In “Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir” (released by Square Enix), Edward and Alphonse Elric are brothers and alchemists. Alchemy is the science of transforming one thing into something completely different. Alchemy is seemingly like a scientific form of magic. First a transmutation circle must be drawn, and then energy must flow through the circle.Alchemy occurs in three simple steps: analysis, deconstruction, and reconstruction. However, this process is restrained by the law of Equivalent Exchange: to receive, one must be willing to and able to sacrifice.
Alchemy must also follow the flow of the world. In other words, no one can give life to something that has died.
The Elric brothers found this out first hand when they tried to resurrect their dead mother. In the process Ed lost his left leg, and Al lost his entire body. With only seconds to spare, Ed gave his right arm to bind his brother’s soul to a suit of armor. These events bring us to our tale in “Fullmetal Alchemist 2.”
After being fitted with automail, mechanical prosthetic limbs, Ed and Al set out to find the Philosopher’s Stone. With this alchemic catalyst they would be able to perform alchemy outside the bounds of Equivalent Exchange and return their bodies back to the way they were. As a result of living through a failed human transmutation, Ed is able to perform alchemy without a circle array.
Unlike the first game, Ed now has certain weapons that he can create by using the ground. These weapons fall into a category called learned alchemy. You are still able to use weapons created from other items. The learned alchemy just simplifies getting a sword or a spear.
Another helpful move that stayed from the last game is the special combo and regular combo that can be performed when Al is around. However, the “Fighting Frenzy” from the first game has been changed to a Rage attack, where Al boosts Ed into the air and Ed comes down prepared to unleash humungous spikes from the ground.
The new enemies are also a hoot. Instead of fighting all real people, you are mostly fighting golems made from mud and souls of dead people. Golems vary in size and become harder as the game progresses. They are much more formidable opponents than humans or chimeras, fusions of different animals through alchemy.
There are transitional cut scenes that are animated similarly to the anime series. This alone makes it even better than many of the other anime based games.
I’d rate this game an eight and a half out of ten.