Zwei!!: The Arges Adventure

Saving the world is all the more important when your clothing allowance is on the line. Will Pokkle get to meet his idol? Will Pipiro get to go on a shopping spree? Find out in Zwei!

Falcom's recent PC Port may be more low-key compared to their recent worldwide success with Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. However, players who love old-school dungeon crawling should definitely checkout Zwei: The Arges Adventure! Filled with classic JPRG battle mechanics and a unique levelling system, players will feel refreshed and relaxed enjoying the adventure the awaits them.

If you were expecting Zwei: The Arges Adventure to be a hidden gem finally unearthed to play, you’ll be plenty disappointed. While there’s a lot to love within The Arges Adventure, it’s mostly superficial due to a frustrating combat system that forces most of the game to become a slog. It’s all serviceable, which makes it an easy enough game to recommend for the most dedicated of Falcom’s fans, but Zwei’s first outing doesn’t hold a candle to the company’s more popular franchises like Ys and Xanadu. Though it’s hard to look a gift horse in the mouth, you’re probably better off passing on this ...

I think it’s important to preserve old games for future audiences, or make them available for audiences that never knew they existed. Video games, like any other art form, have a long history behind them, and a longer history ahead of them. Releases like Zwei: The Arges Adventure serve as time-capsules to help keep old pieces of history from disappearing. It’s a game very much from its time. While I appreciate the effort put into making the writing stand proudly in a modern day, gameplay flaws and dated design choices make it a chore to truly get a satisfying experience out of the game.

Zwei: The Arges Adventure definitely wears its age on its sleeve, and it isn’t always a good thing. If this game is your first experience with the Zwei series, you may be able to overlook the flaws and have a good time. However, if you’re coming to this after playing last year’s Ilvard Insurrection, you’re in for a bit of a rough experience.