Foreign Gnomes has whisked us back into the whimsical world of Everhood with its unexpected sequel, Everhood 2. When the first game launched, I had the pleasure of exploring its depth and creativity on the Nintendo console back in 2021. So, diving into Everhood 2 was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. This sequel builds on the foundation of its predecessor, enriching the experience with even more inventive game mechanics and storytelling. Much like the first Everhood, it wears its Undertale influences openly, but in a charming way that feels fresh and original.
Right from the start, Everhood 2 sets a personal tone with a quirky questionnaire. You’ll first address what you cherish most in games—be it Story, Battle and Challenges, Unique Experiences, or some good old humor. Another question will gauge your taste for difficulty: Story Mode, Easy, Medium, or Hard. Rather than being a tedious task, these questions engage you further as they get increasingly personal, ultimately determining the color of your soul—an essential aspect of your journey.
When the real adventure kicks off, you’ll navigate using the left analog stick or D-Pad, interacting with the game’s world by pressing the A button. The X button unlocks the menu, where you can strategize with the items you’ve gathered. Characters can be swapped using the L and R buttons. True to its roots, Everhood 2 features an array of musical battles—an integral part of gameplay where rhythm is key to dodging attacks and seizing opportunities to strike.
These battles are where Everhood 2 shines, especially with the new mechanics allowing you to hold down the ZR or A buttons to absorb multiple notes. Gaining energy through this method boosts your attacks, but take a hit and you’ll lose that precious energy. Strategy here is everything, particularly because you can’t mix different energy colors.
You’ll also encounter battles with overworld enemies, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Earthbound, and earn experience points for victories. These points allow you to level up, enhancing your stats and unlocking cosmetics to personalize your character. Each level up not only gives you more health and attack power but opens up new possibilities for gameplay.
In your journey, you’ll team up with an enigmatic guide named Raven as you traverse realities and uncover your latent abilities. A key task will involve defeating a dragon to unlock your Soul Weapon. This can be powered up using Power Gems, providing stronger attacks and more dynamic combat.
As Everhood 2 launches for Nintendo Switch, priced at $20.00, it’s clear that Foreign Gnomes has crafted a sequel worth diving into—a game we didn’t know we needed but are certainly glad to have. It captures the quirky charm reminiscent of Undertale while offering a unique experience all of its own.
For full disclosure, this review of Everhood 2 is based on a copy provided by Foreign Gnomes for the Nintendo Switch.
