Remnant 2 Review

Many gamers are quite familiar with Dark Souls series or have at least made an attempt to play them. The emphasis here is on the word "attempt" because these games are notorious for their difficulty, causing many players to give up.

Now, let's imagine an incredibly well-crafted shooter game with stunning visuals, exceptional level design, and mechanics similar to the Dark Souls series. It sounds like a fantastic concept, doesn't it? Well, Remnant 2 is just that: a very good shooter with well-integrated Souls elements. In this review, we will examine whether this game truly lives up to its promising description.

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Remnant 2 is the combination of modern shooters and Dark Souls games

Story

The storyline in Remnant 2 isn't something you'll remember the game for, and that's totally fine. The story follows a character who helps his friend find a cure for an unusual disease caused by a substance called Root, which is responsible for the destruction of many worlds in the galaxy, including Earth, where you come from. As you embark on this adventure, you will be sent to multiple worlds to confront incredibly dangerous enemies and obtain a special substance that is humanity's only chance of saving the universe from this formidable evil once and for all.

Undoubtedly, the story in Remnant 2 primarily serves as a backdrop to create the perfect setting for a multitude of epic battles, particularly encounters with numerous dangerous bosses that await us throughout our thrilling adventure.

To be entirely honest, in a game of this genre, the story is often not a major concern for many players. As long as the gameplay is enjoyable and the combat mechanics are satisfying, the story tends to take a backseat. After all, who really prioritises the narrative when the primary focus is on having a great time battling through the game?

Given my personal perspective, I don't want to overly emphasise the story aspect of Remnant 2 since, in my opinion, it holds the least significance among its various elements.

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The story is not the most important part of Remnant 2

Gameplay

I must say, the gameplay in Remnant 2 truly excels at an exceptionally high level. As someone who isn't particularly drawn to Souls-like games, I found Remnant 2 to be a delightful surprise. It manages to strike a balance between simplicity and an astonishing level of challenge and intricacy, offering a gameplay experience that captivated me like only a few games have up until now.

Upon starting the game, you are immediately presented with a character customization screen, allowing you to personalise your character's appearance and select from various classes. The abundance of choices is commendable, and it's noteworthy that your character can be either male or female, with a large variety of different body types and several different voices.

What sets this game apart is that the protagonist is not a mute entity; they engage in conversations with NPCs during cutscenes and other interactions. In terms of classes, or archetypes, as they're called in Remnant 2, the options are plentiful, including medic, gunslinger, handler, challenger, and hunter. Each class offers a distinct gameplay experience, ensuring that your chosen path significantly affects your gameplay style. Personally, I opted for the hunter class in my initial playthrough and was thoroughly satisfied with its capabilities.

One aspect of Remnant 2 that truly captivated me was its dynamically shifting game world. As we received additional game codes to explore the possibility of co-op, I had a conversation with a colleague who happened to select the same class as me. We shared our experiences from the game, and intriguingly enough, he inquired about a boss that I had never encountered in my playthrough.

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The worlds and enemies are dynamically changing in Remnant 2

It was only when we joined forces in co-op that I discovered the game had generated an entirely different progression path for him, with bosses distributed in a distinct manner. Furthermore, he had started in a completely different world compared to my own. Then, as I started a new playthrough on PlayStation 5, the game sent me to a completely different world once more. This level of dynamic and random world generation fascinated me to the core. It ensures that every player will have a unique experience as the game world changes unpredictably.

In terms of the game mechanics, Remnant 2 offers a variety of weapons that you can acquire by purchasing them from vendors using resources collected throughout the game. However, you are limited to carrying three weapons at a time: a melee weapon, a long gun, and a sidearm. Each weapon can be upgraded to enhance its power, and you can also attach special accessories to them for use in battle. It's important to note that these accessories have cooldown periods, requiring strategic management during combat encounters.

In Remnant 2, an exciting way to enhance your gameplay is by acquiring various rings that offer unique advantages, making your journey through the game significantly more manageable.

Additionally, you have the option to purchase and upgrade various armours from specific vendors. The core gameplay mechanics revolve around shooting your opponents while utilising dodge mechanics to evade their attacks. While this may appear deceptively simple, Remnant 2 is an exceptionally challenging game. In fact, the developers themselves recommend playing on the easiest difficulty level, which surpasses the difficulty of many games I have experienced on their hardest modes. Additionally, beyond this challenging baseline, there are two additional, even more demanding difficulty levels, with a fourth weight that can be unlocked later on.

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You can buy all sorts of upgrades in Ward 13, that serves as staging area

Essentially, a significant portion of the gameplay in Remnant 2 revolves around progressing through levels, engaging in battles with regular enemies, and ultimately confronting bosses to unlock further progression. While bosses are typically the pinnacle of challenge in games, especially in Souls-like titles, Remnant 2 takes a slightly different approach.

Despite their fantastic and imaginative designs, the bosses themselves aren't as challenging as one might expect. The true test lies in the abundance of regular enemies scattered throughout the game. Each level introduces uniquely designed adversaries, requiring players to adapt to their distinct movement patterns. Given that enemies often attack in waves, they can easily overwhelm you, leading to the familiar "You Are Dead" screen reminiscent of the Souls games. And since the game is less than generous with checkpoints, it often leads to loads of frustration.

