Ryu was a young boy who had memories of a strange village far away and a magical doorway that 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.
Breath of Fire II is an RPG. The majority of game play is 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.
The game features a community system where you can link to friends using a link-cable and exchange weapons and items to defeat higher evils. Additionally, in the Game Boy Advance version, you can build and maintain your own city while exploring.