The Caligula Effect 2

The Caligula Effect 2 is an incredibly modern game that encroaches on territory like no other JRPG. With a stunning soundtrack and an extremely fun battle system, it’s a riot to play. But it also has a cast ingrained into the narrative that leaves a very strong impression, and I really feel they’ll stick with me for a while.

The Caligula Effect 2 isn’t a sequel I ever saw coming: a follow-up to one of the most overlooked, underrated games of the last few years. It follows closely in its predecessor’s footsteps, and while it could never hope to be quite as groundbreaking, it still finds ways to bring a fresh perspective to the moral philosophy and psychological exploration at the heart of the series. It still won’t be for everyone, but nor is it trying to be—and anyone who likes JRPGs that break from the mold and leave them with something to think about is in for something special.

I think The Caligula Effect 2 will provide a fun experience for fans of the first game and JRPG fans in general. But for those new to the genre, you can find better ones on the Switch that may leave you with fewer regrets. [Issue #58 – March/April 2022, p. 75]

Not every sequel can surpass the original, but it’s safe to say that The Caligula Effect 2 is bigger and better than ever before. I can’t say that I was initially expecting a sequel to The Caligula Effect to even happen in the first place, but The Caligula Effect 2 is absolutely a case of something happening that I didn’t even know that I wanted—and I’m extremely glad that I was able to spend some quality time with it.

I haven’t had a game in which I’ve had to pull myself away from playing it for a while, but I spent a Saturday basically playing The Caligula Effect 2 and only stopping for supper. I really hope a lot of the other RPGs coming out before the year’s out on Switch can elicit that level of devotion.

The Caligula Effect 2 improves on several aspects of the original, namely the combat system, and brings an exquisite story with many captivating elements, very well written characters, as well as a stunning soundtrack. At the same time, its level design could use improvements, and even though the soundtrack is indeed one of the game's top assets, some of its tracks are repeated to the point of exhaustion, which only leads to saturation. Overall this is an enjoyable experience which could have turned out better if some of those elements had been addressed.

If there is one problem with Caligula Effect 2 it is pacing. The beginning hits incredibly hard, with great characterization and drawing the player into the plot. The hours-long plodding dungeons and 'slice of life' sections kill what otherwise is actually a pretty cool story. Much like the first game, the core experience of fights and story is solid, but it is absolutely buried in detail which is unfortunate as it makes it far less accessible.

Although the visuals may not be much to look at, the combat and story are the soul of Caligula Effect 2 that holds it all together. The music and characters are far more enjoyable than the first title, with a combat system that feels more fine-tuned and makes it flow at a better speed than the first entry. It’s harder to recommend for those who haven’t played the first as they will miss out on important references to the first, but it may be worth popping open a synopsis of the first or playing through it to get to this sequel which improves upon basically every aspect. There’s so much to love here, but the experience would be improved with amped-up visuals and more English support for some of the smaller dialogue. The Caligula Effect 2 is a unique story that touches on sensitive subjects with a lot of respect wrapped up in a wonderfully-enjoyable RPG that’s the perfect length without overstaying its welcome.

The story nudges this one just above being a thoroughly average RPG. It explores some interesting topics and themes that I haven’t seen many other games attempt to address. By contrast, the gameplay is so average it could have fallen out of a kit. I suppose the key thing is that it’s not bad to play, so if you have room on your plate for an RPG with bland mechanics but a good plot, you’ll want to check out The Caligula Effect 2. Just make sure you either play the first game or read up on its story and characters before you dive in.