Ryu was a young boy who had memories of a strange village far away and a magical doorway which sucked him through. However those were only distant memories. Ryu and his best friend Bow were apprentices in the Ranger's Guild. As adventurers they took on posted jobs needed by the townspeople. However it wasn't long before one job went awry and Bow was accused of stealing a valuable item. In order to clear his friend's name and find the meaning of his dreams, Ryu would explore the world, eventually discovering the truth behind the mystery of his past.
Breath of Fire II is a role playing game. The majority of the game is played from a top-down map, however battles are seen from an isometric view. Ryu will form parties from among 8 other characters, each with their own set of skills and powers that will help him discover the truth behind the mystery.
In the GameBoy Advance version, you can use a link-cable to link to friends and exchange weapons and items to defeat higher evils. And with the inclusion of the community system, you can build and maintain your own city while exploring.