Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django
Don’t forget your sunscreen.
Tags: Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django Categories: GBA Reviews, Reviews
Posted by Brian Arnold on Dec 13th, 2004
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django (title page) | 1 - 4 | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Action | No | ||
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The first Boktai game was unique in that it had a solar cell on the cartridge. At first it seemed like a gimmick, but it fit in well with the storyline, what with battling vampires and their aversion to sunlight and all. Not only was the first Boktai notable in that it required the sunlight, but it was also a great adventure game for the Game Boy Advance. Boktai 2 continues in that same vein, while tossing in some incredibly difficult puzzles and RPG-ish elements.
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Once again, you’re in the shoes of Django. You and your sunflower of a mentor, Otenko, head to a town called San Miguel where threats are brewing. There’s a lot of story here that ties back to the first game, so if you haven’t played the first one, you might want to either go plow through that first or go read a walkthrough. The first few hours can be slow and full of confusing story otherwise. It’s a good story, but it just starts a little slow, like a good Kurt Vonnegut novel. Another odd but interesting element is how much it looks like an anime story even though it’s all set in Western themes – specifically South-western, with a character who seems Native American, a blacksmith and all of the desert that makes up San Miguel.
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Overall, the one feature that almost anybody knows about when it comes to Boktai is the solar sensor. It was an important element in Boktai, and it continues to be important here. Boktai 2 also has an internal clock, so the scenery in-game roughly matches the real world in your timezone. At night, areas outside are dark (and generally filled with enemies), whereas in the day it’s brighter, more so when the sensor picks up sunlight. It is interesting how dynamic it could be, since when you’re indoors, your sensor’s readings are proportional to the the amount of sunlight coming in through windows.
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There are points where sunlight is absolutely required. That may turn off some night owls, because they simply won’t be able to play past a certain point unless they can get some sunlight going. There were a few puzzles and one boss that required sunlight or you just couldn’t progress. I have to admit that I found that rather annoying. It didn’t matter how much sunlight I’d saved up before or how full my meter was – no current sunlight, no progress.
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One big change here is that at the start of the game, you lose your main weapon, the gun de sol. You receive a replacement soon enough, but it’s no longer projectile, and battling enemies becomes a bit more tedious. Items can be charged up by solar power to inflict good damage, but you have to remember to activate and deactivate the items and the magic associated with them, or it would quickly eat up your current solar power. You can recharge, provided you’re in the sunlight and Django is outside or standing in a ray of sunlight, but it’s not as convenient as the gun was.
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There are also a number of puzzles, some of which are incredibly difficult. The fact that solving some is dependent on sunlight is a bit annoying, because it really changes when you can play the game. You can reach a point where you have to wait until the next day to continue, and external forces such as the weather in your area can affect how much sunlight you really get. I wouldn’t recommend playing this in places where nights last for several months – but, if you’re in nearly-constant daylight, it would be great!
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All of that said about requiring sunlight, it’s still a pretty good game. You have to think more about what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Some of the later advances and changes that occur make for some unique twists and turns in the game. It’s certainly longer than the first, but that’s not a bad thing. If you’re outside often and find yourself killing time with a Game Boy, this is a great way to do it.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
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+ The use of sunlight is more than just a gimmick, but an interesting twist on gameplay + The dynamic world and its response to sunlight is just awesome + The story is surprisingly more complex and interesting than it might seem at first |
8.2 |
| What Doesn't | |
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- Sometimes sunlight is required, which can be annoying - Battles can be slow and tedious at points - Some puzzles make you want to tear your hair out |
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| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| If you enjoyed the first Boktai, go buy this one NOW. If you enjoy a good action/adventure game, check it out. Heck, if you own a Game Boy Advance, at least try and rent it, or borrow it from a friend. It's pretty enjoyable. | |
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Tags: Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django
Posted by Brian Arnold on Dec 13th, 2004 and is filed under GBA Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
