Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins

Aggregate score
GameRankings	69.32% [1]
Review score
IGN	7.7/10 [2]

Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins
Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins
Developer(s)	Matrix Software
Publisher(s)	JP: SCEI ; WW: Activision ;
Director(s)	Yasuhiro Ohori; Masumi Takimoto
Producer(s)	Mika Hayashi (executive); Tad Horie (associate)
Designer(s)	Takahiro Kaneko; Yasuhiro Ohori
Programmer(s)	Yasuhiro Matsumoto (character)
Writer(s)	Hiroshi Miyaoka
Composer(s)	Kōhei Tanaka
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release	JP: November 18, 1999; NA: February 29, 2000; EU: June 2000; AU: 2000;
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Last updated March 08, 2019

Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins(アランドラ2 魔進化の謎,Arandora 2 Ma Shinka no Nazo, Alundra 2: The Mystery of Magic Evolution) is an action role-playing game developed by Matrix Software for the Sony PlayStation. It was published by SCEI in Japan and Activision worldwide.

Action role-playing video games are a subgenre of role-playing video games. The games emphasize real-time combat where the player has direct control over the characters as opposed to turn or menu-based combat. These games often use action game combat systems similar to hack and slash or shooter games. Action role-playing games may also incorporate action-adventure games, which include a mission system and RPG mechanics, or massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) with real-time combat systems.

Matrix Software is a Japanese video game development company located in Tokyo. Founded in July 1994 by former members of Climax Entertainment and Telenet Japan, the company has since created games for a number of systems beginning with their action-adventure game title Alundra in April 1997. Matrix has teamed with other developers such as Square Enix and Chunsoft to produce games for existing franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, as well as other anime and manga properties. In addition to game console development, Matrix Software has also made games for various Japanese mobile phone brands since 2001.

PlayStation (console) Fifth-generation and first home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment

The PlayStation is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The console was released on 3 December 1994 in Japan, 9 September 1995 in North America, 29 September 1995 in Europe, and 15 November 1995 in Australia. The console was the first of the PlayStation lineup of home video game consoles. It primarily competed with the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn as part of the fifth generation of video game consoles.

Unlike its predecessor, Alundra , Alundra 2 features a 3D look which opens up a new world of puzzles. Also, despite its title, Alundra 2 is a standalone sequel, and has no ties with the original. It has a whole new story with a different set of characters, including the main character, Flint. Compared to the darker storyline of Alundra, Alundra 2 has a more light-hearted storyline.

Alundra, released in Europe as The Adventures of Alundra, is an action-adventure video game developed by Matrix Software for the PlayStation, originally released in 1997.

Gameplay

Alundra 2 is an action role-playing game that has the environment in 3D, the character can be moved in all directions, and the camera can be manually rotated 360 degrees. Gameplay consists of fighting enemies, interacting with character NPCs, puzzle solving, platforming, and exploration. The story is presented through text and voiced cutscenes.

Three-dimensional space is a geometric setting in which three values are required to determine the position of an element. This is the informal meaning of the term dimension.

A non-player character (NPC), also known as a non-playable character, is any character in a game which is not controlled by a player. In video games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer via algorithmic, predetermined or responsive behavior, but not necessarily true artificial intelligence. In traditional tabletop role-playing games, the term applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster or referee, rather than another player.

A cutscene or event scene is a sequence in a video game that is not interactive, breaking up the gameplay. Such scenes could be used to show conversations between characters, set the mood, reward the player, introduce new gameplay elements, show the effects of a player's actions, create emotional connections, improve pacing or foreshadow future events.

The player controls Flint, a young swordsman and silent protagonist. Flint uses a sword to fight enemies and he carries a shield which gives passive damage reduction; stronger versions of both are obtainable throughout the game. Flint can also learn additional successive strikes for his sword, known as combos, by collecting items called Puzzle Pieces and exchanging them with the character Lord Jeehan. The game also features unique magical ring items which grant Flint special powers such as the abilities to float in place or traverse over harmful lava.

Story

Alundra 2's story is set in the kingdom of Varuna. Mephisto, a powerful sorcerer is using magical wind-up keys to control humans and turn animals into mindless, violent machines. Flint is a pirate hunter wanted for treason, and he is after the pirates that caused his parents' death.

The game begins with Flint infiltrating a flying airship. Inside, he finds the ship is staffed by humanoid robots; there are conspicuous keys protruding from their backs and their speech is unintelligible. Also on board is a family of three pirates: Zeppo, Albert, and Ruby. Flint eavesdrops on their conversation and it is mentioned that Mephisto can create "mechanical men" through a technology that only he understands. Baron Diaz, untrusting of Mephisto, tasks the pirates with keeping an eye on him.

Flint is discovered and attacked by Zeppo. The resulting battle damages the interior of the ship and causes it to crash. Flint falls into the sea and washes onto a shore where he is found by a villager and taken in. After recovering, he meets Princess Alexia and joins forces with her. Alexia explains that her father is missing and she knows that Baron Diaz used the pirates to get rid of him.

