Once I performed Volgarr the Viking 2 at Guerrilla Collective 2024, I couldn’t beat its first stage. I used to be adamant about doing higher as soon as I had the total recreation on my Nintendo Swap. As I’d study once I lastly acquired my fingers on it, Loopy Viking Studios and Digital Eclipse had gamers like me in thoughts all alongside when it approached problem design. Volgarr the Viking 2 offers gamers greater than sufficient instruments to get higher on the recreation over time, letting me overcome my preliminary hurdle with slightly time and observe.
It does that in two methods. First, there’s an Undead Mode that makes the 2D platformer much more approachable for less-skilled gamers. Secondly, it rewards the gamers who truly do effectively with useful power-ups that make Volgarr extra highly effective the higher you play. By discovering each of these, Volgarr the Viking 2 made me really feel extra enthused by its challenges than worn out.
Whereas an old-school strategy to platforming means Volgarr the Viking 2 can’t completely escape a few of the irritating trappings of its retro design, it’s nonetheless a standout throwback to a few of the hardest platformers of yesteryear. I sometimes bounce off powerful video games after some time, however Volgarr the Viking 2 had the other impact on me.
Similar to you bear in mind
Volgarr the Viking 2 will really feel intimately acquainted to anybody who performed its 2014 predecessor. It’s a difficult 2D platformer starring a Viking who’s making an attempt to take down an evil lich with the assistance of some Valkyries. The story principally stops there as the main focus turns to survival and gold gathering. Its 2D platforming gameplay finds a center floor between Rastan and Ghosts ‘n Goblins.
Volgarr is a big and slow-moving character, so every assault, bounce, dodge roll, or spear throw gamers make should be methodical, like in Rastan. Regardless of being a beefy Viking, Volgarr is kind of frail. Getting hit by an enemy removes his present power-up (Ghosts ‘n Goblins fashion), whereas the following hit after that kills them. For those who attempt to brute-force your approach by means of Volgarr the Viking 2, you’ll die. Loads.
The most effective strategy to finishing Volgarr the Viking 2 is to take issues slowly. Study enemy patterns to determine when is one of the best time to go in for a strike or keep away from them. Be conservative and throw spears Volgarr can bounce on fairly than make a dangerous bounce throughout a big pit. Exit of your approach to acquire power-ups at any time when you’ll be able to; they’re actually useful. Whereas a decade has handed because the launch of the primary Volgarr the Viking, it has not misplaced any of the attraction over that point as this sequel is a good throwback in all of the ways in which recreation was.
In reality, it’s solely improved in presentation and approachability. The pixel artwork seems to be extra polished than within the unique, whereas the soundtrack is filled with retro-inspired tunes that really feel ripped off an NES cartridge. Volgarr the Viking 2 feels old fashioned in all the appropriate methods, however avoids a few of the baggage that comes with that.
Previous-school problem, modernized
I spoke at size with Volgarr the Viking 2’s builders about how they made this intentionally difficult game more approachable. And for probably the most half, their efforts paid off. The inclusion of midlevel checkpoints, an infinite variety of continues, and a observe mode as soon as I beat a stage had been appreciated, though the marquee function associated to problem is Undead Mode. After gamers use sufficient continues, Volgarr turns right into a zombie and received’t die in a single or two hits anymore.
I activated Undead Mode in my first playthrough, and I appreciated its inclusion, even when it’s tied to the sport’s worst ending. It gave me the data I wanted to do higher on subsequent runs of every stage. The one side of gameplay it fails to account for is a few of the platforming. Falling in an infinite pit in Undead Mode will nonetheless price Volgarr a life and ship him again to the final checkpoint.
This implies one misstep can price minutes of progress even when utilizing an Undead Mode that’s supposed to avoid that subject. That is notably painful within the second stage, which options underwater sections that change up the platforming physics, and the fifth stage, which has Volgarr bounce on very small platforms that may harm him. Ultimately, the infinite continues allowed me to beat these obstacles, although, so it’s not all unhealthy.
Whereas Undead Mode is useful, the true great thing about Volgarr the Viking 2 clicked for me once I understood how far more highly effective Volgarr will get when he collects power-ups. Whereas Volgarr can lose these useful power-ups instantly, it additionally rewards those that play effectively in useful methods, creating a problem bell curve that makes this a really rewarding recreation to get good at.
I nonetheless haven’t accessed its true ending but as a result of you’ll be able to solely use one proceed earlier than your alternative to get it goes away, however I’d simply maintain enjoying Volgarr the Viking 2 till I do. Whether or not you’re a fan of inauspicious old-school 2D platformers or not, this can be a fashionable tackle a traditional system that anybody can get into with sufficient effort and time.
Volgarr the Viking 2 is offered now for PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X, and Nintendo Swap.
