Death end re;Quest 2

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 22
  3. Negative: 5 out of 22
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  1. vahn
    Oct 25, 2020
    5
    I have so many questions about this game, but if I could use one word to summarize this game, it would be "disappointing", because there was so much potential but it ends up being a mediocre sequel to the original DERQ, which was a jrpg that I really enjoyed and was above average for the standards.

    So the question now is, why do I think this game is mediocre? I can boil it down to 3    I have so many questions about this game, but if I could use one word to summarize this game, it would be "disappointing", because there was so much potential but it ends up being a mediocre sequel to the original DERQ, which was a jrpg that I really enjoyed and was above average for the standards.

    So the question now is, why do I think this game is mediocre? I can boil it down to 3 points:

    1) Worse Characters.
    The main roster consists of 3 characters which are Mai, Rotten (or Rottie), and Liliana, and that's about it. What about the others? Oh, there's Shina but she doesn't fight, instead, you use her Avatar, just like the avatars of the other girls. But that's not actually Shina fighting with you!

    Anyway, the main trio is really pathetic: Mai starts out really interesting but ends up being really meh, and Rottie is constantly nagging Mai to become her girlfriend (just to be fair, Rottie does get good scenes much later). As for Liliana...she exists I guess, she doesn't get many many good scenes except very few in the middle and maybe at the end.

    As for the rest, I appreciate the fact there are a lot of NPC with faces, but that's about it. Overall, the characters feel mediocre and not that interesting, and even in the end, it's really disappointing.

    2) Too much VN, very little JRPG:
    The first game was a mix between VN and JRPG, and it felt like a decent mix in my opinion as both parts were required and they had a contrasting feeling, with the VN parts being in the real world and the JRPG in the game world. This game however brings far too much VN sections and this also causes the problem that "there's no more distinction" between the two parts and now you're basically in the real world, sorta.

    On top of that, there's much, MUCH fewer choices now, and the game is also lacking in the atmosphere since it's basically one location, a city called "Le Choara" (and later on another area), so even on that regard is lacking! Even the Pain Area is the same thing as the first! They added some unique puzzle mechanics sure, but that's it! There's so much less to explore in this sequel that it makes Neptunia look like a better game!

    And last but not least...

    3) Death end Re;Quest 2? More like Corpse Party 3!

    I'm almost certain that this game wasn't meant to be a sequel to DERQ but instead was meant to be a game more akin to Corpse Party: If you remove everything about the programming, the gaming world, the hacking and etc, this game becomes a jrpg about the occult where you fight demons at night and need to discover the truth. I appreciate that they tried to tie the first game though, in particular by adding bits of story with Lydia from the first game in ng+, but i really don't see this game as a sequel to DERQ: the fact that you're "hacking" in the real world, the fact that you're using avatars in the real world, it's a mess. Stuff like Glitch Mode isn't even explained, or the Buggie, or why the world is filled with Code...

    In addition, the game is very short, clocking in about 24 hours or less, depending on your reading speed, and there's not much content beyond the Pain Area, which probably took me 2 to 3 hours to finish, and only because it's long and really repetitive.

    Honestly, this game is just disappointing but it's not bad, which is the problem: if the game was simply bad I wouldn't bother too much but this game had a lot of potentials, a lot of promise, but it comes out just as another below-average jrpg, whereas DERQ1 was above average!

    And add the fact that there's a freaking sequel bait in the EX ending, we're supposed to get another DERQ game...but honestly, I'm not having many hopes and, honestly, DERQ1 had a pretty decent ending.

