The Banner Saga 2 Reviews
Combine the combat enmeshed with the story and the sense of place – this world feels like it exists in a history book somewhere – and Banner Saga 2 deftly carries on the sigil of the first title.
The Banner Saga 2 reaps all the benefits and foibles of strict continuity. It maintains the outstanding presentation and decision-based narrative highs of the first entry, but minor changes to mechanics are unlikely to sway opinion on the unique, but slightly peculiar, combat system.
The Banner Saga 2 is a worthy sequel to a great franchise. Combat is vastly improved, and the narrative is deep and rewarding, even as the game punishes the player every step of the way. The game suffers from a unwieldy UI, and some poorly placed setpieces that obscure the player's vision in combat, but these drawbacks are minor. I'm already looking forward to the conclusion to this planned-trilogy.
The Banner Saga 2 improves upon the original in almost every way possible and is, as a result, one hell of an experience that shouldn't be missed.
Much like its predecessor, The Banner Saga 2 finds an excellent spot in the Switch's library. It's a sequel that refines rather than evolves any of the key gameplay elements, but still manages to feel like an important piece of the series' narrative puzzle.
If you're a fan of Fire Emblem, Oregon Trail or any of the Telltale games, then you'll find something to enjoy on with The Banner Saga 2.
A beautiful game that rewards those who lose themselves in the story and the world that Stoic Studio has weaved.
Overall Banner Saga 2 is a game full of despair, heartache, and utter loss, and that's some of the best parts. There is always some hope as you push forward. You will become intertwined in a huge story based on Viking-type characters and lore and spend hours doing it.
The Banner Saga 2 is well worth your time.
Same great art, same tense tactical battles, same bewildering sense of scope emanating from such delicate pieces. I never knew slow pans across landscape paintings could instill such awe, and yet certain sequences in The Banner Saga 2 support tension that belies the game's humble budget.
The second episode in The Banner Saga retains the gorgeous artwork, strong characters and agonising choices that made the original a success, while adding depth, variety and clarity to the combat.
While many reviewers will point to The Banner Saga 2's breathtaking art, or mention the sophisticated elevation of a turn-based strategy/RPG, the game's largest success is that it makes you feel like a true leader.
Builds on an already brilliant indie hit
Banner Saga 2 may be just the next part of Stoic's ongoing tale but basically everything has been improved.
It's clear that the combat is secondary to the story and serves as a feature rather than an integral mechanic
Following up on their BATFA-winning tactical RPG, indie studio Stoic returns to continue the saga and improve on perfection.
The Banner Saga 2 picks up the pace and loses focus in the process
One of the complaints levelled at the original was that it was too easy to muddle through without paying attention to how much food or morale the caravan has. That is not the case here, thus people in your caravan will die of starvation, or seek greener pastures elsewhere. While the first game looks at the emerging threat and initial impact of the Dredge, the second one examines the influence that this menace has on society,and whether it's possible to keep a band of humans and Varl together while the world falls apart around them. While new additions such as classes and barricades are nice to have, at six to eight hours long, it is a bit on the short side for the asking price. The physical release of the Banner Saga Trilogy offers greater value for money.
It doesn't thrust anything new and shiny onto you, nor does it have to beat the same drum by picking from a pot of clichés. It's more of the same: more of doing what it takes to survive, more of learning to live with yourself when you can't save everyone, and more of making the most of a worsening situation.
The music is positively sublime especially when paired with the gorgeous art and animation. If you're craving a good fantasy story and are down for some fun tactical turn-based fare, this series is one to follow through on. The finale can't come soon enough even if the battles and story segments along the way might thin the party in tragic ways.