In its renowned sequel, Fear & Hunger 2: Terminus maintains the foundations that defined the success of its predecessor, but now enhances the experience through improvements in gameplay, map design, mechanics, and characters.

The story presents a completely different proposition, where 14 characters are forced to participate in a macabre Death Game to achieve their individual goals. The plot remains well-written/complex, and its difficulty continues with the challenging level that characterizes it, as it is not a simple, let alone an easy game. Progression is built through trial and error until the player becomes accustomed to the dynamics of the objectives to be completed, thus the game continues to playfully disregard the player, being intentionally cruel and stressful.

Its oppressive atmosphere creates an immersive experience for those seeking a game outside the so-called traditional standards, even though it may not please everyone due to the more graphic themes and content presented.

The compelling characters are part of the game's greater essence, each with a unique story, attractive personalities, notable charisma, and sensational interactions with each other.

Fear & Hunger Terminus does an excellent job of combining elements of horror, turn-based RPGs, and survival in its grotesque style. Although it still has some technical issues, such as general bugs, the fact that it doesn't crash on its own like the previous one is already a major differentiator.

For me, this second game has solidified its place as one of the best titles on RPG Maker, by far my favorite on the platform.

It is indeed an excellent introduction for those who are unfamiliar with the franchise, as well as a great treat for long-time fans. The game raises the already established standards of the Tales series.

The story, as usual, will follow the most anime formula possible, in its first half showing the journey of a hero who needs to free the world, but it will shape itself into a much grander plot. Don't get me wrong, the initial part of the plot is really useful, especially in terms of exploring the kingdoms, however the second half disappoints by becoming excessively accelerated, where the lack of previous explanations combines into a final stretch that is more confusing than enlightening. .

Even with my appreciation for everything that Tales of Arise sets out to accomplish, it is undeniable that the game is not without flaws, quite the contrary, there are problems easily observed within the long hours offered to the player. Notable issues, such as the lack of a certain polish in some special animations, small bugs spread throughout the maps/combats, recycled enemies (to give you an idea, there are 25 base monsters that are repeated throughout the game, but with different skins, totaling more than 100 identical types, what changes are the colors), in addition to several empty areas that limit the interactivity of the world. Despite the flaws, many of these factors were particularly highlighted by me due to the excellent presentation of other aspects of the game, such as its extremely fun gameplay, its addictive combat system and its memorable Boss Fights, which add that epic layer full of positive exaggerations.

As for gameplay, which is its strongest point, the game innovates and improves on previous traditional battle systems, getting the customization of combos right. Combat is fluid, dynamic and strategic, avoiding any feeling of monotony due to the diversity of skills presented, in which each protagonist has a specific style to enjoy.

The characters enjoy an engaging development through the sketches, where the player can get to know each one better, although not deeply enough to become attached to their stories, they are standard but likeable characters. The striking soundtrack complements the atmosphere well (the openings are also sensational) and the beautiful graphics along with the art direction contribute to the overall immersion. It is undoubtedly a worthy title to celebrate 25 years of the "Tales of" series, being a rich addition to the JRPG genre.

A mega creative 2D RPG, where the main principle revolves around hunting bugs within the game itself.

You can clearly see all the effort the "Dev" put into making it such a unique and enjoyable experience. There are countless possibilities for choices, granting players the freedom to shape their own path in a more than chaotic narrative.

The gameplay is completely unpredictable, as you cannot foresee the next mechanic that will be implemented. This is due to the enormous amount of clear references to other popular franchises (Fnaf, Undertale, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, etc.), with countless brilliant nods incorporated. As a result, the entire game is based on being a complete satire of the chosen style, featuring charismatic characters and sharp humor, not to mention the fourth-wall breaks resulting in unique dialogues.

It's short enough to keep you engaged, but it can become too long to explore all the present content, making replayability its major flaw. You need a lot of patience to observe the details inserted in the game or even to pursue all of its achievements.

In summary, I consider tERRORbane a true hidden gem due to its excellent concept, and it's definitely a recommendation for its very well-executed realization, filled with unmatched elements that give it an undeniable personality.

The worst in the series.

I got through all of the game's content looking for something interesting to do as a longtime Metal Gear player. The best it had to offer were the OSP missions in chapter 2, and that's not enough. 3 boring boss fights, and the freedom allowed crippled the game as far as challenge goes due to how easily exploitable the dog and Rocket Punch are. I could not find the fun even S ranking every mission with no alerts and reflex-mode disabled.

I am on the side of the fence that believes something good could've been done here had Kojima been allowed to finish the game and not been forced to adhere to a 2015 release date, but we're reviewing the game we got and not the one it could've been.

I usually give at least a 2/5 to something I was able to get through, or something I could realistically see myself getting through, but I only got through this due to the series and its creator's legacies. It's a 1/5.