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 meaning of his dreams and hidden abilities inside himself.
Breath of Fire II is an RPG where most of the game is played from a top-down map, but 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 would help him discover the truth behind the mystery.
The gameplay also features a link-cable in the GBA version, allowing you to link to friends and exchange weapons and items to defeat higher evils. Additionally, with the community system, you can build and maintain your own city while exploring the world.