Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection

Lore & Background

The game is set in the world of Granvallen, five hundred years after the Great Sorcery War, in which the Six Demon Lords attacked Granvallen and were defeated by the Holy Kingdom of Valence, allied with fairies and dragons. Magic was sealed, and the floating continents lost contact. In recent years, machinery has prospered, allowing travel by aircraft. Ragna Valentine, a treasure hunter, journeys to the floating continent of Ilvard to fulfill a job contract. He is shot down by a mysterious group and rescued by Alwen, a vampire princess who performs a blood contract with him, making him her Blood Warrior. Alwen's castle and magic were stolen, and Ragna promises to help reclaim them. Players alternate between Ragna, who uses physical attacks with his Anchor Gear weapon, and Alwen, who wields powerful elemental magic. Two other supporting characters replace Alwen at certain points. The gameplay resembles the 3D Ys games, with real-time battles and a fixed camera. Defeating enemies drops food or coins; food restores health and is the only source of experience points. Ten of the same food can be combined at a restaurant for higher-tier food. Pets can be bought to collect items and aid in combat. Gadget items assist dungeon exploration.

Reader's Guide

Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection is notable as a direct sequel to Zwei: The Arges Adventure, continuing Falcom's action RPG tradition with a real-time combat system similar to the 3D Ys games. Its unique leveling mechanic—where experience comes solely from consuming food rather than defeating enemies—sets it apart from typical RPGs. The game's dual-character system, with one character active and the other following, requires players to switch between physical and magical attacks. The re-release in 2009 added features, and the English localization by Xseed Games in 2017 made it accessible to a wider audience. The game received generally favorable reviews, and its blend of dungeon exploration, puzzle elements, and pet companions contributes to its distinct identity within Falcom's catalog.

Did You Know?

• Defeating enemies does not award experience points; only eating food grants experience.
• Ten of the same food can be combined at a restaurant to create a higher-tier food item.
• Players can buy pets like cats and dogs that automatically collect spoils and learn special abilities.
• The game starts with Ragna being shot down from his airplane while delivering cargo to Ilvard.