Actraiser 2 - Worthy Sequel or Complete Failure?

[@Xygor]

What was the most memorable part of Actraiser 2 to you? Please consider supporting me at www.patreon.com/xygorgaming OR through KZbin membership by clicking the JOIN button above!

[@Durahan82]

Besides the new look of the "Lord" *Conan with wings* and the new combat moves , the difficulty made it NOT enjoyable.

[@fernandogonzalezvera3271]

The hellhole named “Gratis”

[@davidaitken8503]

The challenge and the nearly bottomless depth to the combat mechanics is what I love the most about Actraiser 2. As much as I love the first one, Actraiser 2 truly is a better game, even if it is missing the unique aspect of two types of gameplay. I have been playing it since I first got it for Christmas the year it came out and I still don't feel as though I have truly mastered it despite beating it countless times on hard. You are one of the most powerful and capable characters in gaming history in this game, able to decimate tons of enemies and even bosses quickly, without any no skill screen clearing spells like the first game. Understanding how to be a badass takes practice and learning how collision detection works and how to exploit invulnerability frames. Becoming all powerful is truly earned in this game, as you'll get your ass handed to you until you understand how to play the game. Easily one of my top 5 SNES games, hell any game, period.

[@Kelvryn]

Failure. They stripped out the best part of Actraiser.

[@NickEnlowe]

Yes, it's worthy. Gets crapped on because it's different, but it's got some of the most technically impressive music and pixel art of the entire 16-bit era and offers a completely unique playstyle that grows on you and can get addicting. It was a huge oversight that the simulation aspect was gone (why hasn't someone romhacked this game to add simulation stages???), but the improved action stage gameplay, the atmospheric levels, and the impressive musical score makes up for it, IMO.

[@pistachoduck9128]

Style over substance basically

[@NickEnlowe]

​@@pistachoduck9128 The gameplay control is literally substance, though. It's amazing how advanced you can get with the intricacies in the unique gameplay. Check out a speedrun sometime and you might be surprised.

[@davidaitken8503]

@@pistachoduck9128 Nope. Actraiser 2 has an insane amount of depth. I've beat it countless times on hard mode and I still don't feel as though I have truly mastered the game. There is more depth to the combat and controls than 20 games of this era combined.

[@wt701]

@Brainache facts you literally have to master every single move he has and know when to use which in order to succeed

[@Smaug1]

This and Demon's Crest were my favorite Super NES games. The graphics are still stunning today. The music is good, but not great. I think that is what I miss most about the old games: they had good melodies, even without CD quality sound. Example? NES Castlevania music. To really appreciate how well it holds up, go on YT and find your favorite CV sound, but played by Nestalgica.

[@Xygor]

Right on! Both look fantastic. I reviewed Demon’s Crest too!

[@davidaitken8503]

One of the best games ever made, period! For those of you that think your character is too slow and weak, you should really learn how to play the game. Even on hard, you are one of the most OP characters in gaming history if you know what you are doing.

[@felipepereira214]

I missed the simulation part so much, especially because of the improved graphics and wasted possibilities.

[@stevenr224]

We loved the game and I know, I never finished. I think my brother did. or at least crashed with the sky castle into one of the last level. Still today, wen we see rays of light coming thru a clouded sky, we call it a actraiser sky.

[@jcrowellz2000]

I have both. 1 is an early snes classic game. Honestly, can't tell you much an Actraiser 2 because I never got past that first level! Enix sure did turn the difficulty up to 11 from the start here. I'm no novice either, have beaten Castlevania 3, Megaman 1-6 and X, Link to the Past and many others without game genie or save states. Actraiser 1 wasn't nearly as difficult. This one looks and sounds great though

[@davidaitken8503]

I have beaten Actraiser 2 so many times over the years I've lost count. I'm about to blow your mind too. I play it on hard exclusively. It really comes down to knowing how the collision detection works. You don't take damage while the enemy flashes for a split second and using the invulnerability of the downward strike as well as the downward dive defensively is essential. There is so much depth to this game that I still don't feel as though I have truly mastered it.

[@SrSacaninha]

Back in the day, this game was BEYOND amazing. All it's aspects excel in quality. It's got something that keeps dragging you back in, despite the difficulty. I feel like it is kind of underrated, honestly. The one aspect that really suck with me is the way the character moves. It feels clunky and slow the first time you play it, but once it clicks, it really informs the pace of the game. This one is a gem.

