Review: Everhood 2 (Nintendo Switch)
I’ve never been a fan of “it’s funny ’cause it’s true” comedy. I’m more amused by things that catch me off guard—that surprise me and challenge me. Start a joke with “Did you ever notice…” and I start securing my exit route.
I now realize this can apply to video games, too. Take a look at the provided screen captures for Everhood 2 and you’ll know there’s something more to this. Well, there is, and that “something more” never quits surprising and challenging.
The game begins with a series of questions that get as personal as you’re willing to allow. You’re told that some of the questions will impact gameplay, but you’re not told which. Does your opinion on religion show up later?
Surprise and challenge.
When the game does start, you’re given little to go on. You’re a crudely drawn dude in a crudely drawn room with seemingly little more to do than change your hairstyle in a mirror. After poking around a bit, I found a way out of the room, only to be surrounded by an empty white nothing. But then there’s a hole. Jump in. And then there’s a…rhythm battle?
Yes, but it’s one you can’t win. You’re saved by a raven who teaches you how to fight back. Another rhythm battle. What exactly’s going on? Your guess is as good as the developer’s, it would seem. Over the course of about 10 hours, you’re basically shoved into odd scenarios where you need to…do something, I guess?
It’s like a deconstruction of RPGs in which you visit towns, take on quests to help those living there, battle a boss, then move closer to your final showdown with the Mind Dragon. Because of course.
Normally, I’m all about the narrative in my RPGs. Without interesting characters and a compelling story arc, it’s easy to lose interest. That’s not the case with Everhood 2; its shifting scenarios and bizarre presentation are enough to hold your attention throughout. It helps that the game is often quite funny despite its slow push to something more troubling.
I mentioned that the actual gameplay is rhythm based, so factor that into your decision on whether to try this one out. You’re basically placed on a fretboard with notes descending towards you. You can move left/right to dodge them, or you can jump. The timing is tricky, even on the easier levels, but you’ll get used to it. You’ll also have to get used to capturing notes, as that’s how you fight back. Hit the ZR button at the right time, and you’ll obtain energy from the note, not be damaged by it. You can then release that energy to damage your enemy.
The more energy you collect, the more powerful the attack. But be careful; if you’re hit by another note or try to capture the energy from the note of a wrong color, you lose it all. This challenge is often frustrating, especially when the bosses you’ve figured out change up their attacks. Again, though, this is an RPG, and aren’t these battle patterns part and parcel?
Gameplay does eventually settle into normalcy. The visuals change up occasionally, although that changeup itself kind of becomes normal, too, I guess.
The music remains fresh, though. You’ll jump and slide through over 100 songs (quite a few of which are quite good), and you’ll encounter plenty of characters in between sessions. They’re interesting to meet, but quickly forgotten.
I had the bizarre experience of playing Everhood 2 while also working through Xenoblade Chronicles X. What a changeup that is, eh? Both RPGs of sorts, but they couldn’t be further apart in gameplay and presentation. Yet I enjoyed them both almost equally. Unlike XCX, Everhood 2 is not a game you’ll want to sit and play for hours. It’s enjoyed in bursts, and it makes a great break from the complexity and minutiae of the games it deconstructs.
But with a keen sense of rhythm and a willingness to be led into unexpected territories (surprised and challenged), you’re going to have fun during those bursts.
