White Knight Chronicles II

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 45
  3. Negative: 7 out of 45
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Sep 25, 2011
    91
    The rewards for engaging, learning, and conquering Chronicles II are many, especially for those who enjoy falling into the sticky trap of co-operative online roleplaying games, where loot is hard-earned with time and skill.
  2. Impulsegamer
    Jun 27, 2011
    90
    It's definitely great value for money and if you love JRPG, than you really should check this out and don't listen to the naysayers!
  3. Digital Chumps
    Sep 26, 2011
    86
    Overall, while I still have a lot of WKC2 ahead of me, and more online to partake in, WKC2 has done something for me that many JRPGs have not been able to: it's kept me playing and pleasantly entertained.
  5. GamingXP
    Jun 13, 2011
    83
    It's not how it should have been. However, it's familiar to those who have played WKC, and the fact you get two games for the price of one (even though both are awfully equal in technical terms) is just not ignorable.
  6. PSX Extreme
    Sep 25, 2011
    80
    A captivating, nicely put-together game with tons of content, a great online component, a streamlined battle mechanic that is faster and more fluid, and some interesting characters.
  7. Multiplayer.it
    Jul 4, 2011
    78
    White Knight Chronicles II is a good quality sequel that fixed most of the errors of the first episode. It's not perfect, not a next-generation RPG, not a masterpiece, but is a pretty good game, if compared to the (low) current rating of similar products.
  8. Videogameszone.de
    Jul 21, 2011
    75
    Quotation forthcoming.
  9. PSFocus
    Jul 18, 2011
    75
    The world of White Knight Chronicles has a whole new story and the first game is also included! The gameplay is like the original game, but the fightingsystem has been improved and the multiplayer is really good and gives you hours of gameplay. Only we don't like the use of older environments from the first game instead of completely new ones and the story can be a bit lengthy.
  10. Vandal
    Jun 17, 2011
    75
    White Knight Chronicles II is not an excellent role-playing game but can be a good alternative for those looking for a Japanese RPG with western influences and good multiplayer modes. It doesn't have a great story, but if you like the gameplay system you will have a lot of fun both in the campaign and in the online mode.
  11. Everyeye.it
    Jun 13, 2011
    75
    Following the legacy of the first chapter, but focusing on an interesting online mode, White Knight Chronicles 2 delivers a solid experience for RPG Fans.
  12. 3DJuegos
    Jun 21, 2011
    74
    White Knight Chronicles 2 lacks some innovation over the original game, but it delivers a solid experience for RPG fans.
  13. RPG Fan
    Jul 23, 2012
    70
    If you didn't play the first and you don't mind grinding, you can have fun with White Knight Chronicles 2, but I'd strongly advise that you play its predecessor if you're interested in knowing what's going on.
  14. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Oct 29, 2011
    70
    The single-player story is cheesy fantasy schlock, and while the online mode has an array of decently designed multiplayer quests, it could stand some more structured goals and a stronger emphasis on cooperation. [Dec 2011, p.81]
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  15. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Sep 30, 2011
    70
    For fans of the first game, and fans of JRPGs structure, White Knight Chronicles II is an engrossing trek through a large, beautifully rendered world. It's a game that provides a large foundation of content to explore, which is only prohibited by its average gameplay.
  16. Level7.nu
    Jun 18, 2011
    70
    A classic JRPG with the usual pros and cons. Too much unnecessary running and cumbersome combat preparations but with two big adventures and smart combat. It's still worth the price for JRPG nuts.
  17. SpazioGames
    Jun 15, 2011
    70
    There's some good entertainment in this box, but it really lacks some innovation and graphical polish. The fan of the predecessor will be anyway satisfied.
  18. Eurogamer Italy
    Jun 14, 2011
    70
    Although the game has its faults, it's hard to ignore that it includes two, massive adventures that will keep any fan of the genre busy for at least 60-70 hours. Level 5 could have done something more gameplay-wise, but for now we can consider ourselves quite satisfied.
  19. GameOver.gr
    Jun 13, 2011
    70
    White Knight Chronicles 2 has some improvements over the first game, but cannot get away from mistakes that have a negative impact on the overall experience. Nevertheless, the fact that it includes the entire White Knight Chronicles 1, makes for a decent package.
  20. Gaming Age
    Sep 28, 2011
    67
    The combat can be downright boring at times.
  21. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 19, 2011
    65
    Even worse than the mediocre White Knight Chronicles. Cheap game play decisions, such as monotonic environments and repeated use of settings from the original really make me want to stay far away from this one. [Aug 2011]
    All this publication's reviews
  22. XGN
    Jul 10, 2011
    65
    White Knight Chronicles II improves on its predecessor, but only manages to create a forgettable experience. An overly clichéd plot and aged visuals aren't able to cover up the lacking gameplay mechanics. You do get a lot of content for your money however, and the online mode makes up for the mediocre singleplayer experience.
  23. GameSpot
    Jul 8, 2011
    65
    White Knight Chronicles II's solo play will try your patience, but online adventuring and town building offer more than your usual role-playing game.
  24. Console Monster
    Jul 6, 2011
    65
    Level 5 have once again created a vast and competent RPG, but it has failed to reach the upper echelons the best in the genre achieve, being more slow-and-steady rather than thrill-a-minute. JRPGs have fallen out of favour recently, so buyers need be aware that this is very much JRPG-centric. There's plenty of content to keep fans of this type of RPG happy, but it certainly won't appeal to everyone.
  25. GamerNode
    Oct 11, 2011
    60
    White Knight Chronicles II is worth a try, but the full experience is only gained after playing the first one as well.
  26. GamesRadar+
    Sep 21, 2011
    60
    The lack of tutorials, tedium of grinding, and huge investment of time required will likely scare off a lot of new players not interested in playing through the entire original game first. But for a certain breed of obsessive RPG fan there's a lot here to enjoy, and giant quantities of it.
  27. Digital Spy
    Jul 24, 2011
    60
