Brandish 2: The Planet Buster is an ambitious dungeon-crawling sequel that refines the unique, albeit polarizing, mechanics of its predecessor. Developed by Nihon Falcom, the game retains the distinctive perspective where the entire world rotates around the protagonist, Ares, whenever he turns. This "tank-style" orientation creates a claustrophobic, immersive experience that demands spatial awareness and patience from the player. While the first game felt like a singular climb out of a pit, this sequel expands the scope significantly, offering a sprawling adventure that feels more like a traditional RPG while maintaining its core identity as a grid-based survival trial.
The narrative pick-up sees Ares captured and stripped of his equipment, forcing a grueling escape from a high-security prison before venturing across the titular planet. The translation patch is essential here, as it uncovers a surprisingly deep world filled with interconnected lore, branching paths, and a much-improved magic system compared to the original. Combat remains a frantic dance of positioning and timing, but the addition of a dual-wielding mechanic and better inventory management makes the difficulty curve feel more rewarding than punishing. It is a masterclass in atmospheric 16-bit design, pushing the Super Famicom hardware to its limits with complex floor layouts and environmental puzzles.
Visually, the game leans into a gritty, medieval aesthetic that complements Falcom’s legendary sound team, who deliver a pulse-pounding synth-rock soundtrack that perfectly matches the tension of exploration. Despite its brilliance, the game’s late release in 1995 meant it never officially left Japanese shores, leaving Western audiences to rely on the dedicated fan translation community to experience this hidden gem. For those who can stomach the dizzying camera movement, it stands as one of the most mechanically deep and rewarding action-RPGs on the console, easily eclipsing the first entry in every measurable way.
