Banner Saga 2

Game key provided for free by developer

Although Banner Saga 2 may not bring much new in the gameplay front, a deeper and darker narrative for the series second entry is still a great game. Small additions flesh out parts of the experience and prepare players for an explosive finale. 

We join our heroes right after the first game with the ability to load in a previous save or completely change the final decision from the first game. I highly recommend importing a previous save file as I feel that will give your journey the most authentic feel. Having just come off the first game the constant tutorials of things I had plenty of experience with, got a bit tiresome in the beginning, though I do understand it's to help players jumping into the series at this entry. The reintroduction to characters with small blurbs about who they are and what their story is helped jog my terrible memory and were nice, though.

It was a bit odd starting off this game with an uplifting feeling. Caravan morale started high and my clansman, a new type of follower, were foraging lots of supplies...but as expected things got tough in the late game. Let's start talking about the new entries with the clansman. In addition to your fighters and Varl from the previous game, clansman are units that can't fight, but instead forage for supplies. This leads to a balance of fighters for battles ahead and clansmen for keeping up supplies to keep the caravan going. A small addition but a nice wrinkle to the formula.

A feature with said clansmen is the ability to turn them into fighters in the training tent. I didn't feel the need to do this more than the time they introduce the mechanic as I prefer a play style where I stock up on supplies and let my heroes fight in wars. The training tent is a much more fulfilling area this time around. Not only can you convert clansmen to fighter but you can also partake in challenges for your heroes which yield rewards. Having the tent be just a place to try out new fighters before, this small addition is a welcome sign for players wanting to test their skill that much more. 

Speaking of fighting, arenas are no longer plain squares or rectangles. The areas are more varied with gaps in terrain and obstacles to protect weaker units. There is also the occasional hazard such as fire that you have to avoid. Along with new terrain comes new objectives for winning. Previously, the goal was to kill all the enemy units and victory would be yours. Things are shaken up this time by having objectives such as clearing snow from a path to escape or killing a certain unit, making the rest flee. This was a welcome addition as it gives you the option to either rush a certain unit with your big guns or focus on fighting as less as possible. 

I felt a stronger connection to the story this time. Where the first game introduced you to the world, this game hits you with a dark and dire story. You learn more about the characters and their motives, as well as learning more about the foes that chase you. At one point in the game your map shows a large blackness showing the destruction that has become of the lands behind you. The darkness always feels closer then it looks. The bombastic soundtrack and eerie noises as you see the world being engulfed on the horizon is a horrifying sight. The terrifying dreams the secondary character, Bolverk experiences during the story hint at a larger role for him and his connections to...well, I'm not going to spoil it.

Banner Saga 2 is an absolute gem of a sequel and second act. The final scenes get you pumped for the finale where all the choices you've made so far will come to a conclusion. I have no doubt Banner Saga 3 will close the story on a strong note...I'm just a bit worried this story won't have a happy ending.