[@zorhamorningstar3862]

In Actraiser I, I felt like a God. In Actraiser II, I felt like an Arch Angel. These are two thematically different games. In the first, my actions felt like they had weight and meaning for the mortals I protected. In the second, I felt had no free will and followed a pre scrpited narrative. Some years later I did some XML scripting for a video game company, and I finally realized that all story based games are like that. But the truly exceptional ones give you the illusion of choice.

[@alexandreantunescosta6216]

You make a very good point👍 Even calmed down my religious fever. Love the action of AR2, but in AR1 you have more opportunities for empathy, and the music that accompanies this human contact is simply beautiful😍

[@Durahan82]

Hey Xygor , did you try Actraiser Renaissance yet ?

[@karllogan8809]

Yea you said it. Had they changed the name to Archangel's Quest or something to that effect it would've made most critics and gamers top 25 greatest SNES games of all time list.

[@mugsofmirth8101]

I played the original Act Raiser and had a great time. I liked both the world building stages and the action/platform stages. I never played Act Raiser 2 because honestly I never knew it even existed until recently. After seeing yours and other reviews on it I agree - this game looks awesome but probably would have been more successful if they didn't market it as the sequel to Act Raiser. It looks like they took the action aspect of the original and improved on it so much that they had to throw out the world building aspect. It seems to me that because they were pushing the system to it's limits there was simply no room for the world building stages. I wonder if there is any possibility for a modern update of this game with world building added now that the technical limitations are now a thing of the past. Nice review keep up the good work 👍👍

[@arielconstante212]

This video should have ten times more views! Loved Actraiser 2. The bosses and stages are amazing! The difficulty is brutal, and the controls are heavy, but still a great game! I remember seeing the floating head in the underwater stage... That scared the shit of me back in the day!

[@alexandreantunescosta6216]

Yes! Finally someone showing Actraiser 2 some love!!! You're god, beating the shit out of incarnated sins, straight from the foul source. Gorgeous pixel art, challenge action. Insta like!!!

[@AJHyoton]

Review sums up this game very well. Combat needs to be focused on being deliberate and pattern recognition. Also, you need to learn how to pilot your sprite properly. The most memorable part of this is the magic system. Using the system requires practice, for execution, and timing, for inflicting the most damage. However, the feeling you get when you completely own one of these bosses that gave you such a hard time earlier makes the payoff pretty sweet, but you cannot get there without patience. A lot of people wrote this game off because they didn't know what it really was, but they knew it wasn't ActRaiser. This is the game for those who appreciate good defense in football, or a brilliant fielding play in baseball, or baseball overall as opposed to basketball. I still play this game today and love it. The labyrinthian levels are beautiful, the music is epic, and the boss fights are grueling and highly satisfying upon victory. There is a lot more replay value than meets the eye, and I still have not beaten it on the Hard difficulty level

[@Xygor]

Thanks for your thoughts!

[@daryl4841]

Glad to hear you and many others enjoy this game. Its to be savored like a fine wine. The graphics are beautiful, one of the very best on the system. Once you get used to the hazards and enemy patterns it becomes an extremely satisfying game.

[@gwgux]

ActRaiser 2....Yeah, I'm divided on this one. The good: music, graphics, new sky palace The bad: Controls, no simulations, and largely ignores the people It is a fun game, but much of the difficulty comes from the controls and not the stage and enemy design unfortunately. It's too cumbersome IMO. The original was just pick up and play, this one requires practicing all the moves you can make and getting all the timings down which is pretty annoying for a platformer IMO. Looking at how they upgraded the game play for ActRaiser Renaissance, I which that was what they did for ActRaiser 2. That, to me, feels more like a upgrade to game-play for a sequel. ActRaiser 2 had me pretty frustrated because it felt more like the controls were holding me back when I got stuck on certain areas. As for the missing simulation aspect of it, I think it would've been more forgivable if they had another way to interact with the people. If they did something where the people could pray to the god and then you go on some side quests/stages for them, it could've been better. At least that way, you'd be able to have some more story elements worked in there and having the god actually be the god for the people which was a big part of the charm from the original.

