Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors (2016)

Return once again to the infernal depths of Hell in Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors, where you are tasked with guiding a new group of delinquent girls through the Reformation Program. This installment introduces a significant twist: among the seven girls in your group, one harbors a secret that may alter the course of your mission. As you navigate the Hell Spire, you will face challenges that test your ability to unite the team, address mistrust, and lead the characters through the process of confronting their sins and breaking the bonds of damnation.

Team Dynamics and Challenges

The game emphasizes not only traditional RPG combat but also the importance of interpersonal relationships. You must work to build trust among the girls while coaching them in battles against Convicts. Their individual stories unfold as you guide them, revealing their unique personalities, past misdeeds, and the path each must take toward redemption. Success depends on overcoming the seeds of mistrust within the group and helping the characters learn essential skills through interactive and engaging Motivation sessions that combine gameplay with character development.

Deep RPG Character Development

Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors introduces a comprehensive skill tree that allows for extensive character growth. Using the innovative Coaching system, players can shape each girl’s abilities along two distinct paths, either S or M, depending on your strategy. By motivating and training your team, you can develop characters into either defensive specialists or offensive powerhouses, offering strategic depth to both combat and team management. The character progression system ensures that each decision you make has a tangible effect on the girls’ abilities and relationships.

Uncovering Secrets

A central narrative element is the hidden truth behind one of the Reformation Candidates. As you ascend the Hell Spire, uncovering the sins of each girl becomes essential to forming trust and achieving redemption. The mystery surrounding one candidate’s true nature adds layers of intrigue and requires careful attention to dialogue and actions to resolve. Every girl’s story is integral to understanding the overall plot and achieving success in the Reformation Program.

Interactive PS Vita Features

The game is designed to utilize the full capabilities of the PS Vita system. Players can engage with the characters through multiple touchscreen-based minigames, enhancing the sense of immersion. The Live 2D system ensures that the girls respond dynamically to player interactions, making the characters feel present and reactive. This integration of hardware features enriches the gameplay and strengthens the connection between the player and the team.

Language Options

Players can experience the game with English text while retaining the original Japanese voice acting, providing an authentic experience for a wide range of audiences. This combination allows for full comprehension of the story and nuanced character interactions while maintaining the original performance quality of the voice cast.

Summary

Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors combines traditional RPG combat, deep character development, and interactive minigames to create a unique Reformation experience. Players must guide a diverse team of delinquent girls through challenges of trust, personal growth, and mystery, all while uncovering secrets and shaping their journey toward redemption. The game’s integration of PS Vita features and dual-language options ensures an engaging and immersive experience, emphasizing strategy, narrative, and interpersonal dynamics throughout the Hell Spire.

Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors offers a unique blend of RPG gameplay with a heavy focus on character growth and interactive mechanics. However, its blend of RPG battles and "Motivations" that involve somewhat controversial themes may not sit well with everyone. The game's concept of guiding a group of delinquent girls through a reformation program while battling their mistrust toward one another provides an intriguing narrative, but the overall tone can be a bit uncomfortable at times.

If you're a fan of visual novels or turn-based RPGs and don't mind the game's mature themes, it could be an enjoyable experience. The touch screen interaction, character customization, and skill progression system are solid, making the gameplay satisfying for those who are into character-driven stories. However, if you're looking for something more wholesome or less provocative, you might want to look elsewhere.

Verdict: For fans of niche RPGs with mature content, Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors is worth trying. For others, it's probably best to pass.