To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers

Summary

To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers (ToHeart2 ダンジョントラベラーズ, ToHeart2 Danjon Toraberaazu) is a role-playing video game developed by Sting and published by Aquaplus on June 30, 2011 for the PlayStation Portable in Japan only, and on 15 Feb 2024 for PC via Steam. The game is a spin-off from Leaf's To Heart 2 franchise, and gameplay highly resembles another To Heart 2 based mini game from the Windows visual novel Manaka de Ikuno!!, titled Final Dragon Chronicle: Guilty Requiem.

To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers
Japanese PSP cover art for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers
ToHeart2 ダンジョントラベラーズ
(ToHeart2 Danjon Toraberaazu)
GenreFantasy, harem, adventure
Manga
To Heart 2 Another Days
Written byAquaplus
Illustrated byS
Published byASCII Media Works
MagazineDengeki G's Festival! Comic
DemographicSeinen
Original runJuly 26, 2008August 26, 2010
Volumes2
Light novel
To Heart 2: Final Dragon Chronicle Sono Go
Written byTakuya Baba
Illustrated byUshio Komone
Published byHarvest
DemographicMale
PublishedFebruary 20, 2011
Volumes1
Game
DeveloperSting
PublisherAquaplus
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformPlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Windows
ReleasedJune 30, 2011
Original video animation
Directed byJunichi Sakata
Produced by
  • Yūtarō Mochizuki
  • Hiroshi Takano
  • Keitarō Sunohara
Written byTakamitsu Kōno
Music by
  • To Heart 2 TV[a]
  • Conisch
  • Kei Haneoka
  • To Heart 2 (PS2)[b]
  • Shinya Ishikawa
  • Michio Kinugasa
  • Junya Matsuoka
  • Kazuhide Nakagami
  • Naoya Shimokawa
StudioChaos Project
Released February 22, 2012 July 25, 2012
Runtime30 minutes each
Episodes2 (List of episodes)
Game
Dungeon Travelers 2
DeveloperSting
PublisherAquaplus
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformPlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
ReleasedMarch 27, 2013

A manga version of the PC game was serialized in volume 2 of the To Heart 2 Another Days manga, which was published by ASCII Media Works. Harvest has published a single light novel based on the game, titled To Heart 2: Final Dragon Chronicle Sono Go. Two OVA anime series for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers have been produced by Aquaplus, and was released from February 22, 2012 to July 25, 2012.

Gameplay edit

The player assumes the role of Takaaki Kouno, the main protagonist of To Heart 2, however, this character cannot participate in battles directly. Instead, the player controls what skills and attacks the girls Takaaki encounters use. In the beginning, the player will start off with two party members, Konomi Yuzuhara and Tamaki Kousaka, with these two characters, more girls can be unlocked to fight in the party. In order to unlock more party members, the player must defeat certain characters in the To Heart 2 series, and then they will join the player's side.

The party will often encounter enemies, which offer little experience compared to boss battles. In the PC version, a maximum of four people can be in the party, whilst in the PSP version, it is five. Each character has a different occupation, when the character reaches certain levels, they can advance to a higher class. The career changes for a fighter at level 15 are Paladin and Dark Knight, and at level 30, the career changes are Valkyrie, Samurai, and Dark Lord. The career changes for a magic user at level 15 are Sorceress, Enchantress, and Priest, and at level 30, the career changes are Witch, Magical Princess, Sage, and Bishop. The career changes for a scout at level 15 are Archer and Assassin, and at level 30, the career changes are Sniper, Treasure Hunter, and Kunoichi. Lastly, the career changes for a maid at level 15 are Bard and Dance, and at level 30, the career changes are Diva, High School Girl, Idol Master. Each class has a different costume.

All of the characters have their own skills and special attacks, they can be learnt by earning skill points which are obtained when the party levels up. There are six different types of skills:

  • Passive Skills - Effects of the skill apply to the entire party which is always activated.
  • Skill-based Skills - Skills that activate immediately when in combat.
  • Magic-based Skills - If in combat, there is a cast time for magic users to activate their spells, however, if attacked by an enemy in the process of doing so, the skill will be cancelled.
  • Unique Skills - Added in the PSP version. It is the skill of a specific character, which can be strengthened.
  • Party Skills - Added in the PSP version. A skill activated by party members.
  • Cooperation Skills - Added in the PSP version. The skill can only be activated if the party meets the conditions/requirements (occupation, equipment).

Items can be obtained in the dungeons, or bought from a shop. There are weapons, armor, and recovery items. Recovery items are necessary to fill back up a party member's health bar, or their magic power. If their health reaches 0, that character can no longer participate in the battle, unless they are revived.

