Evolution 2: Far Off Promise

Evolution 2: Far Off Promise (神機世界エヴォリューション2 遠い約束, Shinkisekai Evoryūshon 2 Tōi Yakusoku) is a role-playing video game for the Dreamcast console. It is a sequel to Evolution: The World of Sacred Device. It was developed by Sting and published by Ubi Soft in North America. In Japan it was published by ESP, while in Taiwan a Microsoft Windows version was published by Dysin Interactive Corp.^[1]

Evolution 2: Far Off Promise
North American Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)	Sting
Publisher(s)	JP: ESP WW: Ubi Soft TW: Dysin Interactive Corp.
Composer(s)	Masaharu Iwata
Platform(s)	Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows
Release	Dreamcast JP: December 23, 1999 NA: June 29, 2000 EU: November 23, 2001 Windows TW: November 23, 2002
Genre(s)	Roguelike, role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Evolution 2: Far Off Promise was also released for the European market in 2001 as one of the last European Dreamcast games. In the UK the game was exclusive to the video game chain Game.^{[citation needed]}

Like the first Evolution game, Evolution 2 is a dungeon crawler. Unlike the first, Evolution 2 has both random and predetermined dungeon maps.

This game and Evolution: The World of the Sacred Device were remade into Evolution Worlds on the GameCube.

Plot

Continuing from Evolution: The World of Sacred Device, Mag Launcher and company venture towards the continent's center via the newly built railroad. With a new set of ruins to explore, Mag has the opportunity to become the greatest adventurer in the world, but a new presence threatens to destroy his relationship with Linear.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	66%[2]

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[3]
CNET Gamecenter	7/10[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6.17/10[5][a]
EP Daily	6.5/10[6]
Famitsu	29/40[7]
Game Informer	6/10[8]
GameFan	87%[9]
GameRevolution	C[10]
GameSpot	5.7/10[11]
GameSpy	6/10[12]
IGN	4.5/10[13]
Next Generation	[14]

The Dreamcast version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.^[2] Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen called it "an experience to be savored and enjoyed."^[14] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.^[7]

Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro said in one review, "Fans of Evolution won't be disappointed with this vivid world that's full of familiar faces and tactics. Yet, as in the first Evolution, the gameplay is geared for younger adventurers – hardcore role-players will want to hold out for a deeper story and greater challenge."^[15][b] In another review, E. Coli said that the game "establishes the series as being aimed at younger players who may find the complexities of the average RPG too challenging. It is definitely aimed at the short attention span crowd. Dreamcast owners are still waiting for someone to deliver a quality RPG, but fear not, several promising titles are slated for release in the next few months and one of them is bound to be a winner."^[16][c]

Notes

1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 7/10, and the other gave it 4.5/10.
2. GamePro gave the game 4/5 for graphics, two 3.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for control in one review.
3. GamePro gave the game two 3/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 2.5/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control in another review.