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Game review: 'Ni No Kuni II' is packed full of whimsy

New battle and build modes make the second instalment in the 'Ni No Kuni' series, 'Revenant Kingdom', even more enjoyable than the original, writes Sylvia McKeown

22 April 2018 - 00:00 By Sylvia McKeown

There is something delightful about playing as a young boy with cat ears and a tail. While it sounds like something straight out of an animated movie, it's now something you can do, thanks to the second instalment in the much beloved Ni No Kuni series.
Ni No Kuni gained fame for its collaboration with anime powerhouse Studio Ghibli and while it didn't work with the studio this time around, the game is still made in Ghibli's iconic style thanks to former Ghibli artist Yoshiyuki Momose and composer Joe Hisaishi.
The world of Ding Dong Dell is as glorious as ever. The plot: With the new Ni No Kuni set several centuries after its predecessor, we find the magical kingdom still tethered to our own but this time in the midst of a coup.
This leaves boy-cat king Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum usurped by the mouselike Mousekin leader, Mausinger. Having killed Evan's father, he intended to do away with Evan too, only for his plans to be thwarted by a mysterious stranger named Roland.
Evan and his band of loyal companions then attempt to build his own new kingdom where everyone can "have a happy ending" - but not without a few snags along the way.
WATCH | The trailer for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom..

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