The challenge in Remnant 2 is particularly noticeable in its dungeons, which are mostly optional, but in certain worlds, they are an integral part of the main storyline, requiring players to delve into them to progress. The difficulty of these dungeons used to frustrate me quite frequently, but at the same time, I was deeply impressed by the level of thought and effort the developers invested in making Remnant 2 a truly challenging and engaging experience.

In contrast to some similar games, Remnant 2 introduces boss battles that are far from mere copy-paste encounters. Each boss is thoughtfully designed with distinct mechanics, demanding a tailored approach and strategic thinking. One example is a captivating boss encounter set within a maze of tumbling cubes. To emerge victorious, you must deftly dodge their attacks while focusing on destroying the crystals adorning their sides—an imaginative and original concept that keeps players engaged and challenged.

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Bosses in Remnant 2 are very well crafted but not as hard as one might expect

Speaking of the technical aspect, Remnant 2 excels at providing a smooth gaming experience. Personally, I had the chance to try both the Steam version on PC and the PlayStation 5 version, and both were impressively well optimised. However, my enthusiasm was dampened after investing 22 hours into the Steam version, only to encounter a disheartening message upon restarting the game: my profile had become corrupted, and I was forced to delete it.

Needless to say, this experience left me utterly frustrated. Upon further investigation, I discovered that this issue was also present in the previous game, causing some players to lose an astonishing 200 hours of progress, a truly unimaginable setback. So if you play Remnant 2 on PC, I strongly advise you to backup your save files often.

Apart from the aforementioned disheartening experience, I encountered some intermittent desktop crashes during my playthrough of Remnant 2. Although not excessively frequent, they were still noticeable and will likely be resolved by the day one patch. Additionally, I faced a peculiar issue with one boss encounter where the game glitched, somehow resolving the problem on its own. Moreover, there was a water-related glitch in a particular area, but fortunately, I managed to find a workaround that ensured it didn't impact the overall gameplay significantly.

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Some technical issues are preventing Remnant 2 from being an almost perfect game

Graphics and Sounds

In Remnant 2, the game is a genuine visual treat that captures your attention with its stunning graphics on both PC and PlayStation 5. On PC, you have access to a wide range of graphic settings, while on PlayStation 5, you can choose between performance, fidelity, and balanced modes.

From the very beginning, you can see that the developers made a sincere effort to create a visually captivating game. The character models are impressive, and the implementation of modern graphic effects is done exceptionally well. Overall, Remnant 2 is a truly beautiful and immersive gaming experience.

I must give special praise to the level design in Remnant 2, as it made a true impression on me. Each realm, level, and location has a unique charm and atmosphere that you can feel as soon as you step foot into them. The level called Labyrinth, in particular, left me enchanted with its grand and intricately designed layout. What impressed me further is how each level features enemies that are intricately tied to its design.

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The level design of Remnant 2 is just otherwordly

For instance, in the Labyrinth level, which boasts stone corridors, the enemies are cube-shaped, perfectly complementing the surroundings. Even the main boss takes the form of the aforementioned cube, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail and creativity in the game's design.

While I wouldn't claim that Remnant 2 is the absolute most beautiful game ever, I am confident in stating that it ranks among the most visually stunning games I've had the pleasure of playing.

When it comes to the sounds and the soundtrack in Remnant 2, I can't say I was particularly impressed. The sound effects were decent, and I must admit that the gunshots were striking and impactful. However, overall, the sound didn't reach a "wow" level for me, making it feel rather ordinary. As for the soundtrack, it didn't manage to capture my attention or leave a lasting impression during the gameplay.

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The sounds and soundtrack in Remnant 2 are nothing special

Co-op and Multiplayer

Regarding the multiplayer mode in Remnant 2, I can't provide much insight as my attempts to join multiplayer sessions were unsuccessful. Whether it was due to the Steam review version's servers being less populated or other reasons, I can't say for certain. As a result, I will omit discussing the multiplayer segment entirely from my review.

Having tried the co-op part of Remnant 2, I can confidently say that playing the game cooperatively is much more enjoyable and notably easier compared to playing solo. Given the game's inherent difficulty, having a co-op partner provides a significant advantage, especially since they can revive you if you fall in battle.

Additionally, co-op opens up various inventive approaches to encounters, introducing a whole new dimension to Remnant 2. If you happen to have a friend who also owns Remnant 2, I highly recommend diving into the co-op experience together for a truly enhanced and fun-filled gameplay adventure.

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Co-op mode is highly commendable because it gives Remnant 2 a whole new dimension of gameplay

Conclusion

If you have a fondness for engaging shooting mechanics, visually stunning landscapes, and well-designed enemies, along with a certain level of tolerance for Souls-like games, then Remnant 2 is unquestionably the perfect game for you. Your investment in this game will undoubtedly yield a wealth of enjoyment, as it offers pure fun.

However, it's crucial to be prepared for a substantial amount of frustration and challenging moments, as Remnant 2 is an unforgiving and highly difficult experience, but all the trouble will ultimately be worthwhile given how much quality Remnant 2 possesses.