Fengshen Yanyi 2

Fengshen Yanyi 2
Game Information
Developer(s)	Fu-Qi
Publisher(s)	Examu
Genre(s)	Action RPG
Mode(s)	Single Player
Platform(s)
PlayStation 2
Date: 01/03/2002
Date: 01/03/2002
Date: 01/09/2003
Date: 01/09/2003
Rating(s)

Fengshen Yanyi 2 (封神演義2 Houshin Engi Tsu; 봉신연의2) is the sequel to Fengshen Yanyi and the first title of the series to be converted into 3D. While the game still retains its RPG elements, it acts more like an action title with Warriors inspired gameplay. It was going to be localized in the west as Fengshen Yanyi: Legends of Gods and Heroes, but plans seem to have been dropped.

The illustrations and character designs were done by Takeshi Okazaki. The character models in this game were used again in Mystic Heroes.

Plot

A magically gifted child born during wars between light and darkness was the birth of the Tao Clan, who protect the world's forgotten power of tao. After defeating Da Ji and King Zhou, Morning Song has a peaceful capital. However, rivalry between the Kunlun Sect and Nine Dragon Sect continues, with members of the Nine Dragon Sect seeking to conquer the living realm with dark powers. A young orphan named Ziya and his friend Bai Chang investigate a mysterious gate, encountering an unconscious girl named Li Lan.

Gameplay

Throughout the game, the player may only control the main protagonist, Ziya. Other party members follow his commands and movements in the world map and battle segments. His death during the game's story means the end of the game.

After one complete playthrough of the game, a Bonus section can be unlocked at the start screen. It includes a movie and music gallery.

Exploration

The main party can be controlled from an overhead perspective, with five characters at any time. Characters can activate passive abilities like healing, locating treasures, and increasing difficulty in encounters.

Pressing opens the main menu to check on the party's status, levels, and equipment. allows access to the saving/loading for the console's memory cards, the game's settings, a help menu, or a game quitting option. If the player forgets their main story objective, they can press R2 on the world map to have a party member restate it.

The world map displays entities color-coded, with Ziya's location, party members, and enemies colored blue, red, green, white, and black respectively. Travel is a point-and-click adventure, with players directing their party to the location's icon and pressing affirmative to enter it. Important areas have glowing white dots.

Towns behave in a manner not unlike Saiyuki: Journey West. A village offers minimal commands, but a capital city can offer a wide variety of spots. Towns may offer the following services through its own menu screen:

Inn - completely restores party's health, uses a mandatory day of game time

Jobs - optional side quests to obtain bonus experience or items for the party under a required time limit

Store - offers the chance to purchase paopei, or treasured items, to use or equip for the party

Grounds - talk with local residents. May also begin a conversation with party members to boost their affinity with Ziya.

Fortune - visits a fortune teller to reveal affinity level of party members with Ziya. A higher affinity level may affect a party member's willingness to help Ziya in combat. It may also slightly alter the game's script. Affinity ratings are color coded on their level. No color is the weakest, blue is the second level, red is high, and gold is maximum.

Story Location - necessary area to proceed with storyline. Always located at the bottom of the menu.

Grottoes are resting areas for mystics where players can purchase or upgrade their paopei, which automatically restores their health. They can travel to previously located grottos for revisiting areas. Obtaining rare or unique paopei involves talking to random passerby, locating a monk, or locating "Lithograph of Sanctuary" items.

Combat

Here are the default settings for battle commands:

- weak attack

- strong attack

or - magic from paopei

L1 - dash

L2 - request

R1 - defend

L2 and R2 - group attack

Battles occur in designated areas, with monsters attacking randomly or as mandatory encounters. The player can view the battlefield layout, with enemies and allies in blue and yellow respectively. Characters provide quotes based on difficulty. Players can swap party members, save, or change equipment.

Movement and controls during battle are similar to the Warriors series. Lifebars for the current party are located at the top of the screen, and the current health for enemies hovers above their heads. The player can move Ziya within the field's boundaries and can combine his normal attacks to create various combos. In the beginning, he can only create four hit combos by combining the weak and strong attacks (i.e.: , , ). Once he obtains better equipment, he can perform a longer chain of attacks.

Ziya's running animation allows quick speed bursts and "Rear Attacks" to deal critical hits. His magic gauge increases as he hits enemies, allowing him to use his equipped paopei for elemental attack magic or healing spells. During combat, party characters can request permission to use spells, actions, or attacks. Requests are based on a character's affinity for Ziya, which can be altered through conversations or keeping party members within the party.

The group's skill gauge is charged when requests are fulfilled, allowing for devastating attacks. The gauge can be maxed to four levels. Winning battles earns experience points and colored gems, which can be used for purchases or character upgrades. Players also receive bonus gems for certain actions during battle.

Characters

For players who may have the played game, the Japanese pronunciation and the Chinese/Japanese characters of their names will also be included.

Main Party

• Ziya - Shiga (子牙)
• Bai Chang - Hakushou (白唱)
• Lilan - Reiran (麗蘭)
• Taigong Wang - Taikoubou (太公望)
• Hualing - Karin (花鈴)
• Wen Zhong - Bunchuu (聞仲)
• Huang Tianhua - Koutenka (黄天祥)
• Huang Feihu - Kouhiko (黄飛虎)
• Deng Chanyu - Tousengyoku (鄧嬋玉)
• Yang Jian - Yousen (楊戩)
• Haitang - Kaidou (海棠)
• Nezha - Nata (哪咤)
• Leizhenzi - Raishinshi (雷震子)

Nine Dragon Sect

• King Shou - Juuou (受王)
• Lingbao Tianzun - Reiboutenson (霊宝天尊)
• Duobao Daoren - Tahodonshin (多宝道人)
• Chun Lei - Shunrai (春雷)
• Lingya Xian - Reigasen (霊牙仙)
• Qiushou Xian - Kyuushuusen (虯首仙)
• Wuyun Xian - Uunsen (烏雲仙)

Others

• King Wu of Zhou - Buou (武王)
• Zhuogong Dan - Shukoutan (周公旦)
• Uncle Guan - Kanshuku (管叔)
• Uncle Cai - Saishuku (蔡叔)
• Zhong Li - Juurei (重黎)
• Taishang Laojun - Taijourokun (太上老君)
• Yuanshi Tianzun - Genshintenden (元始天尊)
• Taiyi Zhenren - Taiitsusujin (太乙真人)
• Baihe - Hakkaku (白鶴)
• Emperor Ling - Reitei (霊帝)

External Links

• Official Japanese site
• Official Korean site
• Japanese commercial
• Preview video of Korean port
• All 24 possible group finisher combinations