Jade Cocoon 2

Jade Cocoon 2 (玉繭物語2 ～滅びの蟲～, Tamamayu Monogatari Tsū ～Horobi no Mushi～) is a role-playing game from Genki, released only on the PlayStation 2. It follows up the original *Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu*. The game presents a fully three-dimensional polygonal environment, includes 200 cutscenes, and has complete voice acting.

The core gameplay revolves around collecting, breeding, and fighting with monsters. Players control Kahu, a young man training to become a Cocoon Master, who must search elemental forest lairs for orbs to lift a parasitic curse. A detailed breeding system and battle mechanics are central. Over 200 monster species exist, with billions of possible fusion combinations. Players combine Divine Beasts tied to Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind elements, each offering abilities like healing, protection, or status effects. Combat takes place on a circular grid, where Kahu commands up to eight monsters placed in elemental quadrants. Attacks depend on the alignment and skills of the beasts in each sector.

The story takes place a century after the first game. The era of the Nagi people and "cocoon masters" is over. New "cocoon masters" are now called "beasthunters," and they dominate monster raising. Kahu, the player character, goes to the Temple of Kemuel hoping to become a beasthunter and live adventures like the old cocoon masters he admires. During his license exam, he meets a fairy named Nico, who curses him, leaving him little time before his body is consumed. The temple's guardian, Levant—the hero of the original game—offers Kahu a chance to heal himself. By collecting four magical orbs from the elemental forests and using a dark lute, Levant can save Kahu. Kahu sets out to save himself and, eventually, the world. Other characters from the first game appear, including Kikinak, now a wealthy shopkeeper thanks to Levant. A statue of Mahbu, the Nagi Maiden, stands in Levant's room.

Development took over two years with a team of 40 people. It was among the first PlayStation 2 games to use the console's hard drive to reduce load times.

According to Metacritic, the game received "generally favorable reviews," slightly more positive than the first *Jade Cocoon*. In Japan, *Famitsu* gave it a score of 31 out of 40.