Product Info

Platform

Switch, PC

Publisher

Playtonic Friends

Developer

Castle Pixel

Series

Blossom Tales

Genre

Action, Adventure, Puzzle, RPG

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

273 MB

Release Date (NA)

Aug 16, 2022

Purchase From

eShop

Steam

After debuting in the 2017 game Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, Lily, her brother Chrys, and their grandpa return for a new story, Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince. Like its predecessor, Blossom Tales II is inspired by classic top-down games such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Also like the first game, Blossom Tales II is a fun, comical adventure that you shouldn’t let slip by.

Console Success

Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King first came out on PC (via Steam). Unfortunately, despite the fun gameplay, it didn’t receive the same recognition it later saw for the Nintendo Switch. When talking with Rob from Castle Pixel, the indie creators of the game, he said that sales were so low on PC that the studio almost closed its doors. After releasing on the Switch, however, sales were 20-to-1 compared to the PC and the game became a success. Five years later, Lily’s next adventure has finally come.

Grandpa’s Story

Those who’ve played Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King will see the return of Lily, Chrys, and Grandpa. Grandpa tells another fictional story about two children, sharing the same name as his grandkids Lily and Chrys, who go on adventure to stop the Minotaur Prince. In this story, Lily accidentally wishes that the Minotaur Prince would take her brother Chrys away following an argument the two have in a fighting tournament. The beast awakens after a long slumber and makes Lily’s wish come true. Feeling guilty, Lily goes on a quest to confront the Minotaur Prince and retrieve her brother.

As the game progresses, dialogue from Grandpa and his grandkids interrupt key moments. It’s not a bad thing, though. It brings the outside characters into the game, and players can have some choices about what will occur next. For example, Lily is about to fight an unexpected herd of monsters, but the game offers you what you prefer to battle: toads or wolves. Choose whichever suits you best because the difficulty is roughly the same but in different ways. These interruptions also occur in non-combat areas. Another example: When in a room where you must solve a puzzle, you can either do “Simon Says” or push blocks to their appropriate spot. Again, both are challenging in their own way. The choice is whether you want to memorize instructions or go at your own pace. Either way, giving the keys to the player is more engaging.

Lots to Do Before Saving

Although saving your little brother is important, the people and monsters in Blossom Tales II are in need of help as well. Whether you are gathering 100 apples for a scurry of chipmunks or collecting bones for an archaeologist, there’s plenty to do in between your main quests. Many of these rewards are heart pieces to help add more health to your character, but completing the sidequests for them is fulfilling in and of themselves. Conquering secret dungeons is also rewarding, though only about half the time. Players will get tired fast when all they get for their troubles is yet another chest of gold.

Gold coins are one of the easiest things to obtain in the game, and you’ll have a hard time spending them all. These coins are not only found in hidden caves and dungeons but also when shoveling around the world. You’ll spend them on items like heart pieces, energy pieces to help gain stamina for Lily, and bottles for potions. Outside of that, they aren’t used for much. Too bad you can’t buy a house and decorate it like in Animal Crossing. There’s an idea for Blossom Tales III. Make it happen, Castle Pixel!

A new feature added to the game is alchemy. While it’s not as complex when compared to games like the Atelier series, it’s a nice change of pace. During your travels, Lily is mistaken as a witch’s apprentice, and thus learns new recipes to make potions. Recipes are obtained across the land from each different witch. You just need to find them and talk to them. Many of these recipes are made using items found in trees, grass, etc., which are easy to find. All you need aside from the ingredients is an empty bottle and a cauldron. Cauldrons can be found in every village and in each witch’s house, and it doesn’t cost a coin to make a potion, save for the cost of a bottle. Many of these provide stat boosts such as power and speed, or rejuvenate health. Just remember to equip them and use them during a battle when things get tough.

Tribute to the Classic Franchise

Much like the first Blossom Tales, Blossom Tales II pays tribute to the popular The Legend of Zelda franchise in many ways. Influenced by 2D iterations like A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening, Blossom Tales uses a top-down view for gameplay. Additionally, the game’s map is laid out in a grid, though when you begin, it’ll just be a bunch of white squares. Players will need to explore to reveal more of the map’s details. However, the map could be used for more than just player location and warp points.

The game does give players an indicator of where their next goal is by highlighting the square, but that’s it. Even with that, when completing a mission, the highlighted square won’t go away until your next goal is given, which only makes it confusing. Ideally, it would be removed and give some indication as to where players should go next. Custom markers would be nice to have, too, giving players the power to place markers to help their own goals. For example, players may want to place a marker for a secret area they couldn’t complete and want to come back to later. Just a thought.

In other Zelda-inspired gameplay, while traveling, players will recognize the familiar sight of a sword stuck in a stone. Of course, you’ll want to try and pull it out, but Grandpa will forewarn you that Lily isn’t ready to do so yet lest she perish. Indeed, trying to pull the sword will deplete her health, a clear reference to Breath of the Wild. In addition to that, the infamous talking owl from the Zelda series gets referenced in Blossom Tales II with a comical dialogue. It’s hard not to smile at these little nods.

Harmonic Pixels

The 2D pixel art returns in Blossom Tales II and is more refined here. Lily has more details compared to her first appearance in Blossom Tales. Similarly, grass, trees, and other landscape elements also have more pixel-added details, giving them more depth. Clouds also have a nifty effect where they become transparent when traveling near or underneath them. Also, pixelated flames attached to an arrow and exploding pixels are always fun to watch. Additionally, the colors are more vibrant.

Josie Brechner is also back as the composer of the game’s chiptune soundtrack. It’s a welcome return after her stellar work in the first Blossom Tales. Her score brings energy to the overworld theme and more dramatic tunes when traveling through the western canyons. The Minatour’s tower even adds vocal tracks, a first in the Blossom Tales series. It’s a fun soundtrack to listen to on its own.

The Final Pixel

Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince is a fun, pixel adventure sequel that shouldn’t be missed, especially if you’re a fan of classic 2D Zelda games. Get ready for another exciting tale from Grandpa and save your bro!

A Nintendo Switch code provided for this review and gameplay footage.