In 2019, Remnant: From the Ashes gained unexpected popularity. Gunfire Games had room to improve the game's best parts and create something special. Fans dubbed it "Dark Souls with guns." The first Remnant mixed Soulslike design with third-person shooting and added procedural generation. Remnant 2 builds on these aspects but sometimes spreads itself too thin.
At the beginning, Remnant 2 addresses weaknesses from the first game, like limited class options and visual design. This sequel boosts procedural generation for high replayability. No two playthroughs are the same. Returning fans and new ones, especially those with friends, should enjoy it despite some issues.
Remnant 2's story continues after From the Ashes. The Root problem isn't solved; it now threatens all of reality. The new main character, with the companion Clementine, must intervene. The stakes are higher, and the scale is larger. Remnant 2's world and visuals are more strange and atmospheric. Each area visited offers a new fantastical, gothic, or alien experience. The visual palette ranges from H.R. Giger-inspired levels to otherworldly labyrinths. While the main story takes a back seat, the intriguing levels keep players engaged.
A major gripe with the first game was the absence of a robust class system. Remnant 1 had a solid foundation, but the classes felt similar due to their basic design. In the sequel, Gunfire Games delves deeper into RPG elements and introduces five specialized classes: Medic, Hunter, Challenger, Handler, and Gunslinger. Each class has a distinct playstyle, featuring unlockable traits and abilities that specialize in DPS, support, or healing. Later on, it allows dual-class combinations. In our time with the game, we played three campaigns using Challenger, Handler, and Gunslinger, and each approach to combat felt fundamentally different.
Our favorite is Gunslinger, focusing on DPS with a special ability for rapid revolver firing, dealing massive damage—an enjoyable move every time. Challenger excels in visceral close combat, dealing significant damage slowly with shotguns and a large cleaver. Ideal for those who want to confront the Root directly. The Handler addresses concerns about solo play balance. The dog companion heals, revives, and unlocks support systems, boosting healing and defensive capabilities over time.
Each character has baseline and unique traits, improvable with Trait points to enhance health, stamina, and other common stats. Sticking with one class unlocks more abilities and traits over time. While not complex classes for intense theory crafting like Diablo, Remnant 2's focus on shooting, boss battles, and co-op play benefits from the depth and variety of these classes. The dual-class system adds a fun twist to some builds.
In Remnant 2, Gunfire Games aimed to elevate the procedurally generated foundation of From the Ashes. The first game featured varied dungeon layouts and different NPCs and bosses in each playthrough. While enjoyable, it added limited replay value. In Remnant 2, procedural generation is significantly more extensive. Entire storylines, puzzles, bosses, levels, and critical paths can vary widely between players. Gunfire Games accomplished an impressive feat, making each playthrough essentially a distinct game.
Yet, this extensive procedural generation brings a trade-off: consistency. Remnant 2 struggles with erratic shifts in difficulty and player expectations, both in combat and overall experience. For instance, puzzles can range from simple tasks to sudden brain-busters. The game doesn't effectively communicate the nature of intricate puzzles, disrupting the pacing when complexity unexpectedly arises after hours of straightforward challenges. This inconsistency affects the smooth progression of the game.
Remnant 2 introduces odd difficulty spikes and lacks refinement in crucial gameplay elements, leading to a somewhat frustrating experience. Finding a moment where the game hits its stride is challenging, and it often feels like it's taking on more than it can handle, with its inspirations not seamlessly meshing. This is particularly evident in the boss fights.
Compared to the first game, Remnant 2 improves in creating more spectacular and challenging battles. However, the bosses highlight the potential messiness of the "Dark Souls with guns" concept. Many bosses overwhelm players with bullet-hell projectiles and spawn numerous enemies, making it frustrating. The game relies heavily on overwhelming players, which doesn't feel fair due to the core sluggish third-person shooting mechanics. It seems like Remnant 2 assumes players can move more swiftly than they actually can.
Knockdown recovery, dodge-rolling, ability usage, and the estus-like Dragon Heart all take too long. Hitboxes are generous, allowing enemies to land cheap shots. These issues diminish the satisfaction of defeating a boss, as success feels more like luck in situations where everything quickly goes wrong. The narrow margin for error and overall jankiness contribute to player frustration in Remnant 2.
The issues in Remnant 2 stem from its primary focus on co-op play. Playing with others helps alleviate minor problems, with teamwork and build synergy overcoming weaknesses. While the new class system adds replayability, solo play becomes more challenging due to potential build vulnerabilities. Remnant 2 is best enjoyed with friends, but it's disappointing that solo mode requires some balance adjustments to match the fun of co-op.
Despite this, Remnant 2 has more hits than misses. The blend of two distinct game styles mostly succeeds, creating a unique and intriguing experience, even if not a seamless fusion. Gunfire Games expanded on the first game's foundation, delivering something genuinely unique. Remnant 2 is a bit rough around the edges, but its captivating worlds, impressive procedural generation, and diverse playstyles compensate for occasional lack of refinement or intuitive design compared to its inspirations.
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