In the first year of the Switch’s life, it was relatively common to see massive indie success stories from developers who managed to get their game on the eShop before the veritable torrent of new game releases — many of them excellent — flooded the store on a weekly basis. One of these titles was Blossom Tales, a cute action game that wasn’t even remotely shy about how heavily it was cribbing from the playbook of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. After the enormous and unexpected success of Blossom Tales saved the development team from having to shut down, work began on Blossom Tales 2, and we’re happy to report that this sophomore effort is every bit as enjoyable as the original — although it’s also just as derivative.
Here the narrative once again takes place as a ‘story within a story’, as an elderly man tells his two eager grandchildren a tale that features both of them as characters, with Lily, a brave warrior, living with her obnoxious brother in a fantasy land. The two start out participating in all sorts of fun at a nearby fair, but a petty sibling squabble causes Lily to wish that the evil Minotaur King would come and take her brother somewhere far away. Somehow, this causes the real Minotaur King to show up and do just that, which kicks off her quest across the land to reclaim her brother and defeat the evil king.
It's not an incredibly deep narrative, but it plays well with the premise of being a story told by a campfire and echoes with elements of Labyrinth and The Princess Bride. At many points, the children will bicker over particular details of the plot, which eventually presents the player with a choice between two options that affect the outcome. For example, when you’re given the token ‘magical instrument’ item, the children bicker over what kind of instrument it actually is, and we opted for the accordion. We appreciated these moments, as they aren’t used excessively, but occur often enough that they keep you from forgetting that none of the events on screen are actually ‘real’.
Gameplay is similar to the classic top-down Legend of Zelda games, and by “similar” we mean “almost indistinguishable”. Whereas the original release seemed to take more from A Link to the Past, this release feels like it’s more in line with Link’s Awakening, right down to the confusing owl who occasionally visits to point you in the right direction. You start out with three hearts and travel an expansive overworld littered with enemies, secrets, and obstacles that you overcome with a slowly growing inventory of useful items. Every now and then, you’ll find yourself in a dungeon filled with puzzles and enemies that are usually ‘solved’ by finding the dungeon’s item, and you eventually clear the dungeon by winning a boss fight which grants you an additional heart and advances the plot a little further.
Much like its predecessor, the largest drawback to Blossom Tales 2 is that it isn’t very original in its gameplay design. Minit was clearly inspired by Link’s Awakening, but it was all built around a 60-second life for your character. Crosscode borrowed plenty from Zelda puzzle design while still blending in many elements of '90s JRPGs. Swords of Ditto was a roguelike where the whole overworld would reset and randomize. The point being, there’s nothing wrong with borrowing from Nintendo’s legendary series—there’s a reason it’s so acclaimed—but most games simply pick and choose elements that serve a grander vision based on a more unique idea. Blossom Tales 2 is more content to copy 2D Zelda wholesale, but the execution isn’t as good.
On the other hand, Blossom Tales 2 proves to be almost as good as the games it’s emulating and this isn’t something to be dismissed out of hand. Sure, it may be derivative, but this is a release that doubles down on what it’s trying to accomplish and doesn’t water anything down. Even if we sighed when the exciting ‘new’ item in a dungeon was just a legally distinct hookshot, the dungeon itself still proved to be a genuinely engaging and fun place to explore. Plus, the experience of slowly uncovering the overworld while getting all kinds of news toys to subtly change up combat and movement proves to be well-paced and addictive all the way through. Both puzzles and combat are simple enough that they aren’t necessarily hard, but they remain challenging enough that it feels satisfying when you overcome them.
As for presentation, Blossom Tales 2' visuals look a little more advanced than its predecessor, though it still adheres strongly to a classic 16-bit retro look. Whether you’re fighting evil cacti in the desert or dastardly pirates near the sea, most of the spritework features a cute, simple aesthetic that fits well with the vibe of a story being told by a loving grandpa.
We would have liked to have seen a little more creativity in the environment design—forests and deserts feel so played out by now—but what’s here is adequate to keep sections of the game from feeling like they blur together. The music, meanwhile, is a little less impressive, consisting of a series of rousing adventurous tracks and more low-key tunes for the dungeons and villages. None of the soundtrack is particularly memorable, though this also means it doesn’t get in the way by feeling too distracting or repetitive.
Conclusion
Blossom Tales 2 is the kind of game that’s absolutely good, but definitely not great. The cute narrative premise, solid dungeon design, and pacing of overall progression all make this one worthwhile, but it’s also the kind of game that feels like it’s hamstrung by its lack of daring to try something new. In this sense, it’s the epitome of a “buy it on sale” game; you’re not missing anything by waiting to snap it up at a later date, but if you're a fan of the traditional 2D Zelda template, it’s probably worth getting at some point when the mood takes you.
