Arcadie II: Cold Lands

Greatly enjoyed the game - it picks up pretty cleanly where the first game ends, and the stakes are still strong enough to make me stress about choices. It also retains the distinction of feeling like an early choice has a repercussion much much later. I was interested to see that each route with the same MC type, while still hitting the same story beats, felt extremely different depending on who you were romancing (or not). I also enjoyed how the best ends aren't always full sunshine and roses - this game does not shy away from Consequences, and some things feel out of your hands (organically). The characters feel like they have their own agendas, while still fitting into the world and their relationship(s) with the MC. This game might suffer a little bit from 'middle-child syndrome' that some games have, where it sort of works more as a bridge between the intense introduction of the first game, and the eventual culmination of all choices that a third game would be, but I believe it holds up quite well. Will definitely be going back in to see how things further change within each route with different choices. Definitely recommended - but it's in your best interest to play the first one beforehand. Some games you can skip the first and go right to the second - would not advise that for this series. The story is very tightly interwoven, and some of the emotional impact of the previous game's events will be lost if it's skipped, and that would do a disservice to this game.

Stan for Stan. Writting is good but i have a feeling that its much more streamlined than the original.

Lovely game with gorgeous writing and characters just like the first. I'm hoping for a third!

Okay, we all miss the clear stat blocks that are standard for text adventures. I'm going to delve more into characters, they involvement in and outside the main narrative, and m/m support. Minor spoilers are littered throughout, but nothing overt that will ruin the game for you. As a queer man myself I play m/m, that's how my description will run. I have overall highly positive feelings about this game, so I will say: there are two main romance paths that are absolutely twisting and narratively intriguing, and one path that's...not so much. I think a 'true run' is either between Cyril or Stanislas, as they have a lot of deep narrative outside the main plot and their own personal complications, introductions to more characters, etc. Unfortunately, I think this round of writing failed Wilfred lovers. Cyril: Expands the world, uncovers secrets, more characters (i.e. his family that you will come to understand are quite relevant in his plot line), and makes the ending quite dramatic. Cyril is a great option for m/m lovers (I think Cyril reads as a queer man compared to the others.) There is extra dialogue pertaining to being in a same sex partnership that don't exist for the other two runs (related to child rearing and your bloodline, a one off but I think it flushes things out.) His twists and turns in the game, outside of the main plot, are gutting and add extra weight to your decisions. Spicy scenes lend to you being top, bottom, or switch overtly. Only positive things to say about this good man, play his run and I doubt you'll be disappointed (even if you played the other two runs first.) Stanislas: Holy, it's like there's a full second game within the game. Multiple extra scenes, insights into what's happening/happened, and the writing for intimacy lovers (vs. fade to black) is flush-inducing. This was by far my favourite run (and was an excuse to replay the first game again, as I didn't appreciate Stanislas as an option at all.) The extra scenes alone lengthen game play time, the twists and good ending with him are wrenching, and I hope he'll be a big part of the last game. I need more Stanislas. Please. My one critique would be if you had a run in the last game where you hated your family, it is given minimal opportunity to reflect in this branching story - you'll have no option but to feel remorse about dallying with him despite your dead relatives. In my Stanislas run in Second Born, I was quite distant / stoic / agitating, so the soft remorse didn't really fit what I envisioned. Lastly, scenes are a little vague, but your player is the bottom without recourse, but it fits the narrative so I don't mind. There are a few descriptive moment of your POV character that read a little gendered, skewed toward F when you play M, but I'll forgive it. You can play the other two runs first and still be surprised by this one. Wilfred: They did him dirty. His path hardly skews from the main plot line that you get with other romance options, his dialogue/presence often reuses filler dialogue for plot scenes so it doesn't feel like you get anything particularly unique, and they remove overt top/bottom options for him during intimate scenes (counter to the first game, where you selected.) The unique dialogue scenes you do get are scenes that happen for all characters at certain checkpoints in the main narrative. There are two scenes at all that happen outside of the plot and main ones you'd get with anyone else - they're short, give minimal insight, and are unfortunately only one is a stand out that happens right at the start. You can argue he has some ongoing tension with wanting, initially, secrecy for your relationship, and the good ending for him is what you'd expect. As a die-hard Will lover in Second Born, he's my least favourite in Cold Front. He's a lot more brash, outspoken, and angry this game than last, and I think we lose a part of what made him so captivating last game. Play this run first, otherwise it can get a little tedious. Overall: Play this, I recc it as a big text adventure fan. It's good! It is different from Second Born, if you go in expecting it as a 1:1 you'll be disappointed. I did read the ending was a little abrupt, so I was able to go in with the expectation that the ending was where it was which I think helped my easing into it - though, with Stanislas, the ending will NOT feel abrupt, I believe, as there is quite a bit of build up. Dark Romance lovers rejoice.

huzzah

Enjoyable experience! A continuation of the story of the first game was enjoyable, and the polish added was very nice to see. It was short however, took me barely 3 hours to finish the game and get Wills best ending. Not sure if my choices skipped a lot of content or not though? Will definitely play and get the rest of the endings, but I was hoping for a longer experience. This game felt like filler towards -hopefully- a bigger and final installment. 6/10, if it was longer and the ending wasn't so abrupt it would be higher. Enjoyable but mildly disappointing coming off the experience of the first game :(

Very well-done and super in depth. I loved the story and how we get to see the romances progress. Stanislas's route was amazing.

Just like the first game: Excellent writing, meaningful choices, interesting romances and story, powerful, mage-like (and female if you want) protagonist. Ability to win as a villain (if you want) just as much as hero. It really ticks all my boxes of a great "choices matter", medieval fantasy game (what is by far my most favorite genre). Practically a text-based version of the best (former) Bioware or (current) Larian games. I can only recommend it, I really cannot think of a single flaw in this game. 10/10 from me! On top of it I truly enjoyed that here - unlike in the first game - I'm "in power" (=mighty sorceress Queen) since the very beginning. I love such roleplaying!