Breath of Fire II is a classic role-playing game developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on December 2, 1994, as the second entry in the Breath of Fire series. Set 500 years after the original game, it follows the adventure of a young hero named Ryu.
Players control Ryu, who meets multiple companions on his journey, including Nina, a girl from the Wing Clan. Each character has unique skills and abilities that play key roles in dungeon exploration, combat, and story progression. The game retains the iconic "dragon transformation" system from its predecessor, allowing the protagonist to shift into powerful dragon forms to deal massive damage to enemies. It also introduces new features like the "fusion" system and fishing minigames, boosting replayability and fun.
Released in Japan the same week Sony launched the original PlayStation, Breath of Fire II still achieved strong sales, selling roughly 89,700 copies in its first week and ranking 7th on the weekly sales chart.
Yuko Takehara composed the entire soundtrack, creating a distinct atmospheric tone for the game. On December 21, 2001, it was ported to the Game Boy Advance, adding a link cable feature for item trading between systems, a dash function, adjusted minigame difficulty, and toned-down versions of some overly intense lines from the original release.
Overall, Breath of Fire II builds on the classic elements of the first game with wide-ranging improvements and innovations, making it a must-play classic RPG.