Nidhogg 2 Reviews
Nidhogg 2 doesn't reinvent itself but rather just adds more to an already great multiplayer formula.
Nidhogg 2 is a game that you're either going to “get” or won't. There's a lot of deep to what at first might seem like a shallow release, but you need to give it some time before it wins you over. Playing with friends is a great way to speed up this process, so I'd suggest you do that after completing at least one full run of the single player campaign (which shouldn't take you more than 40-50 minutes). If you liked the first game then you're going to love the gameplay for this one, although you might not like the change in the game's visuals.
With a few caveats, Nidhogg 2 is the kind of sequel I had hoped developer Mark Essen and Messhoff Games would make. It’s an evolution of what made the original great that keeps most of its best elements, and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It takes the series into more of a 16-bit style. It also mixes up the formula a little bit, with a host of lush new environments, new weapons, and silly-looking, customizable characters.
No one can deny how well Nidhogg 2 suits the Nintendo Switch. While the controversial new art direction may split the fan base and the lack of kill count record comes across as a strange absence, this stabby sequel’s healthy amount of new stages and a fun weapon system still makes it an absolute must for couch competition.
Nidhogg 2 seems simple at first, but it's deep and content rich enough to keep you interested. It also sports beautiful pixel-art graphical style. Don't forget to bring friends, though.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Despite the drastic visual changes, Nidhogg 2 does not distance itself from what made the gameplay of the first game be quite celebrated. The changes are not plentiful, but they improve the package of the basic Nidhogg experience by adding interesting variables in combat. The game does not offer so much for those who prefer to play alone, but like its predecessor, Nidhogg 2 is one of the best multiplayer options on the market.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Nidhogg 2 is just a pure blast to play. If you have friends that live close by, the $15 buy in point is perfect for a game that offers this many laughs.
In motion when two players are facing off against each other it’s brilliant. Playing the game is nonstop fun. Heck, even watching two players have at it is a cracking time.
Nidhogg 2 has sacrificed simplicity for the sake of variety. Some fans may find this change irritating, but it has made the gameplay deeper and more complex. However, the addition of new weapons has unbalanced the game and negatively impacted the combat system. Innovative graphics have injected the game with a new identity that is eye-catching every now and then. Moreover, the game features a spectacular retro soundtrack that adds a unique character to each level.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Nidhogg is as viceral & fun as you can imagine. One of the best multiplayer games, but an awful proposal for single player.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I feel like a sequel should usually try to mix things up a bit or do more, but Nidhogg 2 feels like a safe bet. More of the same and just a different look. For newcomers, it's no worries, for fans, it could be a slight disappointment. It's still a fun and frantic game, and that quality shines throughout, regardless of walking the same line as the first.
Nidhogg 2‘s setbacks make it an inadvisable purchase for anything but local multiplayer. The local multiplayer is fantastic enough to carry this game. Nidhogg 2 succeeds in making a few very simple concepts wonderfully captivating. By combining intuitive controls with a healthy range of tricks and strategies, Nidhogg 2 is the very definition of “Easy to learn, hard to master.” It is a worthy investment for you and your friends, provided they're close by.
At its core, Nidhogg 2 is still Nidhogg. And you can turn off the new weapons and still fence your way across a castle stage if you so desire. But unless you're a hardline hater of Nidhogg 2's sludgy aesthetic, the sequel enhances the formula across the board. Don't be put-off by Nidhogg 2's rainbow slop, there's still a silly white-knuckle, slay-your-friends action game underneath the mess.
Nidhogg 2 isn’t a feature heavy game. It could use leaderboards, maybe more game modes, and more weapons, sure. But it’s about the frantic gameplay, the hilarious level design and flopping of bodies across the levels. It’s about laughing with the person you’re trying to skewer. And listen – any game that lets you fight inside the bowels of a dying Nidhogg and escape through its sphincter is alright by us.
Messhof Games was able to expand upon a simple concept in Nidhogg 2 without ruining what made the first game great. The new weapons are a welcome addition to the franchise, and the variety of maps prevents the experience from growing dull too quickly. However, it would have been nice had the developers put more thought and care into making the online play better, because as it stands right now, it simply isn't worth the hassle.
If you put plenty of time into Nidhogg and you're pining for something to freshen it up, Nidhogg 2 should do the trick. If you're new to the series and on the look out for an excellent party game then I see no reason to look further than the budget-priced original. By making the original so fantastic, Messhof has fallen on its own sword in making a sequel.
Nidhogg 2 is just as fun, fast-paced and frustrating as the original, but there feels like a little less charm this time around.
Nidhogg 2 provides the same smart minimalist style dueling found in the original game providing both intense and hectic battles.
Nidhogg 2 is a really tricky game to score because it seems like such a hit or miss, love it or hate it, kind of experience. If you don’t have anyone to play with I’d caution you on considering the purchase as there’s really no meaningful solo play and even if you do find online matches there’s something lost in the experience even if you’re able to get into some nice and tense matches. Even if you’ve got some friends to play with I’d say the odds are equal that you could really get a kick out of the experience or have it fall flat. Credit to the developer, it’s some of the very small touches like being able to reflect shots that give what seems to be a very shallow game surprising depth, it all comes down to the experience you’re looking for though.
Nidhogg 2 is a gross fighting game. Like, really gross.