Review of Everhood 2 on Nintendo Switch

Foreign Gnomes has whisked us back into their delightfully odd world with the release of Everhood 2, a sequel that expands on the peculiar charm of the original. When I first heard about Everhood 2, I admit I was taken by surprise, but it’s quickly proven to be the follow-up we never realized we needed. Building upon Everhood’s foundation, this sequel elevates the experience by enhancing and diversifying the familiar elements, while wearing its inspiration from Undertale openly—an homage that’s entirely welcome. Having reviewed the initial Everhood on the Nintendo console back in 2021, I was eager to dive back into this whimsical universe.

At the heart of Everhood 2 is the impact of your choices, shaping the course of your journey in unexpected ways. It kicks off with a simple yet revealing questionnaire, prompting you to consider what you value most in games—whether it’s the story, battles and challenges, unique experiences, or humor. Subsequently, you’ll choose how you prefer to tackle challenges, ranging from Story Mode to Hard difficulty. These decisions set the tone for your adventure, influencing how the game unfolds.

As you progress, you’ll be asked if you engage with every character in a room. Your responses here, along with others, further customize your experience. Is it tedious? For some, maybe, but these questions gradually delve a bit deeper, moving into more personal territory before finally determining the color of your soul—a neat little touch that personalizes the adventure.

Stepping into gameplay, you’ll maneuver your character using either the left analog stick or the D-Pad, with interaction tied to the A button. Your inventory and collected items are accessible via the X button. Switching characters becomes second nature thanks to the L and R buttons, a feature you’ll use often as the game throws various battles your way. And if you’re new to the Everhood series, you might find these combat scenarios—a clever blend of rhythm and strategy—a tad unconventional.

In Everhood 2, battles take a musical twist. As each song plays, you’ll work to master its rhythm to effectively dodge enemy attacks, looking for the perfect moment to counterattack. Navigate between lanes using the same movement controls and jump by pressing up or the B button. The ZR or A buttons let you absorb attacks, while the ZL or Y buttons unleash your own musical strikes.

Returning from the original, Everhood 2 adds a new layer to gameplay mechanics. Now, players can hold the ZR or A buttons to absorb a sequence of notes, building up energy to heighten the power of their strikes. But beware of getting hit! Any accumulated energy will vanish, so timing and precision are key. Colors matter too; mixing different hues won’t work, so pay close attention to match and maintain your energy flow. As you progress, swapping weapons with the L and R buttons becomes crucial to adapting your strategy against various foes.

Adding even more depth, overworld enemies make their appearance, reminiscent of classics like Earthbound. Victories now grant experience points, with extra points tucked away in treasure chests. Leveling up rewards you with improved stats, increased HP, and attack power, as well as cosmetic options to further personalize your character.

Once more, Foreign Gnomes delivers an adventure packed with curiosity and charm in Everhood 2—cementing itself as an unexpected yet highly appreciated sequel. Decisions made will undeniably impact the outcome of your quest. You’ll discover you’re a unique entity traversing multiple realities, aided by Raven to tap into your full potential. Your task: to confront a dragon and acquire a Soul Weapon, alongside collecting Power Gems to enhance your abilities. This upgrade path gets more demanding, raising the stakes as your journey progresses.

Launching tomorrow on the Nintendo Switch at $20.00, Everhood 2 is set to captivate players once again, bringing a finely tuned continuation of an already beloved narrative.

In summary, Everhood 2 proves to be the unexpected gift in the quirky saga we’ve grown to love.

This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Foreign Gnomes.