Preview for Seven Knights 2: A completely new taste of Genshin Impact meets Final Fantasy
I was eager to play Seven Knights 2 since I am a huge fan of role-playing games, and I must tell that it exceeded my expectations completely. Although I haven't been into the Seven Knights universe previously, it's difficult to avoid drawing comparisons between Genshin Impact and any prospective mobile role-playing games given its popularity. How does it compare in size? Well, as soon as I delved into this incredible jewel, I left all of my judgements at the door.
The first thing that strikes you about Seven Knights 2 is how stunning it seems. The gameplay and cutscenes blend together well, with few visual differences, and my Huawei P20 Pro runs it without any problems. The setting is breathtaking, and the characters have fantastic, distinctive designs that are reminiscent of JRPGs. In addition, the game has complete voice acting, which provides a high degree of immersion from the start. Your allies will joke about with you and provide brief words of support during combat.
The game tells the tale of Commander's daughter Lene and her friends' quest to protect their house from the Power of Destruction, which is threatening to destroy everything in their world. You get to know a lot of fascinating people throughout the journey, such the ethereal Yeonhee and the formidable and enigmatic young Phiné.
The narrative constantly draws you into a chaotic and fascinating universe by leaving just the right amount of juicy elements out of sight while yet teasing you with enticing hints.
Lene has a strong moral compass and a kind heart, making her your average bullshit hero. Together with her are Lukey, the flirting and fast-talking ranged card magician, Kade, the fraternal mercenary tank who serves as Lene's shield, and Cheng Chen, a formidable martial artist with a serious demeanour. This core group rapidly becomes like family, even when you make new friends along the road. You struggle with them and see them support one another during difficult times.
In Seven Knights 2, there are gacha aspects available, such as a fortune-telling machine that may call forth people, animals, and gear in return for gems. Additionally, there is a store where you can buy gems with real money and a stall where you can buy useful items for in-game cash from a cute animal. The store is straightforward to navigate and is packed by animated merchants that converse with you as if you were an old friend, in contrast to a basic user interface. I can't speak to the entire shop just yet because it's not finished as of this preview, but I can say that I didn't feel pressured to buy any extra characters or even summon any free ones because the starting free group of the game has a strong roster that plays all the necessary roles and has some fantastic personality.
Seven Knights 2's gameplay is enjoyable and approachable without depriving you of challenges. Although I haven't tried connecting a controller yet, the on-screen controls are cosy and simple to use. There's also an auto option that makes the characters automatically search out their next location and engage in combat when they come across foes. The game allows you to modify your group's roster and structure, and it even illustrates how these changes impact your numbers, making it a very user-friendly experience.
You can't let the game play itself out completely, however, since you have to be alert to make sure your squad avoids assaults and is positioned appropriately when engaging in a boss fight. Fortunately, the side of the screen enables you to quickly swap between characters and choose whether or not they automatically utilise their skills. Another useful feature is the rally button, which lets you move your allies as a group to dodge approaching dangers.
With red arcs indicating the enemy's goal and blue arcs indicating your friends' targets, combat has a striking resemblance to Final Fantasy 15. It's also as smooth and fast-paced as Final Fantasy 15, but without the warping, which results in a rewarding yet approachable experience. their heroes will struggle to maintain their HP if you don't upgrade their armour and weaponry and equip a respectable pet. Fortunately, all of this is managed by a UI that is surprisingly simple to use and has clear instructions.
The gorgeous soundtrack of Seven Knights 2 really enhances the overall mood of the game. As I moved around the town, the lovely orchestral theme would frequently bring back memories of sunny mornings spent playing Monster Hunter World. The setting seems vibrant and alive thanks to the excellent sound design used in combat sequences and cutscenes.
The way the pet system works and how upgrading and getting new heroes are handled are only two examples of the game's amazing attention to detail. It gives you space to stand on your own two feet while providing just the right amount of support for your hand. When you're waiting for a patch or update, there's also a nice little game where you control a cute animal and use a claw machine mechanism to collect capsules that look like gachas. This is merely a fun game with no real prizes, but it does demonstrate how well-thought-out and comprehensive Seven Knights 2 is as a whole.
In case it wasn't clear from my raving, I'm really having a great time playing Seven Knights 2. It has a lot of potential and could easily compete with many of the well-known AAA console games currently available. I'm very pleased with this game, which manages to be both original and innovative while including features of other well-known role-playing games. I hope it receives the acclaim it deserves.
When the game launches, be sure to return soon to read our complete review. Visit the Seven Knights 2 Netmarble website to pre-register and get some fantastic pre-release items in the meantime.