Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Rance II continues the series’ tradition of first-person exploration by blending dungeon crawling with strategic, turn-based battles. As you navigate the underground labyrinths around Custom Town, you’ll guide Rance and his purple-haired sidekick Shiiru through winding corridors and hidden chambers by moving a cursor on a grid-based map. Discovery is key: you must actively search each room to trigger enemy encounters, making exploration a deliberate and engaging process rather than random. This deliberate pacing keeps players on their toes and injects tension into every step.

Combat unfolds in classic turn-based fashion. You and Shiiru can equip a variety of weapons and armor purchased in town shops, each piece offering unique stat bonuses and special abilities. Battles demand tactical thinking: certain sorceresses and monsters boast elemental affinities or status effects that require you to adapt your strategy on the fly. Should you charge headlong into spells or preserve mana for crucial moments? Resource management is crucial, as ammunition and healing items can be scarce in deeper levels.

Outside of dungeons, Rance II offers light management elements that reward careful planning. Between expeditions, you’ll return to Custom Town to sell loot, upgrade gear, and recruit information from townsfolk. Dialogue choices can unlock side quests or provide clues about ring locations. Though these sections are brief, they deliver welcome variety, breaking up combat with role-playing and investigation. The balance between dungeon action and town preparation gives the game a satisfying rhythm.

Graphics

Visually, Rance II embraces a vibrant animé-inspired style that was state-of-the-art for its era. Character portraits are expressive and richly detailed, capturing Rance’s roguish grin and Shiiru’s determined gaze. The sexy sorceresses you face are drawn with bold color palettes and dynamic poses, conveying their power and menace even before the first spell is cast. Though the pixel resolution may feel dated by modern standards, the artistry and character designs hold up thanks to clear lines and well-chosen color contrasts.

Dungeon environments employ tiled backgrounds with moody shading and atmospheric touches—flickering torches, ominous runes, and shadowy corners. While room layouts can grow repetitive after extended play sessions, sprite animations for monsters and spell effects inject excitement into each battle. Explosions, arcane glyphs, and swirling elemental bursts demonstrate the team’s flair for dramatic flair, making every combat encounter visually stimulating.

The user interface balances function and style. Health and mana bars are prominently displayed, and inventory screens use straightforward icons paired with concise text descriptions. Though menu navigation can feel a bit clunky when equipping multiple items at once, the UI’s clean design and clear feedback ensure you always know your party’s status. Overall, the graphics effectively support both the game’s erotic themes and its RPG mechanics.

Story

At the heart of Rance II lies a playful, tongue-in-cheek narrative: four magical rings have disappeared from Custom Town, unleashing a cadre of dangerous, alluring sorceresses across the countryside. When the local mayor’s resources are overwhelmed, he recruits Rance, a mercenary and investigator whose primary motivation is the promise of a hefty reward—and, of course, the company of attractive women. This premise may sound cheeky, but it provides ample opportunity for humor, intrigue, and classic anime-style banter.

Cutscenes and dialogue sequences are delivered in text-heavy format, enriched by expressive character portraits and occasional CG illustrations. Rance’s sarcastic wit plays off Shiiru’s earnest loyalty, creating a dynamic that keeps the story from becoming one-note. Secondary characters—ranging from hapless townsfolk to formidable sorceress antagonists—add flavor through distinct personalities and quirks. As you recover each ring, plot twists emerge, revealing that not all is as simple as treasure hunting and monster slaying.

Though the narrative leans into eroticism, it never completely overshadows the adventure. Encounters with seductive foes serve both gameplay and story, often tying back to the rings’ arcane powers. The writing strikes a balance between lighthearted comedy and genuine peril, ensuring players remain invested in Rance’s mission even when the next reward feels like the only real incentive. For fans of mature-themed RPGs with a strong anime sensibility, the plot delivers both laughs and satisfying progression.

Overall Experience

Rance II: Hangyaku no Shōjotachi offers a well-rounded package for players seeking a mature, anime-styled RPG adventure. Its blend of strategic dungeon crawling, engaging turn-based battles, and light investigation segments delivers varied gameplay that can keep you entertained for hours. The search-for-enemy mechanic gives exploration weight, while equipment management and budgeting add a layer of strategy between dungeon runs.

Although some elements—such as repetitive dungeon tilesets and occasional inventory menu tedium—reflect the game’s vintage origins, these minor drawbacks are outweighed by its strengths. The evocative graphics and charming character interactions inject personality at every turn, and the story’s mix of humor, erotic tension, and mystical intrigue keeps motivation high. For players who enjoy classic JRPG mechanics and aren’t put off by adult themes, Rance II remains a memorable experience.

Ultimately, Rance II stands as a solid sequel that refines its predecessor’s formula. It’s best approached as a nostalgic dive into late ’90s anime-style gaming, bolstered by a cheeky narrative and satisfying combat. Whether you’re a series veteran or new to Rance’s escapades, Hangyaku no Shōjotachi provides a distinctive adventure that’s equal parts challenging, comedic, and risqué. Prepare to reclaim those rings—and perhaps indulge in a few mischievous side plots along the way.

Retro Replay Score

6.3/10