Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm Reviews
It may be I Can't Believe It's Not Zelda, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While it looks and performs better on console, a port simply cannot fix the problems at Oceanhorn 2's core. Still, it may be worth dipping your toes in if you're a 3D Zelda fanatic.
There isn’t a whole lot original about Oceanhorn 2, it very proudly wears its inspiration to the The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker; not on its sleeve but its cosplaying as Link. This isn’t a bad thing at all, as I said above there aren’t very many of these games on Xbox (which is really sad btw). More than that because it doesn’t have a rage inducing difficulty it makes Oceanhorn 2 a great game for families to play together which is something that can’t be said for a lot of adventure games lately. Some of my fondest memories is playing games with my mom watching (she isn’t a gamer) and finding a game like that now as a father is rare. So, in this sea of utterly fantastic games in the year of our Lord 2023, don’t sleep on Oceanhorn 2 – Knights of the Lost Realm.
A fantastic game worthy of being a proper sequel brimming with gorgeous visuals, immersive exploration, engaging combat, deep mechanics, and packed full of content which exceeds that of the average Indie Title. If you are looking for a Zelda-based adventure, look no further than Oceanhorn 2: Knights Of The Lost Realm!
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm looks and feels like a Legend of Zelda game, which is good. But comparing it to the Zelda series might lead to disappointment whereas, on its own, it's mostly enjoyable. If you're looking for a Zelda-like experience, Oceanhorn 2 should help fulfill that void for a while, as long as you give it some time to do so.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm isn't a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but it does feel like it's lacking something. This is a Zelda-like through and through, and if you want some traditional Zelda action, it's not a bad game to play. But due to being so rote, it's unlikely to stay in your mind for long once you're done.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is not Zelda, nor does it pretend to be, although it may not seem so at first glance. It is true that it has elements that resemble the experience of Nintendo. Far from comparisons that can sometimes be unfair, we can not fail to comment that we have in front of us an extensive game that will give us a lot of fun.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you’re fine with the occasional minor graphical bug, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is an essential RPG for the Nintendo Switch, and it might just tide you over until we get a new Zelda.
Oceanhorn 2 is a decent game, albeit one that doesn't do enough to stick out from the crowd. Excellent presentation and a clear understanding of the mechanics underlying the Zelda franchise make for a game that is satisfying and ultimately worth the price of admission. At the same time, however, a slight pervasive shallowness in the various gameplay systems keeps it from ever becoming too engaging of an experience, as it never delves as deep as it could with many of its ideas. We'd give Oceanhorn 2 a light recommendation, but with the caveat that you might want to wait for a sale on this one.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, like the original Oceanhorn, fails to have its own identity. However, in some areas, it does Zelda better than, well, Zelda. While the sub-par combat and iffy performance bog down the experience, its beautiful world, clever puzzles, and solid pacing elevate it to the very tip-top of the "Zelda-like" list.
In the end, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm channels its inner Legend of Zelda (quite well) and if you don't own a Nintendo Switch, this game is a satisfying clone on the Xbox Series X for next-gen gamers looking for a similar experience. All in all, a decent game from start to finish with a running time of 20 hours, unless you become more engaged in side quests and of course Arcadian Tarock.
An excellent adventure that is a must-play on PlayStation 5
Inspired by Nintendo's timeless classic, Oceanhorn 2 fails to outperform its predecessor and ends up in the shadows of Breath of the Wild. The combat fought and the lack of small improvements in quality of life end up making the experience a little frustrating, however its puzzles are interesting and fun along with a beautiful world to explore. A good choice for fans of the BotW formula or who are just looking for a good game of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Oceanhorn 2 has the odd moment which is really enjoyable, mostly limited to the puzzles and bosses within the dungeons. But there could be so much more here, there are glimpses of a game that could be really special, but it regularly loses the attention of its audience due to the barren open world. The presentation feels low quality and dated, the combat clunky, the world empty. This looked so promising, but is quite the disappointment.
Dungeons and puzzles in the world are varied and just the right degree of challenging. It also certainly doesn't hurt that it is a gorgeous game that holds its own as one of the prettier on Switch. The genre blending mechanics that Oceanhorn 2 brings to the table help to elevate it above the failings it has. Some bumps along the way can't prevent this from being a journey worth taking.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm offers a top-notch adventure with clever situations and mechanics being introduced at nearly every turn. It's also an impressive step up from the first game so I'm looking forward to what Cornfox & Bros. create next.
Oceanhorn 2 isn’t very original. But freed of being directly and easily compared to the original by finally arriving on different systems, it’s much easier to appreciate just how strong of an imitation it is.
With impressive visuals, great voice-over of characters, and a beautifully realised world, it’s easy to forget this is a port of a mobile game.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm’s release on more platforms offers the best possible experience with the game that harkens back to classic adventure games but doesn’t quite match up.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm offers an enjoyable adventure that will certainly be appreciated by fans of the Legend of Zelda series. Whilst there’s no denying that it wears it inspirations like a big badge of honour, it also has some of its own unique ideas on show that ensures it isn’t just a carbon copy of Nintendo’s famed franchise. I’d even go as far as saying the more streamlined approach that Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm embraces can feel more accessible for players than it does in The Legend of Zelda, which is always a big plus.