Developed and Published by: Ludosity
Date of Release: November 15, 2016
Platforms: Steam, PS4(reviewed), Xbox One
Price: $19.99
If there is one dungeon crawling RPG series that has stood the test of time amazingly, it is The Legend of Zelda. From it's original NES release to the awesome Link to The Past on the SNES, the games often follow the same pattern: 8 or so dungeons, need items from one to get through the next, etc. Ittle Dew 2 takes that approach and turns it on it's head, offering you the option to forge ahead with no upgrades whatsoever and just use your wits to get through the devious puzzles that lie ahead. I definitely had some head-scratching moments during my playthrough, but there's nothing unfair or illogical here. In fact there are hints scattered about for the puzzles that are actually quite witty.
The combat in Ittle Dew 2 is satisfyingly meaty and quite challenging, with a good variety of enemies, all of which are heartwarmingly bizarre. There is great array of weapons are at your disposal for dispatching them as well, from flaming swords to good old TNT. As usual the enemies often drop their still-beating hearts for Ittle to devour for healing purposes. The fights are tough but never overwhelming or unfair, and the bosses are the traditional pattern-based affairs, save for the final boss which is a wonderful surprise. Health upgrades are hidden far and wide, and always apply immediately in quarter-heart allotments.
All in all, Ittle Dew 2 is an amazing experience and offers a massively epic challenge if you're willing to dig deep, as there are several punishingly difficult hidden dungeons. The visuals are as charming as ever, despite moving from hand-drawn artwork to 3d models. The animated aesthetic is still there in full force however. The sound effects and voice acting are wonderful, and the soundtrack is great. Above all the quality of the writing and humor stand out, and stays true to the series roots (as well as the general feel of Ludosity's games). If you were a fan of the original Ittle Dew, or even Zelda-esque adventures in general, there's no reason not to go for Ittle Dew 2. Just don't get too plastered on health potions.
10/10