In their search for incriminating proof, Flint and Alexia encounter Mephisto, battle with his mechanical abominations, and investigate the suspicious "Church of the Key". They are eventually detained by Mephisto and taken by sea to Varuna. Flint is thrown overboard, but he survives and reaches the capital to confront Baron Diaz. The Baron threatens Alexia's life and tasks Flint with retrieving three relics in exchange for her safety. Flint is told to enlist the help of the three pirates he had met before: Zeppo, Albert, and Ruby. They assist him in entering the ruins. Flint goes through the ruins and does battle with their ancient guardians to obtain the three relics.

Flint returns to Baron Diaz and delivers the relics, and the Baron uses them to enter a tower in search of the lost treasure of Varuna. Mephisto follows the Baron inside and reads a mural on a wall. He explains that there are a set of instructions on the mural and that yet another relic is required before the instructions can be completed. Flint is ordered to retrieve a fourth relic and he battles through more dungeons in search of the relic. Along the way, he meets an enslaved dragon named Tirion. Flint frees him and the dragon flies him back to Varuna.

After Flint returns the final relic, it is set in place and the machinery of the tower is activated. Mephisto reveals that there isn't a lost treasure of Varuna and that he had built the tower two thousand years ago in order to calculate the coordinates of the nerve-center of the planet. A wizard named Lumiere, however, prevented Mephisto from entering by sealing the tower. Mephisto then inserts a key into the Baron, turning him into a mechanical monster. After Flint defeats the monster, Baron Diaz returns to normal. Outside of the capital, Mephisto raises his Star Key, a giant key-shaped structure, out of the sea. His intention is to use its power to mutate the planet and take control.

Tirion flies Flint, Alexia, Zeppo, Albert, and Ruby to the Star Key to confront Mephisto. Flint makes his way through the dungeon and he finds that Zeppo has been captured. Mephisto appears and inserts a key into Zeppo, also turning him into a mechanical monster. Flint defeats the monster, returning Zeppo to his former state, and then faces Mephisto in battle. Flint kills Mephisto and the Star Key collapses into the sea. The group escapes on the back of Tirion; Flint and Alexia share an embrace as they fly away.

Reception

The game received an average score of 69.32% at GameRankings, based on an aggregate of 25 reviews,^[1] and was much less successful than its predecessor.

GameRankings website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating

GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 video games.

IGN gave Alundra 2 a score of 7.7 out of 10. After praising its predecessor Alundra as "one of the PlayStation's best action/RPG's" and its storyline as "one of the darkest storylines of any role-playing games in existence," the reviewer stated that Alundra 2 "just doesn't stack up" and that, "even though the writing was exceptional, it didn't make up for the fact that the game had a really fruity storyline." However, he stated that he enjoyed "the game's puzzles and was very impressed with the localization job by Activision," but that "the game was really hurt by its less than precise controls, annoyingly difficult boss battles," "uninspiring music, and graphical glitches." He concluded that, "pretend that this has nothing to do with the original Alundra or Zelda, and you'll probably enjoy this game just fine. It's definitely one of the top five action/RPG's on the PlayStation."^[2]

IGN is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, itself wholly owned by j2 Global. The company is located in San Francisco's SOMA district and is headed by its former editor-in-chief, Peer Schneider. The IGN website was the brainchild of media entrepreneur Chris Anderson and launched on September 29, 1996. It focuses on games, films, television, comics, technology, and other media. Originally a network of desktop websites, IGN is now also distributed on mobile platforms, console programs on the Xbox and PlayStation, FireTV, Roku, and via YouTube, Twitch, Hulu, and Snapchat.

Related Research Articles

Mephisto is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Silver Surfer #3 and was introduced in the Marvel universe by Stan Lee and John Buscema, based on Mephistopheles – a demon character from the Faust legend, who often went by Mephisto as a nickname.

Blackheart is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an adversary to the superhero Ghost Rider. Created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist John Romita Jr., Blackheart first appeared in Daredevil #270.

Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted commonly as an adversary of Doctor Strange. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #111. Baron Mordo is a gifted magician, especially adept in the black arts of magic, including summoning demons.

Mystic Towers is a video game created by Australian developer Animation F/X and published by Manaccom domestically and Apogee Software internationally. Originally exclusive to DOS, it was re-released on Steam in 2015 with Windows and Mac OS support. It stars Baron Baldric, an old wizard with a magic staff and an array of amusing mannerisms, who must quest through twelve towers and rid them of monsters. Mystic Towers is a sequel to Baron Baldric: A Grave Adventure, a platform game in which Baron Baldric battled an evil sorcerous ancestor. The earlier game, originally written for the Amiga and later ported to the PC, was published by Manaccom and not released outside of Australia.

<i>Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories</i> video game

Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories, known in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Shin Duel Monsters (遊戯王真デュエルモンスターズ封印されし記憶), is a video game loosely based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime series.

