I would never say I liked the first game. I think the soundtrack is amazing, and the potential was there for something great, but it's a game that ruined anything good it had going for it by being absolutely mean-spirited, and full of spiteful punching down.

But like I said, that potential was always there for something really cool, so of course I wanted to check out a sequel. And while the same year's NEO The World Ends With You gets a fond spot in my heart for managing to capture exactly what the original game had done, Caligula 2 gets a fond spot in my heart for managing to wash out every bit of the bad taste the original had left with me all those years ago.

It's engaging from start to finish in gameplay and storytelling, kind and humane in a way games seldom are, and has a ridiculously good localization behind it that sells all the emotional highs and lows of the script.

It's so hard to believe it's from the same writer as the original, but I have the utmost respect for the growth he's shown here, both as a writer and a person.

This game is fabulous and lovely, and I recommend giving it a chance, especially if you just couldn't stand to original.