Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon

Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon is quite a streamlined Japanese RPG. The time limit system will keep you constantly moving forward, and while it is a bit shorter than your typical JRPG, it rarely feels repetitive thanks to a quick and satisfying battle system. A beautiful and engaging cast of characters are the icing on the cake.

A fast-paced hack-and-slash with fun, combo-heavy combat and an anime-after-dark aesthetic, Nights of Azure 2 is a great time. Strong characters, endearing interactions, and an interesting plot kept us excited to play more throughout, even if the repetitive missions and environments make for an experience best enjoyed in smaller chunks. There are some noticeable performance issues in handheld mode, and a few interface woes reflect a lack of overall polish, but if you're looking for an enjoyable action romp with plenty of blood-sucking style, this is an excellent choice.

Frustratingly repetitive gameplay makes this a disappointing follow-up to last year's action RPG by Gust.

Nights of Azure 2 was the chance to improve on its predecessors potential, but it completely drops the ball.

Nights of Azure 2 had the potential of being much better than the original game, but it fails to build upon some of its best features, such as the character development and interaction. The experience offered is thus slightly worse. The game can still be enjoyable with its fast-paced battle system, humorous interactions, and plenty of fanservice, but the low challenge level, bad dungeon design, and underwhelming story make it difficult to stay engaged for a long time. A missed opportunity.

Nights of Azure was a surprise gem of 2016, giving Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon high expectations to live up to.

Night of Azure 2 takes some time to make its way into your heart but if you’re patient enough, it would be delightful; although it’s far from perfect.

An iffy camera system and questionable design decisions only slightly mar what is otherwise an enjoyable battle system and notably engaging narrative in Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon for Nintendo Switch. Veterans of the first game will find a snug fit, with new players quickly welcomed in.

All in all, if I had not been given Night of Azure 2 I would not have sought it out. It is not a positive example of a Japanese game in any sense. I would say give it a try if you have nothing else and disposable coin but because I have both this is not something I would recommend.

Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon is another Koei Tecmo game that looks like so many others, but plays with a special mix of ease and uniqueness that makes it compelling and addictive. There are many fun elements for exploration and battles, not the least of which is a time limit system that keeps you moving and searching for better ways to complete tasks. Despite some monotony as you progress, there is a ton to enjoy in this fun and simple game.