Comments 46
First one was fun enough but kinda mediocre. I think I can skip this one.
I stand by that the main character's sprite ingame is just hideously ugly, just like in the first game, that and the bad music is enough to turn me away.
@NeonPizza you aren’t missing anything with Kaze. I really disliked it.
LMAO who hasn’t wished an annoying sibling would get kidnapped?
I was hoping the style would improve but I will get this on sale.
@NeonPizza I found Kaze fun enough for what it is, but it was very cookie cutter. I had a Donkey Kong Country itch that it didn't quite fully scratch. It was also really short, so at least it didn't overstay its welcome.
I had a good time with the first Blossom Tales, so I'll get this one too once it gets to a 50% discount. These Zelda homages are usually nice to knockout in a few play sessions.
@NeonPizza I don’t totally agree with what you’re saying about indie Metroidvanias I’ve played some really excellent ones (including Monster Boy). But yeah, there sure are a lot of them, and presumably, many that I skipped are kinda bogus. Don’t write them all off though!
@NeonPizza Couldn't agree more. I've been really burned out on all the indie games that try to be like "insert beloved classic here." The originals are always better, and these indies always seemed to get overrated or overhyped.
Enjoyed the first one, will probably enjoy this one. @SwitchVogel is absolutely right that the first Blossom Tales stood out for being one of the first games in that Switch indie boon from 2017-2020. Man, the Switch eshop felt magical. Been overall disappointed with indies I’ve purchased the past two years, but, heck, even if I know Blossom Tales 2 won’t be trailblazing, I’m sure it’ll be some good comfort food and that’s actually sort of exciting for me.
I bought both Blossom Tales games, and i'm currently working my way through the first one. I like it alot so far, and the more SNES Zelda-likes we get -the better. Thanks.
So if you enjoyed the first one you'll enjoy this one.... Good... Already preordered it.
I don't mind these straight copies of Nintendo games. Like how many times have we seen fan made Nintendo games be shown and in the comments people be like "why don't you just reskin it and sell it, people would buy it".
Well.... Here we have one that pretty much is Zelda but reskined as something else.
I'm good with the score/review. For me, it doesn't need to be anything more than a 2D zelda clone, which is a the perfect accent to xenoblade chronicles 3 that I'm playing currently. And I loved the 1st game, so this just seems like an extension of that. Locked and loaded, ready to fire it up tn.
So tired of these zeldalikes with no identity of their own.. makes me just want to play the original...like how spaceballs while good just makes me want to watch star wars
Even for a Zelda clone it is still a fun game to try.
@Expa0 I agree. I'm starting to develop a pet peeve with indie games these days that use charming or alluring art for promo but the in-game assets look simplistic, lazy or just plain ugly. I want to enjoy what I'm going to spend most of my play time looking at, but many indie devs seem content to keep acting like we're dealing with NES-levels of limitation for some reason.
Enjoyed the first Blossom Tales. Along with 3D Dot Game Heroes, I think they are some of the best Zelda homages. Will definitely pick this up once I clear more of my backlog, probably on sale.
… Wun can only hope.
The first game was cute but relied on that puzzle with the floor panels changing color too much. It's a shame the second game also suffers from a lack of ideas. The presentation is certainly charming once again, however.
the first one already had a lack of new ideas... this looks more like a half step forward than a full one.
I have to try this one too. Currently I'm finally playing BALDO, and wow! That game is amazing! It must have improved a lot with the last patch, it looks and plays really good, and there's so much work behind. Really enjoying it so far!
@ParadoxFawkes Go play Baldo, man. So won't regret it!
Also Tunic is a lovely Zelda-like, although I missed some more RPG touches, like towns and so.
I'd rather play replay LTTP for the bazillionth time rather than one of these cheap ripoffs.
I enjoyed the first Blossom Tales for what it was and picked this up for the same reason. I couldn't agree more with previous posters regarding the sheer number of "Indie" titles on Switch that are direct and invariably inferior rip-offs of beloved, iconic games by larger publishers, but as the article states, Blossom Tales is one of the better examples.
And here's the rub: until Nintendo makes its retro catalog available for actual purchase instead of being tied to overpriced subscriptions, these are the closest thing to 2D Zelda you can buy on eShop outside of the Link's Awakening remake.
I found the dungeons were too long and tedious in the first game
@the_beaver tunic has been on my wishlist since I've seen it, the combat looks great and different enough to set it self apart, Ill look into Baldo thanks for the suggestion!