Debrah Ann Miceli is an Italian American monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She currently also serves as the commissioner of Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom. She is best known under her ring names Madusa and Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she once held the AWA World Women's Championship. In 1988, she was the first woman to be awarded Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Rookie of the Year. The following year, she signed a contract with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, making her the first foreign wrestler to do so.

Hybrid Heaven is a video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. This game is most notable for its peculiar mix of genres: it has aspects of both role-playing video games and action-adventure games. The designers had hoped to create a "new style RPG battle system". It is also one of the few Nintendo 64 titles to support a widescreen mode.

Wild Arms 2, known in Japan as Wild Arms: 2nd Ignition, is a role-playing video game, and the second installment in the Wild Arms series, developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released in 1999 on the Sony PlayStation video game console, and in 2007 on the Sony PlayStation Network.

Satannish is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Battle Hunter, known in Japan as Battle Sugoroku: Hunter and in Europe as The Hunter, is an anime-styled tactical role-playing game, released for the PlayStation in 1999. It was released in Japan as part of the SuperLite 1500 series of budget games. The game revolves around a player-controlled hunter that must compete with three other hunters in order to win a relic, and makes heavy use of traditional RPG conventions such as dice and tile-based movement.

<i>Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon</i> (Game Boy) 1997 video game for Game Boy

Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon is a Goemon series Game Boy game released in 1998. Featuring gameplay similar to the Super Famicom title Ganbare Goemon 3: Shishijūrokubē no Karakuri Manji Gatame, the game presents a new story in which Yae has been kidnapped by the Black Ship Gang. Its release immediately followed the Nintendo 64 game of the same name.

Ghost Rider is a third-person, hack and slash game released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Game Boy Advance based on the movie of the same name, released worldwide in February 2007. The Xbox version of this game was originally planned for release, but cancelled.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, known as Takarajima Z: Barbaros no Hihō in Japan, is an adventure/puzzle video game published and developed by Capcom for the Wii video game console. It was first released in North America on October 23, 2007, and was later released in Japan, PAL regions, and as one of eight Wii launch games in South Korea. The game stars the aspiring pirate Zack and his monkey friend Wiki. Shortly after joining a pirate gang called "The Sea Rabbits", the pair discovers a talking skull belonging to the pirate captain Barbaros. In exchange for helping find all the pieces of the captain's cursed body, Barbaros promises to lead Zack and Wiki to the coveted "Treasure Island" and his legendary pirate ship.

<i>Muppet Monster Adventure</i> 2000 video game

Muppet Monster Adventure is a platform game for the Sony PlayStation developed by Magenta Software and Jim Henson Interactive in 2000, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Europe and Midway Home Entertainment in North America.

Ragnarök is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A cyborg clone of the hero Thor, Ragnarök has a similar appearance and abilities but uses them in opposition to the established heroes.

Artix Entertainment, LLC is an independent video game developer and publisher founded by Adam Bohn in October 2002. It is best known for creating browser-based role-playing video games—including AdventureQuest, DragonFable, MechQuest, and AdventureQuest Worlds—using Adobe Flash. The company released its first title for iOS and Android devices in March 2011, and is currently developing its first 3D game, AdventureQuest 3D, using the Unity game engine.

Knack is a platforming beat 'em up video game developed by SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 video game console. The game was released in November 2013 and in Japan in February 2014, where it was available as a bundle with the console.

Super 4 is a French-German CGI animated comedy adventure TV series that began in 2014, marking the 40th anniversary of the Playmobil toys that inspired it. It features a band of heroes who protect the inhabitants of the disparate worlds of Kingsland, the Enchanted Island, and the City of Technopolis, against calamities and enemies. It was commissioned by France Télévisions and co-produced by Method Animation, Norman Studios, Vision Globale, DQ Entertainment and Morgen Studios. It began airing August 2014 in French; English dubbing was done later. The series has been broadcast by several channels worldwide, such as CITV in the United Kingdom and Minimax TV in Central Europe, and in the United States, the terrestrial KidsClick block carried in syndication by stations associated with television station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Lost Reavers is a free-to-play multiplayer online game developed and published by Bandai Namco for the Wii U. The game is distributed via Nintendo eShop, and takes advantage of the Nintendo Network. A public beta test was being held in Japan from 3 September until 13 September, followed by the title's commercial release on 2 December 2015. The game also released internationally on 28 April 2016.

References

1 2 "Alundra 2 (PS)". GameRankings . Retrieved 2011-06-02.
1 2 Zdyrko, David (April 12, 2000). "Alundra 2". IGN . Retrieved 30 January 2012.

External links

Alundra 2 on IMDb

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[GR-1] 1 2 "Alundra 2 (PS)". GameRankings . Retrieved 2011-06-02.

[IGN-2] 1 2 Zdyrko, David (April 12, 2000). "Alundra 2". IGN . Retrieved 30 January 2012.

v t e Landstalker series
Video games	Landstalker Lady Stalker: Challenge from the Past Time Stalkers
Related	Dark Savior Alundra Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins Climax Entertainment