Only so many franchises have used their second entry to hone in on the series’ identity. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed 2 comes to mind when you think of a sequel that nailed the landing by improving on almost every system. Gunfire Games’ Remnant 2 follows suit as it launches the sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes by improving the tentpoles, allowing for a sturdier, more enjoyable experience.

Despite a modest beginning, the sequel arrives and doubles down on the Souls-like mechanics made popular in the original. Gunfire Games delivered an exciting cooperative action game with remarkable insights, interesting mechanics, and a community that has continued to thrive. No wonder, then, the arrival of this sequel, but the challenge of a sequel can be like quicksand, but the studio has shown that they understood what a sequel required even if there are several lingering issues.

Remnant 2’s An Adept Sequel

It’s the year of massive games, and Remnant 2 wants your attention. And you’ll need to play it several times to get the most out of your time with it. Remnant 2 deepens aspects of the gameplay seen in Remnant, broadening the series’ horizons and significantly increasing customization.

The ability to switch classes at any time, including the new ones added, is more than welcome as it not only does it allow for greater variety in builds but also allows one to explore alternative solutions and experiments well before eventually starting a second campaign. At a certain point, the game will also allow you to equip a secondary class, thus benefiting from all the perks of this one (except for the main one) to build real walking war machines that perfectly fit your play style.

As with its predecessor, the narrative plays a secondary role in the game’s economy, serving more as a glue to stitch together the stages of play than as a real reason to continue along the enduring campaign, which this time is also replayable thanks to the ability to rearrange the layout of stages randomly.

From this point of view, Remnant 2 resembles third-person shooters than its role-playing inspirations, with infrequent dialogue and characters of little personality and comprimario that rarely make their where bullets have more weight than words.

While many of the gameplay mechanics have been improved, the same cannot be said of the plot, which remains all in all superficial and uninspiring. The structure behind the sequel is the same as its predecessor’s. Up to three players can join to deal with procedurally generated levels chock-full of assorted monstrosities, which respawn in conjunction with stopping the equivalent of bonfires in the Dark Souls series.

The class system is called Archetypes, which you’ll select at the start and then embrace as you head out into some of the most dangerous locations. There are more than ten to choose from, with a few hidden Archetypes you’ll have to work to discover. Each Archetype has unique perks and skills, catering to their playstyle and what you aim to do.

The previous Remnant featured classes mainly were an excuse to apply traits and random abilities to a character, giving rise to hybrid solutions always versatile for the role within the party; the Archetypes are preset paths to evolve with the experience obtained, to which to envelop secondary abilities, traits and all the equipment with proprietary bonuses, passive or active. We are therefore talking about a game incredibly thought out on DPS for the Hunter or the Gunslinger Archetypes, while the Medic focuses on team support.

Much of that is tied up in the combat and the now-improved gameplay. I’ll go into that more below, but the high level of the game’s production is evident at many points here. Refinements to the shooting system and skill usage, including smoother animations and even more responsive commands, expansion of the item system with new rings, amulets and consumables of various effects, combinations of equipment benefits and more, give the game an even greater dynamism.

Archetypes Are Adaptable To Most Situations

The notion regarding Archetypes is even more significant when considering the new Archetype system implemented. Functioning as character classes, each Archetype initially gives the player essential items and equipment to start the journey but also promotes unique skills that improve as the player evolves using that same Archetype.

Remnant 2 gives the player the power to choose and use those choices in a game that delivers an environment conducive to applying that in a constantly changing state. The soul of the title is mixing a team of up to 3 players, where each one can complete a part of the team and still deliver synergy on each adversity encountered. Here is something that, at least in my two experiences, manages to be a low point in the game. Playing alone is still complicated by the lack of a perfect balance, being a complete experience when enjoyed with other players.

Remnant 2 delivers and evolves on previous concepts as a sequel, making them all the better. One of my biggest complaints was how the bosses were always based on a system of hordes of enemies during battle. Some became frustrating since the opponent was no longer the expected final boss but a pile of ordinary. Now each boss features unique characteristics that will match their setting and world; no more using hordes of enemies as crutches. Several boss battles become flawless experiences and on a level far above what the first Remnant offers players.

Remnant 2 improves many things, with improved visuals and several technological improvements, with each world being unique and bringing a different atmosphere; even models of enemies and characters have improved, with several new effects and an environment that visually delivers the premise of each universe. Whether it’s a world similar to a feudal era on Earth, another equal to a Victorian period or a spaceship centuries in the future, each environment brings distinction with quality, even if much of it is randomly generated.

Verdict

As a sequel, Remnant 2 is an exemplary look at how a developer can improve on a formula and deliver something exciting and fresh while feeling familiar. There’s a lot to love with exciting combat, better boss battles, and a ton of focus on builds that allow you to handle any situation with the best specs.

[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5