Stranger of Sword City excels at one thing, and really flounders at the others. It's a rewarding experience if you're a fan of challenging RPGs and gameplay depth. If you're a fan of well-written dialogue, engaging music or proper difficulty curves though…well….there are a lot of other video games out there that may suit you better.

A tale about death and the afterlife, with a sombre art style to match. It does many things so much better than its peers, and I'm pretty sure it stands head and shoulders above most of them.

Not only a fantastic reinterpretation of old-school RPGs, it's also one of the most gratifying games that I've ever played. It may not be for everyone, but if you fit the bill then you need this in your gaming library.

The art style is exceptionally good, and it reflects the tone of a game that's surprisingly mature in a contemplative, non-skeezy way. However, this game very much represents an incremental upgrade - rather than a major step forward - over the original Stranger Of Sword City, and it should be received as such.