Play Breath of Fire 2 (U)(Mode7) Online

Capcom released Breath of Fire 2 for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, bringing a Super Nintendo classic to handhelds during a time when many older RPGs were finding new audiences on the system. It arrived without much fanfare, but for players who missed it the first time, it offered a substantial fantasy adventure with a distinct visual style and a somber, personal story.

You control Ryu, a young man with the power to transform into dragons, as he gathers a party of allies to investigate a mysterious religious organization and uncover the truth behind his missing family. The game uses traditional turn based combat, with exploration that moves screen by screen across an overworld and through multi level dungeons. A key mechanic lets you fuse characters together to create more powerful forms in battle, and town building allows you to develop a home for refugees that unlocks new items and services. The pacing can feel slow due to a high random encounter rate, and some dungeons test your patience with their maze like layouts. Playing it feels like steadily unraveling a long forgotten secret, piece by piece, through both combat and conversation.