Pleasures of the Fall- Mana Khemia 2

Things aren’t looking good for the educational system. Classes are being cut, tuition is on the increase, student morale is upsettingly low, and the local school is on the verge of bankruptcy. With a plot that seems ripped out of contemporary headlines, Mana Khamia 2: Fall of Alchemy’s narrative seems eerily authentic- that is, for a JRPG featuring a blue-haired androgynous boy.

As the game commences, the floating academy of Al-Revis, literally and figuratively descends from a lack of Mana. The alchemy academy’s principal, Zeppel, enlists the help of Marta Silweste, who eliminates any bureaucratic waste from the schools budget, but also threatens the future of the school’s alchemy classes. Silweste is astutely aware that most modern students have little interest in item creation, instead favoring the tutelage of combat.

At the commencement of Fall of Alchemy, players choose between two protagonists- the reluctant Roza, or the resolutely-mined Ulrika, to follow throughout the game. Both characters share a united fate, creating a skillfully intertwined narrative between the two leads. Much like the first Mana Khemia, the game’s structure is modeled after an academic year, with requisite instruction, hands on-lessons, and an opportunity for job training. Each week combines the rigors of necessary coaching, with just enough vocational freedom to create a compelling balance for the player.

Like the Atelier Iris or even the Disgaea series, Mana Khemia’s depth stems from its elaborate system of item development. Weapons, armor and accessories are fashioned from basic ingredients which can either be purchased at the school’s supply shop, or more likely- found during dungeon exploration. By working with another character, a duo synthesizes the obligatory components, adding the ingredients at the right time to raise the ‘ether’ level of the object.  Once items are amalgamated, they show up in the player’s Growth book, for further tweaking. Although the system is intricate, it offers enough depth to ensure a player’s motivation throughout the game.

Fall of Alchemy’s turn-based combat battle also proficiently balances complexity with profundity. While exploring, players while encounter the sporadic drifting monster. Once contact is made between the protagonist and the foe, one of the controller’s four face buttons is displayed on the screen. A press of the corresponding key will give the player the ability to strike first; otherwise the beast will begin its assault. Gamers may have a party of up to five members, who are arranged into active and support positions. Effective combatants can initiate a Unite mode, which open up a range of cooperative measures.

Visually, Mana Khemia 2 is an exceptionally charming and attractive game. From the detailed interiors of the academy building to the amount of animation devoted to character sprites, the game will surely delight fans of the genre. The title’s only graphical impediment is the overuse of tilesets in some of the game’s off-campus locations, as players will pass through recurring swamps and forests. Fall of Alchemy’s soundtrack skillfully captures both the energy of cheerfulness of apprentice banter, and the energy of battles, which players can relive through the included soundtrack. Gamers may choose from the game’s original Japanese dialog or opt for the title’s English option, which continues the trend of having each character have a distinct dialect. While hearing a hodge-podge of accents (including Ulrika’s southern twang) was initially bemusing, most players will likely appreciate the vocal variety of the cast.