Format: Super CD-ROM²
Genre: Gauntlet Clone
Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft

Dungeon Explorer II maintains the same three-quarter overhead perspective of its predecessor, and even reuses some of the same artwork. And yet, the vast bulk of the game-- which judging by the credits was nearly one hundred percent, brand new work by a brand new cast of artists-- is great. The "high tech" dungeons in particular really give the game a cool flavor. And on top of it, this title got the "Ys" treatment, featuring incredible anime-style, fully voice-acted cut scenes that really illustrate what the PC Engine Duo is capable of.

Also like the PC Engine Ys titles, Dungeon Explorer II features boat loads of Red Book CD audio, most of which is a fantastic meshing of guitar and keyboard work. Some of the songs are even CD remixed versions of tunes from the original, and they sound amazing. What's especially cool is the way, like many Duo games, that the title alternates between using chip-based music and CD audio; the contrast is like chocolate and peanut butter, or ice cream and hot fudge-- delicious.

Like the first title, Dungeon Explorer II has the player-- or players, with five player co-op play making a return-- navigating wilderness and dungeon via clearly Gauntlet-inspired gameplay, moving from town-to-town, and progressing the story. But here, the player movement has been stiffened up and refined just that extra little bit. The dungeons are just that little bit more varied. The pacing just that much better. Teleportation between towns was added. What felt like a neat-but-unrealized idea in the first game really comes into its own here.

Between the incredible cinematics, the excellent art direction, the incredible CD soundtrack, full save game support compliments of the Duo's built in SRAM, there is a lot to love about this game. But beyond all of that, the game has much more of an RPG feel to it this time around, with NPCs that can be interacted with, and a real-- if not ridiculously cliche-- story to enjoy. All in all, Dungeon Explorer II takes everything that was good about the first game, and fleshes it out into what is a pretty memorable experience.