Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits (Nintendo 3DS) Review

It is time to collect Yo-kai once again, as the wielder of the Yo-kai Watch makes a return in Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits, the sequel to Level 5's hit title. It delivers more of the elementary school student slice of life adventures, with a sprinkle of the paranormal that the original Yo-kai Watch became so successful with, but this title does introduce some annoyances.

It is not difficult to see why Yo-kai Watch as a franchise has been such a triumph. It captures the feeling of being young in a beautiful and respectful way that is appealing to both an older and younger audience, with its story that focuses on the wonderful experience of growing up and the joys of being young without being immature.

The story follows a young girl or boy, depending on the player's preference, at the start of their summer vacation, who, despite the previous events in Yo-kai Watch, lives a normal life after losing their Watch and memories of the previous events. It all kicks back up at full gear as they find their treasured gadget and some of their old Yo-kai friends.

At this point, fans of the old game will feel right at home again in Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits. The combat system, with the mostly automatized combat and mini games, are back in full force for better and worse. The problem with this system is that it has several periods when nothing at all happens, mixed with really active moments, which, during longer battles, can cause a feeling of boredom as the player has to pay attention while doing close to nothing most of the time.

It is not only during the combat the developer shows a huge disrespect towards the player's time. One of the most annoying features is the fact that during the main story it is required to sometimes catch specific Yo-kai to proceed - a task that can be frustrating thanks to the low catch rate, combined with the encounter RNG. Occasionally, a quest like this can take between half an hour to an hour - time many people sadly do not feel like wasting to grind out for that good RNG, proving why these quests should be limited to side quests.

There are many minor details in the game design beside this that shows that Yo-kai Watch 2 does all it can to artificially extend its playtime beyond what it is, resulting in some segments overstaying their welcome. Things ranging from tedious long train travels to constant backtracking hold back what is a great title.

Yo-kai Watch 2 feels like a nice throwback to younger years, with lovely elements and touches that embrace those moments from childhood. Details such as a demon that appears if you walk against a red traffic light, or just simply the conversations focusing on the deep and important things kids feel when they grow up is refreshing. Sadly, this is mixed with poor choices to artificially extend the game's playtime beyond its welcome.