MagnaCarta 2

Gameplay

In MagnaCarta 2, the player controls their characters from a third-person perspective, usually in one of two "Modes". In Movement Mode, the player explores the area, talks with other characters and interacts with the environment. In Combat Mode, the player character enters a battle stance, which lets them fight enemies at the cost of slower movement speed.

The game's battle system combines strategic turn-based and real-time elements and battles directly occur in the field, with no loading screens. Up to three active members can be in the field at any one time, with the remaining three members waiting to be switched in. The player can choose between using normal attacks or moves that use Kan, a type of energy. These Kan moves generate or use Kan. If all three active members' hit points reach zero, the game is over and the player restarts from their last save point.

As the player presses the attack button, their character's "Overdrive" gauge will fill up. Once full, the character will enter an "Overdrive" state, where their attack power is increased. However, once the player can no longer attack, their character will fall into an "Overheat" state, rendering them unable to attack until the gauge lowers enough for them to attack again. Players can use this gauge to their advantage by using "Chain Drives"—the process of Overdriving one character into Overheat, immediately switching to another character already present, then Overdriving them as well. This frees both members' Overdrive gauges, enabling both to attack without hindrance. Players can also use Solo and Co-op Techniques, which unleash devastating combination attacks on their target.

The player collects Kamonds to power-up weapons via their accompanying "Kamond Board". Kamonds are also used to strengthen characters and craft new items. Kamonds are usually obtained by defeating monsters or Sentinels, but can also be found in treasure chests or as rewards for finishing quests. At Kamond Shops, players can craft to turn Kamonds into new accessories. Recipes and money are needed to craft with Kamonds. Recipes are earned as rewards for completing certain quests.

Story

MagnaCarta 2 is set in the fictional kingdom of Lanzheim, divided by an ongoing civil war between the Northern Forces, led by the usurper Shuenzeit Baron; and the Southern Forces, led by Rzephilda "Zephie" Berlinette, the Princess of Lanzheim. In response to the Northern Forces' "Sentinels"—destructive, living weapons based on the extinct Carta race—Zephie forms the Counter-Sentinel Unit in order to turn the tide. However, while trying to find the Sentinels' weakness, Zephie's bodyguard Rue is captured by the Northern Forces. Zephie goes to rescue her friend: however, as they make their escape, they are intercepted by Schuenzeit's best soldier, Elgar the Regicide. Zephie takes Elgar's killing blow to Rue and despite what should have been a mortal wound, drives Elgar away.

Two years later, on Highwind Island, an ancient weapon similar to the Sentinels is discovered in the island's ancient ruins. Because of this, Juto—a young amnesiac with a fear of swords—soon encounters Zephie and Argo, who came to investigate the weapon for the Southern Forces. Learning that Northern Forces soldiers have arrived in the ruins and remembering that his adoptive sister, Melissa, had gone there earlier, Juto volunteers to guide the Counter-Sentinel Unit members to the ruins. Upon arrival, they find that the Northern Forces have activated the weapon. When the weapon injures Melissa, Juto single-handedly destroys the weapon in a berserker rage.

Development

After developing Magna Carta: Tears of Blood, a team of 40 at Softmax partnered with Namco Bandai to create MagnaCarta 2 for the Xbox 360, using the Unreal Engine 3.

Development of MagnaCarta 2 began between 2004 and 2005, taking over 4 years to finish.

Reception

The game received generally mixed reviews from critics, earning an aggregate Metacritic score of 69. IGN criticized the battle system stating, "this feels almost archaic and could have been run on a PS1, enemy AI is almost non-existent and character abilities are generic." Robert Townslend of Game Informer said, "While the story starts off having the potential to be great, it quickly degrades into the same old story of a young man with no memories saving a kingdom. This has only been done thousands of times in other games." Annette Gonzalez of Game Informer was more positive, citing that the "[b]attles are intuitive and addicting, although awkward camera angles can sometimes hinder combat"; and praising the voice cast, saying the fully voiced dialogue is a "vast improvement over Tears of Blood."