You can easily tell when there’s a lot of passion from the developers who create their game. I believe that’s true for nth Circle when they made of the Devil ever since the demo dropped on Steam. And I’ve continued to be impressed after the first episode was released. If you’re wondering if the developers can continue their hot streak with of the Devil – Episode 2, you can take a look at this review and decide if nth Circle has a good hand to raise your bets with.
If you haven’t played the first episode, I highly recommend you go check it out first. You can read my review about it here. The release of Episode 2 has us working on a new case, but it involves familiar faces, which you otherwise won’t appreciate if you didn’t follow the events chronologically. Additionally, this review will also contain some possible spoilers from the prior episodes, so be warned.
With that, I’m done with my opening statement. We can begin with the trial to see if of the Devil – Episode 2 is worth your time and money.
of the Devil – Episode 2 is about Morgan taking on a case from one of the biggest crime families in the city. It’s a good way to build the dystopian world that the game is set in by introducing how the underbelly of society acts. And it also gives us an idea of how Morgan acts when in the presence of dangerous people.
What surprised me was how well-written the characters are. Episode 2 has a lot of great execution so that no conversation between characters feels boring. Everyone feels like they have good chemistry and are interesting to get to know.
We’re dealing with the yakuza this time around. And the developers over at nth Circle just couldn’t resist sneaking in a few references to other pop culture. This case is particularly interesting because Morgan is deeply involved with the scene of the crime. The criminal defense attorney is tasked to exonerate her client without revealing her involvement.
The writing quality of the Devil – Episode 2 carries a lot of charm. It isn’t content with being a simple visual novel. There’s a lot of flair when it comes to presentation, such as when Morgan briefly goes into a noir-esque inner monologue when introducing a new character, complete with old typewriter sounds for effect.
Conversations between each character promise a lot more depth than they initially appear. Morgan’s unique killer insight into people’s behavior makes her an excellent protagonist to provide a jaded and pragmatic view of the world she lives in. It’s clear that Morgan isn’t a good person, but charismatic enough to make the player fall for her regardless. She’s a refreshing take from the naive yet good-natured protagonists that are usually the stars of this kind of game.
It’s particularly noteworthy when a game can present vile characters in a more human light. Our client is a veteran assassin of a mob family with a lot of blood on his hands, yet his interactions with Morgan and especially her paralegal, Serra, show a lot of humanity behind his reputation. Even though he’s a terrible person underneath it all, I couldn’t help but find myself rooting for him.
Gameplay is largely the same in of the Devil – Episode 2. You play through the sections of the story as Morgan, talking to people, collecting evidence, and learning more about the lore of the game. However, its Ace Attorney inspirations come into play when the trial begins. Outside of the trial, you collect information and make certain choices that will reward you with chips. If you present the wrong evidence during trial, you’ll lose these chips, and once they hit zero, it’s game over.
The trial part of the game really shines a light on Morgan’s character as a gambler. You have to decide whether or not to Raise or Stay your hand during statements, ask the right questions until you get a Blackjack, and play until the real culprit folds. Morgan’s personality is even reflected during difficulty selection, where you can play as a Perfectionist or on High Roller. With the former allowing you to save as much as you want and the latter only allowing you one save slot, locking you out of saving once the trial begins, and giving you greater penalties upon making mistakes.
I already love Ace Attorney, and I’m also a fan of Danganronpa, so I’m a bit biased when I say I absolutely loved these sections. There’s the pride I feel when I figure out the correct rebuttal to a statement that sounds incredibly puzzling.
Episode 2 does bring in something new that wasn’t in the previous episode, which is the new soundtrack. I love listening to Scarlet Draw, which is Evangeline Morgan’s version of Phoenix Wright’s Cornered. The prosecutor, Emma Rockford, even gets her own theme when she’s countering Morgan’s logic.
Upon beating Episode 2, you’ll be rewarded with concept art and some extra scenarios that can be viewed on the Bonuses in the main menu. There’s a special reward upon beating the game on High Roller difficulty, which is a charm you can hang on Morgan’s phone case.
of the Devil – Episode 2 has proven itself to be not only a great fit, but an amazing entry into the mystery/detective genre, amongst other notable visual novels such as Ace Attorney, Danganronpa, etc. It has a remarkable cast of characters that are unforgettable and an interesting story that is sure to be worth your time. This reviewer deems fit that the game is worth your time and money and that he’s excited for the next upcoming episode. And that’s all for my closing statement.