@AtlanteanMan I thought Ittle Dew 2 was a much better 2D Zelda-esque game than the original Blossom Tales.
@Krambo42 It relied heavily on spamming monsters. Yeah it got old and repetitive
@Baler Totally agree, and this looks like just more of the same.
Waiting for steep discount
I finished the first game. I didn't mind it was a ALttP rip-off, but they removed the fun part of dungeons. In Blossom Tales, dungeons are basically rooms full of monsters. Every dungeon was basically: kill all monsters in one room, advance to the next one. No exploration, clever puzzles or creative uses of items. I will skip this one, and I'm still craving for a good 2D Zelda-like experience.
It's a shame that two of the first four comments on this article disparage Kaze and the Wild Masks, because I LOVED it. It absolutely stands tall against the DKC series greats. You're doing yourself a disservice if you're unwilling to play it because it's not a completely unique game. Keep in mind that Nintendo is an endless sequel generator while you perform your logical gymnastics.
On topic, I played the original Blossom Tales and thought it was ok. I won't be in a hurry to get this sequel, but I could see me grabbing it down the line on a sale.
@ParadoxFawkes Spaceballs was a parody, so whatever point you thought you were making failed miserably.
@sethharris1191 yes its a parody it pays homage to its source material, not unlike this game, i get it you were hurt and offended so you needed to defend your game,
@Dualmask Eastward set the bar very high for pixel art.
I hate to admit that official 2D Zeldas are more and more rare now. I used to never even look the way of 2D Zelda-likes, but I'm starting to find myself starved for that type now. I've back and forthed more times than I can remember on Blossom Tales, and I haven't pulled the trigger only because I've been busy with other games. One day perhaps...
Thanks for the review! Having played and enjoyed the first game, I think I will enjoy this game. That said, with my backlog, I will take the advice and wait for a sale.
Never heard of this before but this review would definitely turn me off. Then I watched the trailers and was sold.
Maybe I'll come back and edit this if I end up not liking it, but until then I'll just say this:
Too often are Nintendo fans unwilling to try other games. It is hard to match Nintendo's level of quality sometimes, but if you claim to enjoy a particular type of game I just can't see how you would be satisfied with only playing a new one every 5-6 years at best.
The most recent 2D Zelda, a remake, came out 3 years ago.
A Link Between Worlds was nearly 9 years ago, and is arguably a remake as well.
The last truly new 2D Zelda, a game that was new from the ground up, was Spirit Tracks.
Nearly 13 years ago.
@MeloMan I got it because I didn't feel too critical of it, like I do with any empty game or thing that isn't thought through enough.
I liked the first one so will be picking this up. Also, since we're talking about retro inspired indie games;
Classic RPG- Shadows of Adam- Absolute gem (no grinding, great art style, great music, interesting story, and doesn't outstay its welcome).
Metroidvania- Timespinner- Stylish, cool, difficult Castlevania inspired side-scroller.
I too liked the first game. It was a decent playthrough. So I may go for this at a later date when it is discounted. It has been on my wishlist but it isn't a priority download. Thanks for the review.
@NeonPizza I understand this sentiment, but I must say, I found Kaze enormously entertaining. Level design is pitch perfect, music and pixel art are superb, and the challenge is significant without ever feeling cheap. Sometimes a great imitation or homage, without bringing anything new to the table, can stand on its own as an incredible gaming experience. For me, Kaze is one of those titles.
I think the other thing that we need to remember is that there weren't many classic games on the Switch for those first few years. No SNES online, no Final Fantasies, even M2 and Arcade Archives took a while to get going. I still remember putting "Fox n Forest" on my wishlist because I really wanted a 16-bit platformer on my fancy Switch. Now that almost all prayers have been answered on this machine, devs really have to do something unique to get traction.
I actually quite enjoyed this game! The dungeons are linear but very meaty. In my review (Level With Us) I talked about how badly it makes me want to have new 2D Zelda’s.
@ParadoxFawkes Please try UNSIGHTED. It goes full sci-fi rather than medival fantasy, and has some really great dungeons.
@rayGMR ill check it out its been on my wishlist for awhile thanks!
This game deserves a better review score. There's a lot to do in this one.
@Joe-b
I agree, this is a much better game than the 1st one, and I really liked the first one.
Minotaur Prince adds fishing and cooking, plus a lot more weapons and items.
I would definitely give this a 9 out of 10. I am addicted!
This game is under appreciated. It's fantastic. If you enjoy the top-down Zelda games, you will love this. Yes, it may not have a lot of new ideas, but it's just plain fun. Discovering new items and weapons is rewarding, the pixel art is great, the character movement and control is perfect. I highly recommend it.
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