    Do I recommend it? Yes but don't buy it full price, it is NOT worth the full price: I spent 40 and I still feel disappointed.
    And if you can, grab and play the first game, cause there are going to be spoilers from the first game.    … Expand
  2. UWutM8
    Sep 4, 2020
    10
    In general, the combat is not exactly much to write about, like the first game's. It is more streamlined and somewhat better balanced, but they also didn't replace the mechanics that they removed with much else either (though most were kind of bloated and not that useful). but I'd say the story is very much a worthy follow-up to the first games, and is basically why one would be interestedIn general, the combat is not exactly much to write about, like the first game's. It is more streamlined and somewhat better balanced, but they also didn't replace the mechanics that they removed with much else either (though most were kind of bloated and not that useful). but I'd say the story is very much a worthy follow-up to the first games, and is basically why one would be interested in this game in the first place.

    In some ways, the story isn't quite as good, such as there being too many slice of life scenes that slow the pacing down a bit too much at times (thankfully, the game gives you the option to skip them, though some are important like the one featuring Rotten and Mai at the start of chapter 5), but it also excels over it in ways I feel matter most, such as the ending stretch of the game (which is legitimately great instead of legitimately awful and falling apart like the firsts), and character development (I liked the first game's cast a lot, but they're also largely static and don't change much over the course of the game). The game's pacing isn't as brisk as the previous game's, partly because of the slice of life scenes, partly because the nature of the story is more mystery and character oriented rather than twist oriented like the first, but I feel this leads to a much better payoff in the end. Basically, I feel the first half of Death End Re;quest 1 is stronger then the first half in 2, but the second half of 2 is much, much stronger then the first game's. I know for sure the last few chapters and ending are going to stick with me for much longer then they did in the first game, where I feel the last few chapters and endings were a pretty big blemish in that game's story.

    The censorship of the costumes of the first game's characters costumes kind of sucks, but if you're like me, there's a good chance you'll just stick to the main 3 characters over the course of the game. I wouldn't hold it against the game for this, blame Sony. I'd recommend the PC version since it's uncensored, but it has issues with bugs and glitches (heh) at the moment, so this is you're best option unless you're patient and don't mind the risk of being spoiled. Given the steam forums, it seems like they may be close to releasing a patch given how some users were given a beta branch that fixes the issues being complained about.    … Expand
  3. Hammer7
    Sep 10, 2020
    10
    Easily one of the best RPGs of the year! I love the way it tackles mature themes and isn't afraid to make you uncomfortable. The story is incredibly well written. Its a rare horror RPG done right. Noone is safe from the horrors of Le Choara. Don't miss this one. Great sound track, fun battle system, likable characters, and a great story.

    Gameplay - 8.0 Story - 10.0 Music - 9.0 Characters    Easily one of the best RPGs of the year! I love the way it tackles mature themes and isn't afraid to make you uncomfortable. The story is incredibly well written. Its a rare horror RPG done right. Noone is safe from the horrors of Le Choara. Don't miss this one. Great sound track, fun battle system, likable characters, and a great story.

    Gameplay - 8.0
    Story - 10.0
    Music - 9.0
    Characters - 9.0
    Overall 9.5    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Hey Poor Player
    Oct 29, 2020
    70
    Please learn from your mistakes in this game, Compile Heart. Death end re;Quest 2 shows that you’re truly capable of making a great horror game, but also that you aren’t there just yet.
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  2. RPGamer
    Sep 14, 2020
    50
    Death end re;Quest 2 tells a decent story in and of itself, and does so with good overall production values, at least on the visual novel side of things. But whereas the first game clicked with me better and made me generally interested in what was to follow, I’m afraid that my anticipation for a third installment is at an all-time low now. The already-repetitive combat has been further stripped down, and is now something I actively dislike about the game, and while the story sort of works as a standalone project, the attempts at tying the two games together are puzzling and tenuous at best. The game is not entirely without merit, but the overall picture being painted is now one of a fractured franchise whose parts don’t mesh well with each other.
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  3. GameCritics
    Sep 4, 2020
    85
    I can’t stress enough what a bleak experience Death end Re;Quest 2 is. There are bright moments and the gameplay is tight, but players will always have the sinking feeling that wrenching emotional agony is just around the corner.
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