[@davidaitken8503]

The controls are excellent. You just have to learn how to play it. The enormous amount of depth is why Actraiser 2 is so much better than the first one, despite lacking the combination of two play styles. I normally hate speed runners, as they seem to win by avoiding everything, but I actually think you should watch this video as they do a better job than I can explaining the intricacies of the play mechanics and collision detection. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmOxg5qFoLiIrcU

[@tomg8062]

Great vid man, really enjoying the selection of games you've been covering. Keep getting after it

[@DaedalosC9]

one of the best game I played also one of the most difficult, but with a bit of practice u manage to understand and learn the new moves and spells to make em work.

[@raphaelturtle4146]

I never put it together before but this game gives a real "chakan: the forever man" vibe.

[@ghastlynavigator]

Wow....you are so right! Chakan is one of the coolest looking characters ever created too. I rarely hear anyone mention that game ever. Kudos my friend!

[@davidaitken8503]

How so? Chakan is dark and drab, with bad audio. Chakan has more move variety than some games, but not nearly the amount of depth that Actraiser 2 has. Am I missing something?

[@Will-vj5bc]

It's the biggest disappointment probably of that entire generation for me. Getting rid of the simulation section is one thing, but the real issue is how slow this one plays. Your character's jump is just painfully slow. Enemies take way too many hits to kill at times. The first game is much snappier/faster paced. Oh, and the soundtrack for the first game is way better too. There are tons of memorable tracks from the first game that I can think of right now and I honestly cant' think of a single one from the sequel. And I owned both games and beat this one on the hardest difficulty setting. The first one just way more fun/enjoyable to play.

[@roguerifter9724]

Its a good game but a bad sequel IMO. It basically removed what made the first game unique.

[@willmistretta]

The main issue with this game is the learning curve. It's incredibly technical for a 16-bit action-platformer. Your character has so many moves and techniques and the game actually expects you to master them and know when to use each one. There's even multiple ways to cancel or complete a dive depending on where and how you want to land. It's fun once you get it down, but that's going to take time.

[@LK.Cynric]

Enjoyed the review, really nice. Never played 2 but really liked 1. I should try 2 someday.

[@Xygor]

You should!

[@cassiaro]

FINALLY someone giving the game justice. Such a waste that a title with that level of work put into it had to be eternally doomed by people expecting the simulation parts of the original.

[@CobraShuttle]

I'm good at video games and I couldn't beat one level on easy.

[@kylewillett9110]

For me it was a let down because the favorite part of the first one was building the little town and interacting with the towns people. I found the action portion to be the more difficult part for me.

[@i-yell-a-lot4906]

GHOULS-N-GHOSTS IS NIGHTMARE FUEL LIKE CUPHEAD AND SEKIRO

[@ghastlynavigator]

Great game but it should have never abandoned the originals simulation parts...I feel like it was lacking and less memorable because of this. I always replay the 1st but rarely the 2nd.

[@user-wf8do7uf8v]

Nice video! I've beaten this game on Hard, it took me a couple of days, but I did it and it was rewarding. The game certainly rewards skill and patience. It's a shame it's name is "ActRaiser" otherwise it would do far better commercially, and would have a potential to be a classic. What do you think about ActRaiser Renaissance?

[@Xygor]

Thank you! I haven't played Renaissance so I can't really weigh in there.

[@jackthehamner7968]

Good job on the channel man... final fantasy tactics would be a food video

[@Xygor]

Coming eventually!

[@ronbizzy1000]

This game has one of the best soundtracks ever in any game

[@Xygor]

It's solid!

[@eppskevin]

I have a confession.. I liked actraiser 2 over 1

[@Durahan82]

Heretic !

[@AYANAMlREl]

gameplay is better in sequel imo

[@davidaitken8503]

Me too. I enjoyed the first one but the gameplay is pretty shallow and simplistic. Even after beating Actraiser 2 on hard countless times over the years, I still don't feel as though I have truly mastered it.

[@johnm.7621]

Maybe i played actraiser 1 in my childhood, but don't quote me on this. One way or the other, this game looks interesting, i like these kind of monsters and enemies, they look very appealing to me. Only the hero looks kind of cheesy. But that's more or less a matter of taste. One way or the other or whatever, very nice video thumbs up, i like the retro stuff its to my liking.

[@shaggy_snacks]

I feel like by dropping the simulation part of Act Raiser 1, it made Act Raiser 2 feel more generic. Even though it's art style and detailed sprite work is amazing, at the end of the day it was just another action platformer on a system that had a lot of action platformers. I agree with the point that if Act Raiser 2 had been renamed a differently, the game would've had a different legacy.

