void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 review

Tamagotchi-style care for the last member of humanity provides a stirring stimulus for Void Terrarium 2’s dungeon crawling.

Released amidst a tempestuous pandemic, 2020’s void tRrLM(); //Void Terrarium envisioned a setting that embodied melancholic isolation. Catastrophically, a toxic fungus had overrun the world, pushing the populace to burrow into the earth for safety. But the resettlement was short-lived and the entirety of the human race was nearly wiped out. The sole survivor was Toriko, a girl whose comatose body was covered with mushrooms, clinging to life in a broken terrarium. Despite several punishing decision decisions, the title felt especially timely, with mechanics that would do things like discourage players from hoarding food.

Three years on, Toriko is threatened by a brand-new pestilence. The opening minutes detail the effect it has on her body, causing her arm to detach, subsequently reuniting the original’s cast of unlikely catalysts of hope. factoryAI, a sentient entity built by humans to assist with an underground expansion program, miraculously returns. Given that she was consumed by the guilt that she might have played a role in the extinction of the species for much of the previous game, it was great to see her receive additional redemption.

In Void Terrarium 2, she gathers flashbacks of human hopes, creating an 8-bit style virtual world that depicts life before the cataclysm. This also helps with one of the expositional deficiencies of the original game, fleshing out both the context and key characters like Toriko. Yes, the anecdotes of child experimentation or late capitalism as its most perverse can be off-putting. But almost every repulsive element has a real-world analog. When taken as a whole, Terrarium 2 can be read as a potent cautionary tale.

Cultivating Flowers and Fungi

Robbie, the taciturn robot from the first game, also makes a return, He’s the character you’ll control when Void Terrarium has you scouring dungeons for items that are used to create a new home for Toriko. Aiding the vulnerable girl remains Void Terrarium 2’s central motivation. Sure, it can be a bit emotionally manipulative as you watch a secluded young girl face different types of harrowing body horror and embody the extinction of the human race. But it’s also amazingly effective. You might find yourself playing well into the evening hours in an attempt to produce a morsel of happiness for an ailing girl.

When Robbie is sent on a collection consignment, play mirrors the mechanics found in the Mystery Dungeon franchise. Your expeditions are lively, with the action only showing its turn-based underpinnings when enemies appear. When combat does break out, survival involves learning to limit risks. You’ll adopt tactics like retreating to narrow tunnels to avoid losing all your health to several adjacent foes or carefully managing your inventory of unearthed items. You wouldn’t want to squander ten turns of invulnerability outside of a boss battle, would you?

Robby Burns Through Batteries

Fortunately, it’s not a complete retread of Chunsoft’s dungeon-crawling formula. Status effects play heavily into Terrarium’s treks, and merely using a corrupted battery to replenish some of your energy can afflict Robbie. Even if you get destroyed in the game’s dungeons, any resources collected are yours to keep. These are often used for craftable objects that sustain Toriko’s health or improve her mood. Creating these items also increases Robbie’s base stats or carrying capacity, ensuring that you’re always progressing in the game.

The catch is Robby’s level resets after every expedition, rather than accumulating across the game. As such, there’s uncertainty across each dungeon run, since provisional level increases offer bonuses like a studier defense, more powerful grenades, or an increase to your stealthiness. When this expansive variety of different perks is layered on top of a wealth of different items and equipment, Void Terrarium 2 truly prods improvisational play. Sure, there will be runs when it seems like the odds are stacked against you, and turrets that can pelt you from off-screen remain, but largely reconnoitering is enjoyable.

Success Revolves Around Smart Inventory Management

It’s also quite attractive, with the team at Nippon Ichi Software applying a healthy amount of chromatic aberration to the glitched-out dungeons. Unsurprisingly, performance is flawless on the Switch and the only slowdown you‘ll witness is when you’re temporarily cursed by a lag ailment. Sonically, the lack of voice acting for Toriko, Robby, and factoryAI feels like a missed opportunity. But it’s partially offset by a soundtrack that expresses urgency and positivity.

Void Terrarium 2’s journey feels imperative thanks to Toriko integration. But it isn’t without frustration. Having to scour layers for blueprints and then hunt down resources to complete development can feel like playtime padding. But save for this minor annoyance, the game gameplay loop is engaging, especially since even botched runs pay dividends. Although the sequel might not add enough substance to justify a full-priced purchase for Terrarium veterans, the additional exposition makes this an ideal in-road for roguelike-enjoying newcomers.

void* tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2 was played
on Switch with review code provided by the publisher.