Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Zwei!! delivers a brisk, action-focused RPG experience that blends real-time combat with light dungeon-crawling mechanics. You switch seamlessly between Pipiro, a ranged magic user, and Pokkle, a close-quarters drill-wielding brawler, at the press of a button. This dynamic duo system keeps encounters fresh, allowing you to exploit elemental weaknesses, chain combo attacks and leverage their differing strengths on the fly.

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The hunger-based leveling twist—where defeated foes drop food instead of experience points—encourages exploration and resource management. Collect ingredients in labyrinthine dungeons, then take your haul back to the local restaurant to cook potent meals. Experimenting with recipes becomes its own mini-game, as combining certain ingredients yields higher experience gains and temporary stat bonuses.

Dungeon layouts are modular but never dull: each stage is a self-contained labyrinth with branching paths, secret rooms and puzzles that reward your curiosity. Enemies respawn with predictable patterns, making it easy to farm the food you need, yet the elemental gimmicks (fire-weak slimes, ice-immune golems) ensure you can’t mindlessly mash attacks without planning.

The pet system is the cherry on top—adopt a cat or dog companion to help collect loot, scout ahead for hidden passages and unlock special team-up moves. While the AI isn’t perfect (occasionally your pet will get stuck in corners), its presence adds personality to your travels and a subtle layer of strategy when coordinating powerful, multi-target combos.

Graphics

Zwei!! sports bright, cartoon-style 2D visuals that feel both nostalgic and fresh. The sprite work for Pipiro, Pokkle and a rotating cast of monsters is fluid and expressive, with charming idle animations and punchy attack frames. Environments pop with color—from verdant forest floors to ominous lava-lit caverns—and each district has a distinct palette that reinforces its elemental theme.

Background art strikes a nice balance between detail and readability. You’ll spot floating islands overhead, distant waterfalls and ancient ruins that hint at Granvallen’s rich lore, yet nothing ever clutters the playfield or obscures your view of incoming threats. The interface is clean and intuitive: health bars, magic meters and pet icons are neatly arranged around the edges, so you stay focused on the action.

Special effects, such as Pipiro’s glittering magic blasts or Pokkle’s spark-spraying drill strikes, are satisfyingly polished. Combo finishers send shockwaves across the screen, while elemental bursts (explosions, ice shards, lightning arcs) inject visual flair without overwhelming the choreography of combat.

Even on modest hardware, Zwei!! runs at a steady framerate with minimal load times. The only real graphical misstep is occasional pop-in on distant dungeon textures, but these moments are fleeting and never detract from the overall aesthetic charm.

Story

The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Granvallen, a realm once brimming with magic until the Great Sorcery War sapped its power. A millennium ago, twin goddesses Aplyes and Espina led humanity to victory over demon lords, only to see magical energy ebb away. This legend looms over every floating continent, setting a tone of faded grandeur and latent mystery.

Five centuries later, the quiet village of Puck is shattered when a masked intruder slaughters a guard and steals six sacred Goddess statues. Enter Pipiro, the priestess-princess in training, and Pokkle, a brash crusader’s son—both fourteen—who vow to retrieve the relics. Their youthful zeal and witty banter infuse the plot with warmth, even as darker secrets gradually surface.

Zwei!! strikes a comfortable balance between light-hearted camaraderie and genuine stakes. Conversations at inns and waystations reveal side-characters with their own dramas: a retired knight still haunted by the old war, a shopkeeper nursing broken hopes. These moments deepen Granvallen’s tapestry without dragging the pace.

As you recover each stolen statue, the plot threads tighten, culminating in a confrontation that ties back to the twin goddesses’ legacy. While not a literary tour-de-force, the storyline’s steady progression, colorful cast and surprising twists make it engaging enough to carry you through every dungeon dive.

Overall Experience

Zwei!! is a testament to how polished 2D action-RPG design can remain compelling decades after its debut. The tight combat, character-swap mechanics and charming sprite work hold up beautifully, and the food-based leveling system adds an unexpected layer of strategy. You’ll find yourself backtracking to clear optional dungeons and mastering recipes simply because the loop is that satisfying.

The game’s length is just right: generous enough to explore hidden areas and level up pets, but lean enough that it never overstays its welcome. Random enemy encounters feel meaningful rather than tedious, and boss fights (especially the mid-game guardian beasts) test your command of elemental combos and positioning.

Minor flaws—like repetitive dungeon themes late in the campaign and the occasionally errant AI companion—rarely overshadow the fun. If you crave a colorful, fast-paced RPG with memorable characters and a unique twist on experience-gaining, Zwei!! delivers in spades.

Whether you’re a retro enthusiast or a newcomer looking for bite-sized adventures with modern sensibilities, Zwei!! stands out as an engaging, heartwarming journey through a world where magic and friendship still spark brightly against the darkness of history.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10