Game Boy Advance

Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 is one of those games that defies the fate of most licensed games. Fans of Castlevania who can’t wait to get their hands on the series' next installment will find Master of Spirits 2 a nice hold-over.

Don't turn your back on this game or its precursor just because of the license. Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 is an improvement in nearly every way that counts, and that's saying something since the original was nearly as stellar as a Castlevania title. You're only depriving yourself of an enjoyable experience by not picking these awesome titles up. If you're a fan of Castlevania, don't hesitate to buy these. If you're an action/adventure fan, you'll also enjoy these titles.

In the end Master of Spirits 2 emerges as a partial success, and mainly because of the use of the proven Castlevania engine. If you missed the first Master of Spirits game which most people did then you should definitely consider giving the sequel a try. It's a fun, well-rounded adventure with enough replay value to keep you occupied for a good while.

So does Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 crest the proverbial Mt. Everest into the land of "great game?" No. This was definitely one of the titles that turned around for a hot cup of joe instead of trying the impossible. It's certainly got its share of flaws, but if you have $20 and a few hours to blow, you likely won't be disappointed by Master of Spirits. If you've already played every GBA Castlevania title to death, however, there's absolutely nothing here that you haven't seen in some quantity before. If you're a fan of the show or manga, then you're probably already on your way to the store to get this, so I don't see how I'm stopping you.

"Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2", como se pode notar, copia a fórmula vencedora de "Castlevania" e poderá ser seu substituto, já que não estão previstas novas aventuras dos caçadores de Drácula no Game Boy Advance. Felizmente, o game também conseguiu trazer a ótima qualidade do clássico, com uma dificuldade bem equilibrada e um sistema de jogo em que tudo funciona perfeitamente, a ponto de compensar a falta de originalidade.

Anyone can enjoy Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 because of its great presentation, controls, music, and extremely fun gameplay mechanics. If you like action games and have been looking for a portable one, don’t hesitate to pick up this fun, addicting, well-rounded game.

Now that the Castlevania has, at least for the time being, moved on to DS pastures, it's nice to see the mechanics get a second life in a new game design. Sure, this design is in a heavily focused license brand that probably won't appeal to as many people as the classic vampire-slaying design, which is a shame because the gameplay within Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 is surprisingly well rounded and challenging. If I had played the original during its release last year I may have knocked the sequel down a notch simply due to the fact that Number 2 isn't much different to the original -- but definitely keep this in mind if you've already blown through the first game in the series.

Master of Spirits 2 is an entertaining action title that ranks up there with some of Konami's best handheld titles. Its solid gameplay mechanics, tight controls, and impressive presentation come together to give gamers a thoroughly satisfying experience. Even if you're not a fan of the Shaman King franchise, this game is worth checking out.

Klasse! Konami bedient sich bei der eigenen Castlevania-Serie, peppt das Spiel mit der Shaman King-Lizenz auf und überrascht mit einem famos spielbaren Jump & Run - so lasse ich mir Manga-Umsetzungen und Versoftungen gerne gefallen. Besonders die zahlreichen Geister sorgen für jede Menge Abwechslung und die Story lädt zum Schmunzeln ein. Nur schade, dass in Sachen Umfang Shamang King den Castlevania-Spielen unterlegen ist.

So what's my recommendation? I'd say that if you have played and enjoy either Faxanadu or Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, you should be able to get some entertainment value out of this game, even if, like myself, you are not a fan of the anime on which it is based. The story hardly seems to get in the way of the game itself, and the enjoyment potential will not be hindered by the fact that the characters' names mean nothing to you. This game is a worthwhile purchase for anybody looking for a good action-adventure game on the GBA.

Restant dans la lignée de son prédécesseur et par conséquent dans celle des bons jeux, ce dernier opus de la série Shaman King se complaît passionnément, entouré de son gameplay accrocheur et de sa réalisation graphique flatteuse. Néanmoins, à trop se reposer, notre bon ami a visiblement oublié de préparer sa valise de nouveautés et se contente de nous donner en consigne un sac avec des vêtements chics, certes, mais sales. Sorte de version 1.5, le titre de Konami semble quelque peu se moquer des joueurs en ne passant pas par la case innovation. Un titre de qualité, mais un peu trop sûr de lui pour être honnête.

If you can get past the brevity and the fact that this game is aimed for kids, then Shaman King: Master of the Spirits 2 may just be a game GBA owners with a penchant for action platformers could grow fond of. It offers some decent gameplay with a deep guardian ghost system along with some impressive graphics. Moreover, Castlevania fans will get a kick out of playing a game that really is just a stripped-down version Aria of Sorrow and may even fill the void until Soma Cruz’s sequel, Dawn of Sorrow, hits the DS later this year.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow rocked hard. Its slick graphics and animation, tight control, well-designed environment, clever character skill system and intriguing story made for an unforgettable game. It's therefore forgivable that when most people learn that Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 is built around Aria's game engine, they make an assumptive leap. Aria is great; Shaman King is based on Aria; therefore Shaman King is great!

With a virtually non-existent storyline that will confuse everyone but fans on the series, decent sound design, chunky graphics, hit and miss controls, and repetitive gameplay Shaman King: Master of Spirits 2 is a game that only appeals to die hard fans of the anime series. If you're looking for a good action game for the GBA skip over Shaman King and pick up one of the past Castlevania titles, you'll be glad you did.