A popular subgenre of the Japanese gaming industry, dating sims usually only find their way to our shores when toned down and packaged with other elements. Take Gust’s latest hybrid, Ar Tonelico 2, which to me feels like an edited version of what may, in its full form, have been a high-production hentai RPG. It has all the elements, minus the sex of course. I bring this up because the sequel to the good-but-not-quite-there original ups the ante on sexual innuendo, playfully taunting fanboys but not quite delivering the goods. Nothing wrong with that approach, but some of the scenarios are downright shameless - or maybe I’m just getting old. Hero Croix is the stereotypical protagonist, part bumbling guy, part knight, thrust into the spotlight as protector of lead Reyvateils Cloche and Luca, song-magic-wielding maidens.
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