Plot edit

After Maryan's science experiment, the To Heart 2 characters are thrown into a fantasy RPG world, and they learn that the only way to return to their normal lives is to find and defeat the final boss.[1]

Characters edit

  • Konomi Yuzuhara - Takaaki's childhood friend, and a magic user.
  • Tamaki Kousaka - Another childhood friend of Takaaki's, she is a fighter.
  • Manaka Komaki - The representative of Takaaki's class, she is a magic user.
  • Karin Sasamori - The only member of the 'mystery club', she is a scout.
  • Sango Himeyuri - Sango is the older twin sister of Ruri, she is a magic user.
  • Ruri Himeyuri - Ruri is the younger of the Himeyuri twins, she is a fighter.
  • Yuma Tonami - Yuma is Manaka's close friend, she is a scout.
  • Lucy Maria Misora - An alien girl who communicates with animals, she is a magic user.
  • Yuki Kusakabe - A mysterious girl who visits the school at night, she is a maid.
  • Sasara Kusugawa - The student council president, she is a fighter.
  • Maryan - The former student council president, she is a maid.
  • Harumi Kouno - A highly energetic robot who declares herself to be Takaaki's lover, she is a fighter.
  • Silfa - A robot who is Takaaki's personal maid, she is a maid.
  • Chie Yoshioka - One of Konomi's main friends from junior high school, she is a fighter.
  • Michiru Yamada - A soft-spoken girl who is also a friend of Konomi's, she is a magic user.
  • Ikuno Komaki - Manaka's younger sister, she is a scout.
  • Nanako - A girl from a primary school, she is a magic user.
  • Haruka Yuzuhara - Konomi's mother, she is a maid.
  • Ilfa - A robot designed by Sango, she is a scout.

Development and release edit

Game edit

To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers was developed by Sting, and published by Aquaplus for the PlayStation Portable. It was officially released on June 30, 2011, as an all ages version of the PC game Final Dragon Chronicle: Guilty Requiem, which is one of the four games contained inside Manaka de Ikuno!!. Manaka de Ikuno!! was released in both limited and regular editions on December 18, 2009. A PlayStation Vita version of the game was released on April 30, 2015. An enhanced port featuring upgraded resolution, custom controls (with support for keyboard and mouse), auto dungeon mapping and more, was released on PC via Steam and Johren on February 15, 2024.[2]

Printed media edit

Before the game's release, a manga titled To Heart Another Days was published by ASCII Media Works, and serialized in the Dengeki G's Festival! Comic magazine from July 26, 2008 to August 26, 2010. A comic version of the PC game Final Dragon Chronicle: Guilty Requiem was featured in volume 2 of the manga. The manga was written by Aquaplus.[3] A light novel for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers was published by Harvest on February 20, 2011, titled To Heart 2: Final Dragon Chronicle Sono Go. It was written by Takuya Baba and illustrated by Ushio Komone.[4]

Anime edit

Two OVAs for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers were produced by Aquaplus and Chaos Project, the first episode was released on February 22, 2012, and the second was released on July 25, 2012.[5] The anime was directed by Jun'ichi Sakata. The opening theme is "Niji Iro no Mirai" by Suara, and the two endings are "Tada Hitotsu no Hoshi" by Rena Uehara and "Kono Sekai ni" by Akari Tsuda.

Reception edit

On reviewing the 2024 PC version, Daniel Joseph of NookGaming described the story as frivolous but funny and praised the gameplay, despite having some issues such considering the dungeon design as frustrating.[6]

Sequels edit

A sequel to To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers has been published by Aquaplus and developed by Sting, titled Dungeon Travelers 2 was released for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita on March 27, 2013.[7] It consists of the same gameplay and system but featured different characters. Another PlayStation Vita game titled Dungeon Travelers 2-2, a sequel to Dungeon Travelers 2, was released on April 20, 2017.[8]

Notes edit

  1. ^ 「ToHeart2(TV-series)」 フロンティアワークス より
  2. ^ 「ToHeart2(PS2)」 AQUAPLUS より

References edit

  1. ^ "To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers Story Information on Anime Official Site" (in Japanese). Aquaplus. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Romano, Sal. "Dungeon Travelers: To Heart 2 in Another World for PC launches February 14, 2024". Gematsu. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  3. ^ "To Heart 2 Another Days (2) Manga" (in Japanese). Rakuten Books. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  4. ^ To Heart 2: Final Dragon Chronicle Sono Go on Amazon (in Japanese). ASIN 4434153161.
  5. ^ "To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers Gets Anime Spinoff". SiliconEra. December 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  6. ^ Joseph, Daniel. "Dungeon Travelers: To Heart 2 In Another World – Review". NookGaming. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Dungeon Travelers 2 Product" (in Japanese). Aquaplus. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "ダンジョントラベラーズ2-2 闇堕ちの乙女とはじまりの書". aquaplus.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2020.

External links edit

  • Official website for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers (PSP) (in Japanese)
  • Official website for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers (Vita) (in Japanese)
  • Official website for To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers anime (in Japanese)