The Ultimate Remnant 2 Review: Unveiling the Epic Gaming Experience!

Remnant: From the Ashes, released in 2019, was an unexpected success. Gunfire Games recognized the potential for growth and improvement in the game's best features. Referred to as "Dark Souls with guns" by its dedicated fan base, the original Remnant successfully merged Soulslike design principles with third-person shooting mechanics. It also added a procedurally generated element to create a unique experience. Remnant 2 builds upon these elements, taking them even further to create a more immersive and expansive game. However, in its pursuit of new heights, the sequel sometimes stretches itself too thin. Nonetheless, it addresses several weaknesses from the first game, such as the lack of class diversity and underwhelming visual design. Additionally, Remnant 2 amplifies the procedural generation aspect, offering a highly replayable experience with no two playthroughs being the same. While there are a few minor issues, the game is likely to satisfy existing fans and may attract new ones, particularly if they have a friend or two to play with.

The events of Remnant 2 take place some time after the conclusion of From the Ashes. The Root issue that was seemingly resolved in the first game is far from resolved. In fact, the Root now poses a greater threat, endangering the very fabric of reality itself. It falls upon the new protagonist and their peculiar companion, Clementine, to confront this impending destruction. As a result, Remnant 2 presents a larger scale and higher stakes, resulting in a wonderfully bizarre and atmospheric world and visual design. Each new location that the protagonist explores offers a unique blend of fantasy, gothic, and even alien elements, ranging from levels reminiscent of H.R. Giger's artwork to ethereal mazes that exist somewhere between reality and dream. While the main storyline may take a backseat at times, the immersive and captivating environments ensure that players remain intrigued by the unfolding narrative.

One of the main criticisms of the first game was the lack of a robust class system. While Remnant 1 had a solid foundation, the classes felt too similar to each other due to their basic nature. In the sequel, Gunfire Games has delved deeper into the RPG elements and introduced five specialized classes: the Medic, Hunter, Challenger, Handler, and Gunslinger. Each class has its own unique playstyle, with unlockable traits and abilities that specialize in DPS, support, or healing. Later on, players will have the option to use dual classes. Throughout our gameplay experience, we tried different campaigns with the Challenger, Handler, and Gunslinger, and each time, we found ourselves approaching combat in entirely different ways.

Our personal favorite is the Gunslinger class, which excels in DPS and has a special ability that allows it to rapidly fire its revolver for massive damage. It's a satisfying move to execute and always brings enjoyment. On the other hand, the Challenger class is a formidable close combat fighter that deals significant damage at a slower pace, utilizing shotguns and a large cleaver. It's a great choice for players who prefer taking the fight directly to the enemy. Lastly, the Handler class seems to address the feedback of the original Remnant not being well-balanced for solo play. The Handler's dog companion can heal and revive the player, and over time, the class unlocks additional support systems that enhance healing and defensive capabilities.

Additionally, each character possesses a unique set of baseline traits that can be enhanced using Trait points, enabling them to bolster their health, stamina, and other essential attributes. As players remain dedicated to a particular Archetype, they will gradually unlock an array of abilities and traits, allowing for a deeper and more diverse gameplay experience. While not as intricate as the highly involved classes found in games like Diablo, these classes in Remnant 2 strike a perfect balance, aligning with the game's focus on shooting, boss battles, and cooperative play. Moreover, the inclusion of a dual class system offers additional opportunities for exciting build variations, taking gameplay to new and enjoyable heights.

Gunfire Games promised that Remnant 2 would build upon the procedurally generated aspects of its predecessor, From the Ashes. In the first game, dungeon layouts and the identities of NPCs and bosses would change with each playthrough, making the game somewhat replayable. However, in Remnant 2, the procedural generation has been greatly expanded. This means that not only do dungeon layouts and characters vary, but entire storylines, puzzles, bosses, levels, and critical paths can differ significantly from player to player. Gunfire Games has achieved an impressive feat with the extensive procedural generation in Remnant 2, ensuring that each playthrough feels like a completely different experience.

However, there is a drawback to this level of procedural generation, and that is a lack of consistency. Remnant 2 suffers from inconsistent difficulty and player expectations, both in combat and other aspects of the game. For instance, puzzles can go from being simple tasks like connecting two dots to challenging brain teasers without much explanation or introduction. Spending hours on easy puzzles only to suddenly encounter a difficult one disrupts the game's pacing and progression.

In addition to that, there are inconsistent difficulty spikes and a lack of refinement in crucial gameplay elements, which can make the entire experience quite frustrating. Consequently, it becomes challenging to pinpoint a moment where Remnant 2 truly hits its stride, as it often feels overwhelmed and unable to find a seamless integration of its various inspirations. This is particularly evident in the game's boss fights.

Compared to its predecessor, Remnant 2 has significantly improved its battles, offering a grander spectacle and a greater challenge. However, the bosses in the game expose the flaws of the "Dark Souls with guns" concept, as they overwhelm players with bullet-hell-like projectiles and swarms of enemies. This overreliance on overwhelming the player feels unfair due to the sluggish third-person shooting mechanics at the game's core. It seems as though Remnant 2 was designed with the assumption that players can move more swiftly than they actually can.

Key mechanics such as knockdown recovery, dodge-rolling, ability usage, and the Dragon Heart (an estus-like healing item) are all painfully slow. Additionally, generous hitboxes often allow enemies to land cheap shots. These persistent issues make the difference between feeling accomplished after defeating a boss through skillful mastery and simply feeling relieved that the ordeal is over due to a barrage of unfortunate circumstances. Remnant 2 leaves little room for error, and its overall lack of polish only adds to the frustration.

However, these issues all arise due to the fact that Remnant 2 is primarily designed for co-op play. When playing co-op, we noticed that many of the smaller compounding problems were resolved simply by having someone cover our backs and, most importantly, synergizing with our chosen loadout. While the new class system offers great replayability, it also introduces a challenge in solo play, as there tends to be a weak point in the build that is usually offset by playing with others. Remnant 2 still thrives when played with friends, but it is disappointing that solo mode requires some balance adjustments to match the enjoyment of co-op.

Despite not being a seamless fusion, Remnant 2 mostly achieves its goals and showcases a captivating blend of two distinct gaming styles. Gunfire Games has taken the foundation established by the first game and expanded it into a truly one-of-a-kind and engaging experience. While Remnant 2 may still have some rough edges, its fascinating worlds, impressive procedural generation system, and diverse range of playstyles make it a worthwhile game, even if it doesn't always match the polish or intuitiveness of its inspirations.

Mark your calendars for the release of Remnant 2 on July 25, available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Introducing Remnant 2

Experience the highly anticipated sequel, Remnant 2, crafted by Gunfire. This riveting Soulslike RPG takes on the guise of a captivating third-person shooter. Embracing the cooperative spirit while offering feisty solo play, the game boasts formidable bosses, an extensive upgrade system, a diverse array of classes each with their unique abilities, and procedurally generated dungeons that elevate the thrill of replayability.