Tobal 2 (1997)

Developer: DreamFactory
Publisher: Square
Platforms: PlayStation
Genres: Fighting, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Arcade
Rating: 5.0 of 5, 7 player ratings
Where to get it: Website

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A technically demanding 3D fighter where precise grappling, layered attack heights, and careful positioning reward players who master its deep combat mechanics.

technicalcompetitivefast-pacedprecisecombo-drivenstrategicarcade-stylevaried

About

The fighting system in Tobal 2 is the same as in the previous game. The player can freely navigate 3D fighting arenas under the condition that he or she faces the opponent. High, medium, and low attacks can be executed using assigned buttons. As in Tobal No. 1, the grappling and blocking system offers the player a variety of offensive and defensive maneuvers. A new unblockable fireball attack has been added for each character. Tobal 2 was released on the same day as Sony's Dual Analog Controller in Japan, noted as the first game compatible with the peripheral. Graphically, the game features Gouraud shaded and higher-resolution character models compared to Tobal No. 1, but still runs at 60 frames per second.

What players say

A Japan-only Square fighter remembered as a strange, beloved cult oddity thanks to its surprisingly deep roguelike Quest Mode, huge monster roster and unusual genre fusion. It feels experimental and demanding, with a punishing dungeon mode fans still talk about decades later.

Screenshots

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Featured in: PS1 RPGs beyond Final Fantasy

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.