Blackguards 2 Reviews
Coming so soon after the first entry Blackguards 2 is a surprisingly packed improvement over the original, giving you the chance to dominate and rule over South Aventuria with all the bitterness and rage such a task would need. It won't suit all newcomers to PC TRPGs and yes, battles can be brutal and unforgiving at times, but for those with even the slightest bent towards getting knee deep in stats and tactical battles then Blackguards 2 is a worthy purchase.
Blackguards 2 delivers more brutal hex-based strategy and environmental puzzling while refining the original formula in several smart ways. The more open yet focused campaign, propped up by a fantastic central character who's as evil as you want her to be, makes for a satisfying if punishing experience.
Sinister protagonists and smart tactical combat make Blackguards 2 a compelling exercise in evil.
Ultimately, Blackguards 2 is very good and enjoyable, but gets weighed down by some stupid limitations and flaws, such as its often unfair difficulty and still-present bugs. It boasts a great strategy aspect and a decent story, but falters elsewhere. Enjoyable, but frustrating at times, and not enough spiders to eat those bugs!
Blackguards 2 has surprised me. Though I enjoyed the tactical combat in its predecessor, I wasn't left hungry for a second outing. But the more focused campaign, and a protagonist that is much more than a cardboard cut out have elevated the sequel considerably. Some slightly awkward writing and odd moments of jarring silliness weaken the grim premise, but not enough to topple it. And the immensely satisfying fights are more than worth putting up with some cracks.
With a stronger protagonist and better combat and RPG systems, Blackguards 2 is a more engaging, more incisive game than the original.
Although the turf-war element is fun to experience, the role-playing features of the game are completely uninspiring and feel like replicas of previous RPGs. No, I don’t think the game is a failure, as it is a decent follow up to the first Blackguards.
When you consider buying Blackguards 2, there are three questions you need to ask yourself. Do you enjoy tactics RPGs? Do you like an interesting high-fantasy story? Do you have hours and hours to sink into a new game? If you answered yes to any of these, then I'd definitely recommend checking out not only Blackguards 2 but its predecessor as well. Daedalic has done a great job at actually listening to the community to help improve their product, and I'm really happy to see what they've done. You're not going to get blown away, but you'll certainly be left with some fond memories and a solid experience.
Released just a year following the first title, Blackguards 2 wields exactly what you might expect from an abridged development time. The display is largely the same, yet packed with much more detail. The gameplay mechanics are similar, though with a few adjustments based on critical feedback including a much appreciated non-linear approach to story progression. And yet it also carries with it bugs and design flaws that could have been addressed with more vigorous quality assurance testing before delivery of the final product. As a diehard fan of pen-and-paper RPGs brought to life through video games, I would love to see the series continue, but Daedalic really needs to shake up the formula before their next attempt.
Blackguards 2 removes much of the chaff from the original game, but you'll still need some patience.
Blackguard 2 manages to exist as a game that feels like a classic strategy role playing game, and as so much more at the same time. A deep story with great characters, varied quests, deep customization, and great battles make for a must have game.
Blackguards 2 takes the formula of the initial release and expands upon it, but there's nothing truly innovative, apart from the origin story of Cassia and her frequent moments of near madness.
Blackguards 2 is an immersive and enjoyable game, which allows a player to adjust all aspects of the game to suit their own playstyle, while constantly keeping them on their toes, as the tiniest slip-up can result in failure. Very entertaining, even for those who aren't fans of turn-based strategy.