    The quests and upgrades feel poorly applied, meaning the game struggles to establish its true purpose and identity. Stripping away all the extra elements brings just a pretty standard JRPG that offers little really to get excited about.
  28. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jul 17, 2011
    60
    The menu systems are archaic and confusing even for an RPG fan. [Aug 2011, p.111]
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  29. Eurogamer Spain
    Jun 27, 2011
    60
    Mixing the JRPG and MMO genres is a great idea, but with WKC2 Level-5 fails again and gets a mixed result.
  30. GameWatcher
    Jun 21, 2011
    60
    Die-hard players will enjoy the new multiplayer content but will probably feel ripped off that it comes on a full-priced retail disc rather than a downloadable content pack for the first game.
  31. Eurogamer Sweden
    Jun 9, 2011
    60
    A sequel that fails to live up to the promises of the first game, but fixes a number of flaws while updating the graphics and battle system. It's neither very good nor very bad, it's just serviceable. Collectors will find plenty of things to collect, and the multiplayer modes promise longevity, but for the single player there isn't all that much to do story-wise. It's a sad sign of a Japanese rpg not daring to break the mold.
  32. GameTrailers
    Sep 29, 2011
    57
    It's hard to overlook White Knight Chronicles' flaws the second time around. The subtle improvements don't have a huge impact on the bottom line, and the game lacks the refinements expected of a sequel. If you're looking for an RPG that delivers both a lengthy single-player mode and comprehensive online component, there are far better choices available.
  33. Games Master UK
    Jul 8, 2011
    57
    Interesting battle system let down by a bland storyline, bad animations and idiotic characters. [Aug 2011, p.90]
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  34. Thunderbolt
    Apr 9, 2012
    50
    Hardcore WKC fans may be willing to pour hundreds of additional hours into this sequel, nay - expansion - but most will likely be turned off by the confusing story, niggling flaws and generally repetitive nature of the combat and questing.
  35. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 24, 2011
    50
    White Knight Chronicles 2 maintains a lot of the problems that the first game had, and does little to address them. PS3 gamers are going to be left wanting in an already dry RPG landscape.
  36. games(TM)
    Jul 23, 2011
    50
    Halts under its own weight. [Issue#111, p.114]
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  37. TheSixthAxis
    Jul 8, 2011
    50
    Hair-tugging difficulty spikes and a harsh entry barrier for newcomers are enough to drag White Knight Chronicles II from being a good game into the pool of mediocrity.
  38. PALGN
    Jul 6, 2011
    50
    Paint by numbers role playing worsened by clumsy mechanics and a lack of ambition, and potential for stronger identity hurt by an absence of any unique selling point. For the biggest fans of the franchise and genre only.
  39. Eurogamer
    Jun 3, 2011
    50
    White Knight Chronicles II flounders. It's a hybrid that fails to find its own identity in terms of its structure, and its convoluted battle system is poorly explained and, once mastered, reveals itself to be broad but ultimately shallow. Those improvements from the first game are overwhelmed by a more general sense of ennui; what were once interesting innovations lack the polish and endurance to inspire over the course of a sequel.
  40. Play UK
    Jul 19, 2011
    49
    Feels more like an expansion than a genuine innovation. [Issue#207, p.92]
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  41. Game Over Online
    Oct 3, 2011
    45
    If you're curious about trying out a hybrid JRPG/MMORPG, then try the first one out even though it's included here since it'll cost you a lot less and has a far easier learning curve for newcomers.
  42. Edge Magazine
    Jul 14, 2011
    40
    What Level-5 has created is a Frankenstein's monster. It's half singleplayer and half multiplayer, and both of them are half good: a compromise that leaves much of this game feeling soulless. To give WKC2 its due, it certainly improves on the original. But in trying to fix a poor template rather than start anew, it was probably doomed from the beginning.
  43. RPGamer
    Jul 6, 2011
    40
    Perhaps White Knight Chronicles II can be best considered a very large expansion of the first game.
  44. PSM3 Magazine UK
    Jul 3, 2011
    38
    Clunky, poorly animated, mostly unexplained, dreadfully written, utterly bland and archaic. [Aug 2011, p.92]
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  45. Game Informer
    Oct 7, 2011
    35
    Where the game falls depressingly short is in Level-5 ignoring the many valid criticisms of the first game and churning out a cookie-cutter sequel that is even more of a rehash than the average yearly sports title or shooter franchise.
  46. Gameblog.fr
    Jul 1, 2011
    20
    If you were to find the perfect illustration of the downfall of Japanese RPGs, it would probably look like White Knight Chronicles II. Its combat system is wonky, trying to find the pieces of itself and finding only the player's weariness, its story and characters are so tasteless that one might wonder if we're still in 2011, and finally, its shameless recycling of maps and stuff from the first one doesn't do it any good. Only the multiplayer manages to linger on in our thoughts, baring a little esteem, but it's definitely not enough to dive into this tiresome adventure. Please don't fail on ninokuni like you ailed on this one, level-5, please.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
37
#37 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 77
  3. Negative: 15 out of 77
  1. JPoppaWUSC
    Sep 15, 2011
    9
    I am getting sick of hearing games get qualified as "JRPG" or "Western Developed" or "Old-School." Role-playing elements exist in every genreI am getting sick of hearing games get qualified as "JRPG" or "Western Developed" or "Old-School." Role-playing elements exist in every genre now, from third-person action games to first-person shooters. Coming from someone who has been devoted to role-playing for more than 25 years of video gaming, I still love to see companies try new things, but too often critics categorize games and belittle their finer points by forcing them into unecessary stereotypes. Japanese programmers often have a hand in developing Western titles, and likewise, American and European programmers are often brought in to assist on Eastern projects to make a game more appealing to the international market. Too much synergy and genre crossover occur in today's gaming market to call anything old-school or refer to them by national origin.

