Imitating a Souls game is a risky prospect. The sub-genre made famous by From Software and their Dark Souls series is pretty much iconic at this point. Often characterized by their use of physical checkpoints, limited but refillable resources, and punishing difficulty, it’s easy to see the appeal of adding some of those ideas to new genres. Heck, Jedi Survivor is essentially one of those games set in the Star Wars universe and I ended up loving that. Back in 2019, Gunfire Games presented audiences with Remnant: From The Ashes, which promised a Dark Souls-like take on the third-person shooter genre. Fans loved it but I found the first installment to be less Souls and more of a really unbalanced action adventure set in an interesting but messy world. I always hoped that later iterations would fix my issues I had with it because the idea is wildly intriguing.
Enter Remnant II and Gunfire are heading back to the world they created in hopes of polishing and reiterating on ideas they had. Is it entirely successful? I’m not sure about that. But I do think they have delivered an exciting and at times very fun game that will probably only get better with time, even if the story is quite lacking.
So what’s the gist of Remnant II? Well, after creating a character you’re thrown into a world overrun with “the root,” a cosmic entity that has a tree like appearance and spawns hellish monsters into this world. In a brief intro, your character is introduced as a survivor and you’ll soon be brought into the hub area of the game where you’ll craft/upgrade weapons, obtain gear, and travel to new areas. Remnant II does a good job of introducing players into the idea that they’ll be in a constant gaming loop of exploring, obtaining upgrades and venturing further to defeat bosses and discover more of the world.
Where Remnant II really shines is the gameplay.
After picking a character class, you’ll have access to abilities and perks tied to that class. For my playthrough I chose the gunslinger and was treated to an ability that allowed me to summon a spectral six shooter to devastate groups of enemies or focus on one target with a single shot. What’s great about the character classes is that players aren’t locked into them and can change them throughout the game, allowing for a good amount of player expression. Using your character, Remnant II asks players to explore contained but semi-open environments with multiple paths that lead to logical ends, most of the time bookended by a boss fight. Shooting is tight and heavy and players have access to an extremely satisfying dodge to master. Post-area completion, players will return to the starting point to upgrade or craft better gears and weapons and the entire process starts anew. Sure the illusion of freedom in exploration is there but Remnant II’s levels are pretty linear affairs. Fans of the “Souls” genre looking for a fix in a post-Elden Ring world will be disappointed.
The biggest improvement across the board in Remnant II is the balancing. The first game fell short in this department with a difficulty that curved more towards multiplayer. It was frustrating to fight bosses with multiple stages only to be taken out by multiple enemies that would either hit you from multiple directions or stay out of the line of sight. This sequel rebalances situations with the single player in mind. Sure the game is still punishingly difficult in parts but I’d be remiss to not mention that overall it feels like a massive improvement for solo play. For those that want that original experience there are multiple difficulty levels and the signature co-op from the first game makes a triumphant return.
Here comes my biggest issue with the game: the story. The Remnant series has crafted this deep lore about the Root and humanity’s fight for survival in a post-apocalypse world, so it’s extremely frustrating that the story boils down to nonsensical muck that takes a backseat to the gameplay. If you were hoping the story is an improvement over the first game, it brings me no pleasure to tell you it isn’t. That’s a shame, because the world is fascinating as hell.
I spent my time with the PS5 version of the game. The game performed well, sticking to 60 frames per second most of the time but having strange hitching when battles got overly hectic or when exploring certain environments. Overall I was satisfied with the performance as a high framerate is an absolute must for this type of game. Remnant II is also an improvement to look at as it features a great art design that melds modern civilization and the cosmic nature of the Root.
Remnant II is a fun game. The shooting and character building are wonderful to experiment with but the exploration and story leave a lot to desire. If you’re a solo-player, or grouping up with some friends, Remnant II is sure to have something for you if you’re a fan of shooter action games. It’s a shame that the story doesn’t hold up and the gameplay loop is a little basic because I feel like Gunfire Games have a hit on their hands if they can refine this formula to a perfect sheen. Fingers crossed for Remnant III.
Remnant II is now on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series.
Review code provided by the publisher.
The post ‘Remnant II’ Review – The Gameplay Shines But the Story Disappoints in This Video Game Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.