[@claytonkuhlman5040]

It's a great game, but when it came out I have to admit I skipped it when I found out it didn't have the simulation aspect.

[@btk22279]

I remember renting it and hating it. Didn't live up to the original at all for me.

[@anthony1113]

Live the FF3 Music at the end lol

[@Xygor]

Such a classic

[@bd519]

Remember renting this from tommy ks, man it was so hard!

[@woodwart]

I think the battle system was poor which made with difficult. The flying and attacking were very awkward. That’s where the difficulty comes from. Lots of different mixes you can do but limited in how much you can use them. They should have made the hero control and attack freer. It would have been better with the simulation bits, but I don’t think that’s why people didn’t keen it. The controls of the hero sucked which made the game hard. That’s it

[@davidaitken8503]

The controls are excellent, the combat system a bottomless well of depth, and there is so much more you can do with flying, diving, and the jumping downward strike than what you seem to realize. Easily one of the greatest games ever made, if you have the patience to learn how to play it. You should watch this, as these guys do a better job of explaining all of the intricacies of the movement and combat than I can. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmOxg5qFoLiIrcU

[@Dragonangel426]

Oh, and in order to see the last level and the true ending you have to play on hard mode.

[@mikereyes2488]

After beating Actraiser multiple times as a kid I was disappointed at it's sequel, I remember I couldn't even beat the beginning stages and it frustrated me, so ya is it a good game? it's ok. Did I like it? Hell No lol Actraiser 1 ftw. Also I'm looking forward to it's remake that recently came out

[@tonypacino7034]

Cant wait to see this

[@Safersephiroth777]

By removing the simulation stuff they lost their uniquness though.

[@Seththebot]

Should have just named this game Super Kid Icarus and properly set everyone’s expectations.

[@daviddavidson6289]

Save scummed my whole way through on snes9x.

[@tonymarsala6939]

Great review

[@Xygor]

Thanks, did you agree with me on the difficulty factor?

[@tonymarsala6939]

@@Xygor actually yes I was a huge fan of the first game, When I saw this at the rental store I was excited,only to find out the controlling was difficult trying to learn to fly,no sim either, overall I was let down. I subscribed to your channel I love your reviews on retrogames Keep up the great work bro And happy holidays as well 😎

[@DavidBentley23]

I owned a copy of ActRaiser on the day it released and got good enough that I could beat the game on the arcade mode without losing a life. I rented ActRaiser 2 after it came out and couldn't beat the first level on easy...I may have sucked, but that still doesn't make it less disappointing to this day. The franchise died with this game and sadly from what I hear about the new reboot...it ended up mediocre. I felt the huge potential of the franchise with the first game and was looking for further innovation that never came. I tried the game again a few years ago and beat the first two levels, but the speed of Angel Schwarzenegger just was annoying/frustrating. I just kinda hate this game for what it did and for what it was despite the incredible effort that was put into the look/music. Actraiser's shadow just looms too large for me to separate the two games.

[@apoena-allnitemusic7203]

For me it's maybe the best game on the System. Or I mean maybe the best game ever since there is no system better then SNes.

[@jdelix]

"How to kill a game series that wasn't all-too popular to begin with" I liked the first Actraiser, one of the best flawed games on the SNES, but the sequel is honestly unplayable. I have never understood who this game was meant to appeal to. It's a slow, methodical, clunky, frustrating game.

[@chojinnppp]

Beautiful game, and very hard.

[@Sparkbomber]

Frankly? The most memorable aspect is the UN-fun gameplay experience. Not only does it lack the sim mode from the original, but the brutal difficulty makes it unfit for children or unskilled players. I fell into the former back then, but I do recall being very, very disappointed. Actraiser is and remains one of my favorite games. Its sequel not so much, though I love the visuals and music.

[@jackburton6239]

You should go back and play this game. It is really worth the time to learn how to play. Once I learned the usefulness of the dive it got much easier.

[@CobaltContrast]

The SIM part was the best part of the series.

[@slaysomemore]

Absolutely not. They took out the most fun reason to play the first one :(

[@AYANAMlREl]

play simcity if you liked sim part in first game so much

[@davidaitken8503]

I enjoyed the unique combination of the two play styles in the first game, but the sequel absolutely blows it away with its' insane amount of depth and skill. Don't believe me? Listen to some of the explanations these guys give as to how to play the game. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmOxg5qFoLiIrcU