    That being said, White Knight Chronicles II (along with the previous WKCs on PS3 and PSP) attempts to appeal to both Japanese and Western markets, with robust single-player and online multiplayer options that allow gamers to approach the game in whichever way they prefer. This effort does not succeed on all points - story sequences feel shallow and incoherent at times, with sub-par English voiceovers doing little to elevate the game's presentation, and MMO features sometimes feel tacked on. Still, the accomplishments that WKCII gets right serve as redeeming factors overall.

    For years, I have looked for an RPG that brought many existing features together under one title - character creation, open-world exploration, a full day-night cycle, dynamic weather systems, seasonal changes, player housing, town construction, solo and multiplayer features, social elements, and branching storylines. While Mass Effect and Dragon Age do all of this except multiplayer, and Persona 3&4 contain their unique and refreshing take on many of these systems, practically no other games come close to completing this wish list of role-playing features. White Knight Chronicles II does not successfully integrate all of them either, but as you explore the massive world the game offers, it becomes evident that (despite shortcomings) the creators acknowledged all of the desires of RPG gamers and tried to deliver.

    The graphics in WKCII are clean and at times gorgeous. Like the first game, GeoRama features allow you to build a custom town and recruit residents to improve its functionality, though the whole thing feels like a glorified online multiplayer lobby. Customization is extensive, from creating a player character and changing out equipment to creating your own combo attacks. Combat itself is improved over the first game, though it still needs work. Exploration is also well-rewarded, and the game world is fairly enormous. But my favorite tweek to the whole package is the day-night, weather, and seasonal changes. This is an immersive quality that is largely overlooked by developers (or simply left out for programming, budgeting, or deadline restraints), but seeing trees sway in the wind, hearing ambient noise, or having environmental shifts affect combat are really valuable for drawing a player into the game world. Also, since you often backtrack in RPGs, these environmental factors allow you to see familiar locales in unfamiliar states upon revisiting them, which adds to variety and replayability.

    Overall, WKCII is worth the purchase, and in case you haven't played the first game, it's included in the North American release, complete with tweeks from the sequel retrofitted into the original. You can even carry your stats and equipment from one game to the other, which the online players will most definitely appreciate. I'm not claiming that this is the answer to all of your RPG dreams, but it is another step in Level-5's quest to bring all of the best RPG features into a single game. That's not an easy pursuit, but it is a process that I want to be a part of... and a goal that makes me respect any developer who tries for it.    … Full Review »
  2. Lucaskeane
    Sep 13, 2011
    10
    this game is really GOOD!! if you liked the first game you will like this game too, the graphics are better the updates in the gameplaythis game is really GOOD!! if you liked the first game you will like this game too, the graphics are better the updates in the gameplay Definitely make correct the mistakes made in the first game,the same good amount of time of gameplay and do everything in the game,now you raise you guild rank level much more quickly and dont saty behind of others playing,new weapons( now the weapons dont have penallity on VIT =) everything really good i just think that they could have change the chances to get some hard iten...they still whit itens that have 1 percent drop..that could be frustate sometines..and the history still practicly the same...anyway it dont stop the game to be one of the best choices of JRPG if you have the one you MUST have this one… Full Review »
  3. JK23
    Sep 15, 2011
    10
    awesome jrpg i loved the first one n the second is even better online n offline if you love jrpgs def a must buy n must play and dnt getawesome jrpg i loved the first one n the second is even better online n offline if you love jrpgs def a must buy n must play and dnt get stupid this is a jrpg thru n thru it doesnt try to appeal to western audiences lke ff13 did if u love jrpg pick it up now… Full Review »
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