than its predecessor by leaps and bounds. While the recruitment system is still a sore spot, the wealth of content and freedom of exploration in Yo-Kai Watch 2 builds a much more solid foundation, making it a great sequel and a worthwhile purchase.
  12. Cubed3
    Oct 17, 2016
    80
    Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls isn't a game that's going to change any pre-existing opinions on the series. At its core, Yo-kai Watch as a series is more about the adventure than any specific goals, and that's evident in every part of the game.
  13. Gaming Nexus
    Sep 30, 2016
    80
    Coming from a series newbie, Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls/Bony Spirits is an enjoyable game, but there were a couple of things that surprised me. The mostly-automated battles confused me at first as I wasn’t expecting it, but I did get the hang of it over time. I just wish the user had more input during them other than healing and Soultimate moves, but other than that and the tedium of befriending Yo-kai, fans of the original game should enjoy the second outing as well.
  14. IGN Italia
    Mar 31, 2017
    78
    Yo-kai Watch 2 is a fun RPG that manages to provide some innovations and improvements compared to his predecessor. Unfortunately, some of the flaws of the original game have not been addressed yet, and some of the new gameplay elements, like train travels, can be quite boring. Despite its flaws it's still a good game, which fans of the original who don't expect too many improvements will surely enjoy.
  15. Vandal
    Mar 31, 2017
    75
    It hasn't changed much compared to the first one, but it has evolved. Although it can be a little bit confusing at times, it is overall a very engaging adventure.
  16. SpazioGames
    Mar 31, 2017
    75
    Yo-kai Watch 2 is an iterative sequel that plays too safe too often, but, taken for what it is, also delivers a solid JRPG experience, enriched by almost two hundred new Yo-kai, online battles and new areas to explore. Your enjoyment of the first game and of the anime really is a factor here.
  17. RPG Fan
    Nov 8, 2016
    75
    Yo-Kai Watch was never about combat even from the onset, yet lighthearted scenarios that parody the mundaneness of life or silly little mini-game diversions can only carry a meaty 30-hour RPG so far. Until Level-5 can figure out how to make the battle system something more than an unwieldy, AI-controlled mess of ghost cats and otherworldly misfits, it seems like Yo-Kai Watch will have to settle with being one of those niche "big in Japan, and Japan alone" fads.
  18. Polygon
    Oct 5, 2016
    75
    There’s a world with charm and careful detail, more than a collection of paths, obstacles and objectives. It’s a place worth occupying, even if you may sometimes, occasionally, feel a little lost while you’re there.

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best 3DS Game of 2016
30
#30 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
42
#42 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 59
  3. Negative: 8 out of 59
  1. Switchbutton
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    A fantastic game. Tons of exploration, hundreds of hours of content, and tons of charming monsters to catch. Great game for all ages. Also,A fantastic game. Tons of exploration, hundreds of hours of content, and tons of charming monsters to catch. Great game for all ages. Also, this game actually has a story, unlike the first.… Full Review »
  2. Game_Reviewest
    Oct 4, 2016
    6
    Hello All, this is my review.

    The slow plot sets up a long list of tutorials that never seem to end. The game is constantly adding things    Hello All, this is my review.

    The slow plot sets up a long list of tutorials that never seem to end. The game is constantly adding things for you to do or improve your Yo-kai throughout the game. New game modes (not necessarily new to the series) and enhancements constantly keep you moving forward.

    The game does have a not so great over arching story. It's not that the story is not great, it's just not presented well, or early enough. You play through "episodes" in the game. Each episode not really having it's own story, just a giant check point that you hit after a rather long line of fetch quests. Expect every person to have 1 or 3 things for you to do before they will unlock what you need from them. Main story missions require that you meet a certain number of specific missions prior to advancing.

    I played the demo, and liked Blasters. I bought the game, to find out that it took me 6 hours to get to the check point that unlocked Blasters mode. Beginning of episode 3, and it really just tosses it to you, only mode that really isn't unlocked with a mission. It's like, oh, by the way, here's this. Blaster's is also a local play, offline mode only. I was hoping for online with this, but looks like that will never happen. As a 35 year old man, I'm not thinking many of my friends are going to buy this to play with me.

    The game is incredibly adorable though. Cuteness oozes even from the ooziest enemies. The graphics style does a great job of making you feel like your apart of a world. Just try not to get lost in the trains between towns, a needlessly long journey to Grandma's house I created for myself. You eventually unlock fast travel though, making it super convenient to get around later in the game. Early on though, expect to be huffing it every where.

    The battle system could have been better if the mini games you played had been more plentiful. You will repeat the same 4 or 5 mini-games throughout your play through. The over-world Yo-kai never really present much of a problem, their knocked out rather easily. Online battles are a completely different story, and I suggest you save doing those until your 20 hours or more into the story. They don't separate you from high ranks, so you can get clobbered early game when you unlock it pretty easily. Though, even a loss nets you some battle points (BP), looking at the more costly items, your best bet is to use that precious time improving your Yo-kai rather than grind out 10 BP a match on a total loss. Other than the BP, nothing else is gain, so don't think this is an easy way to level up your Yo-kai.

    The Yo-kai befriending (catching) aspect does need some work. You have this nice Medallium (book with a list of Yo-kai you have seen/befriended), it doesn't say the best way to catch the Yo-kai is. You can feed Yo-kai food to increase your odds of becoming friends, but the book doesn't bother to say what food they like. Some give hints (some of which are really bad hints) while others say nothing at all, and you have to guess or just hope you can get it without food.

    It'll take you a while to unlock all 387 Yo-kai. The game is teetering on fun and boring. A better combat system versus A.I. and a better way of knowing which Yo-kai like what, would go a long way to make it feel like you have the skill to gather these guys, rather than it being random and a simple battle.

    A good online battle system is what makes the game worth it. If you like PvP, the grind to get there is worth it. If you just want a solo adventure, you can do better else where.    … Full Review »
  3. Albeirito
    Aug 10, 2023
    9
    You can tell that Level 5's speciality is RPGs, because this game, despite being based on semi-automatic turn-based combat, is genuinely fun.You can tell that Level 5's speciality is RPGs, because this game, despite being based on semi-automatic turn-based combat, is genuinely fun.
    The aforementioned combat system has very good and very distinct mechanics, being that, if you don't make the right decisions during a fight, the whole combat can turn against you (obviously lmao). The story is great, so much so that in my opinion it is the best of the original trilogy and the fact that much of the map is recycled from the previous game does not detract from the fact that it is entertaining and interesting to explore it again, as it brings small changes and new yo-kai that only appear in specific places that can only be reached through a prolonged period of exploration.
    Without a doubt, this is the best example of how to make a JRPG.

    9.2/10    … Full Review »
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