The Caligula Effect 2
The Caligula Effect 2
Sorti le 24 juin 2021 sur PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch et PlayStation 5, The Caligula Effect 2 est un jeu de rôle stratégique développé par Historia Inc. et édité par Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc., NIS America et FuRyu. Propulsé par l'Unreal Engine 4, le titre est proposé au tarif de 48,99 EUR.
L'intrigue se déroule dans Redo, un monde virtuel créé par la virtuadoll Regret pour emprisonner des individus désireux d'effacer leurs regrets passés. Cette simulation est bouleversée par l'intervention de χ, une idole virtuelle rivale qui restaure la mémoire d'un lycéen. Ensemble, ils reforment le Go-Home Club, un groupe de résistance visant à affronter Regret et ses exécuteurs, les Musiciens Obbligato, pour retourner dans le monde réel. L'histoire explore la dualité entre les formes « refaites » des personnages dans Redo et leurs véritables identités, le joueur devant naviguer entre ces secrets pour progresser.
Côté gameplay, le système de combat au tour par tour repose sur l'« Imaginary Chain », une mécanique permettant de visualiser l'avenir immédiat d'une action choisie pour optimiser les enchaînements et protéger les alliés. Lorsque certaines conditions sont remplies, le « χ-Jack » s'active : la voix de χ prend le contrôle du champ de bataille, offrant des bonus variables selon le morceau sélectionné. L'exploration et les interactions sociales s'appuient sur l'application « WIRE », qui gère discussions de groupe et conversations privées pour approfondir les affinités, tandis que le « Causality Link » propose de résoudre les problèmes des résidents de Redo via des quêtes annexes pour lever le voile sur leurs vérités cachées.
La durée de vie pour l'histoire principale est estimée à environ 27 heures, pouvant s'étendre jusqu'à 72 heures pour une complétion totale.
L'accueil critique s'est montré partagé, reflété par une note agrégée de 68 sur 100. La presse a salué le développement de l'intrigue et un système de combat jugé addictif, porté par des thèmes vocaux marquants, tout en notant que l'œuvre ne s'adresse pas à tous les publics, une conscience assumée par les développeurs selon RPG Fan. Du côté des joueurs, certains estiment que cette suite améliore le premier opus sans pour autant corriger l'ensemble de ses défauts, louant néanmoins la qualité de l'écriture. D'autres voix, notamment sur Steam, regrettent un rythme jugé inadapté pour un jeu centré sur la musique.
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« Ultimately, The Caligula Effect 2 is not a game for everyone. This is something the developers are keenly aware of. It’s not a flashy, high-budget, big-name, auteur-laden, AAA RPG that’s gone through the gauntlet of playtesters and focus groups. It’s a scrappy, low-budget underdog that’s full of heart and empathy, and it has a message to share. Though the game is a sequel, those interested can certainly start with this version, as its predecessor is vaguely recapped. For the few like myself who enjoyed the original game despite its numerous flaws, this follow-up is a dramatic glow up that deserves to be played. It is easily one of my favorite games this year. »
« Caligula 2 results in an interesting title which brights through its story development beside an addictive combat system and the various vocal themes that appears on it. »
« If you loved The Caligula Effect, chances are you’ll love The Caligula Effect 2 even more. It’s certainly an improvement across the board, with a story that will keep you invested for the duration. Newcomers, however, might be put off by the references to the first game, and also may not gel very well with the relationship-building aspects that aren’t all that rewarding or interesting. Overall, there’s a lot to like about The Caligula Effect 2, but it’s accompanied by a fair bit of tedium. »
« The biggest tell of how much of an improvement The Caligula Effect 2 is over its predecessor is how little of the game feels like a chore. Although it may lack those standout moments that top-drawer RPGs provide, it’s easy to find time whizzing by with catchy music and speedy combat and exploration. With characters and a story that keep things ticking along nicely, The Caligula Effect 2 makes for a satisfying use of one’s time. »
« Like the Matrix déjà vu, this sequel smells of the original. Changes are very subtle and ultimately mean a different cast in a similar setting. While the graphics are fairly poor and suggest a low-cost production, everything else makes a pretty decent if not excellent combination of fun mechanics and likeable characters. If you loved the first game, this one's for you. »
« The soul of the title, completely conservative, draws heavily from the material of the first chapter of the series, updating it only up to a certain point and never fully convincing: the solution certainly manages to satisfy the fans who already appreciated the experience. five years ago on PlayStation Vita, but struggling to convince everyone else. The sector is full of similar productions, much more inspired and cared for: both from the point of view of the gameplay (which also shows some creative flashes) and from the graphic-technical one, the latter really mediocre. Of course, the narrative itself might attract some curious: the conflict between the virtual and the real world, for some reason, is always captivating. »
« A good combat system and a infectious soundtrack are not enough to make The Caligula Effect 2 a recommendation. What we have here is much better than the first game, but not on par with the best JRPGs on the market. Still, fans of the genre may want to give it a try. »
« The Caligula Effect 2 has not too much to offer apart from a good combat system and some interesting artistic vibes. The game is a very classic JRPG technically wise far from the modern standards, which suffers from a quite frayed and monotonous rhythm. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« Ultimately, the Caligula Effect 2 improves upon some of the things that the first game does, but doesn't fix everything. Pros; - The story is still great - The new cast of characters are still likeable and dynamic - The combat is still as rewarding to players who time their attack well, much like the first game - New game+ got fixed - Performance is solid on PS4 - The music is solid - Power ups can be done by selecting a different song, which has different effect to your party Cons; - The plot does retread some elements of the first game - No branching narrative plots like the first game - Post game is very lackluster While some people might write this off as "We've got Persona 5 at home", you are in for a good time if you pick this game up. »
