Gunfire Games had a bit of a surprise hit with Remnant: From the Ashes. The studio, best known for the Darksiders series, decided to put their own unique spin on the Soulslike genre and engineered a cult classic. Fans then cried with joy for the news the second instalment was on its way some four years on. And Remnant 2 takes the foundations of that original and mixes things up in that oh-so-Gunfire Games way.

That means it’s a case of go big or go home. Expect more guns, a reworked world generator and more customisation. Remnant 2 also sees a class system overhaul. And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Brace yourself for a challenge as Remnant 2 is far from a walk in the park. From the overworld enemies, to the boss battles – you are going to have to prepare to fail. And then sometimes truly grit your teeth to brutally force your way through.

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The Remnant 2 Tale

The game picks up the action some several years after the end of the Remnant: From the Ashes DLC Subject 2923. You are a nameless survivor who goes by the handle “The Traveller”. You are searching for Ward 13, while overcoming The Root once again.

Things heat up after the world stone is activated once again and it’s up to you to set out on a multiverse jumping epic, building a team to put a stop to The Root once and for all.

If you’re new to the series, you just need to know The Root are a race of evil plant species. Their sole goal is to seek and destroy everything, and are just generally bad new.

There is an almost organic element to Remnant 2. One where there are a number of choices that can, and will, shape your tale in different ways. For example, choosing or spare an enemy rather than eliminate them can turn the game in expected ways.

The tale starts out fairly heavy but takes a backseat after a bit, opening the door to both mystery and intrigue, as you travel realms meeting new locals.

Engineer of Doom

Remnant 2‘s gameplay more of the same. However, it’s been significantly polished and refined. Each of the game’s areas feel alive in a way. Even if you’re battling hulking fleshy masses all the way, it often pays off you explore every nook and cranny. And this exploration bounty really helps immerse the player in its vibrant biomes.

Combat’s biggest change is the archetype system. This is where you choose an archtype at the beginning to match your play style.

Remnant 2 offers types like ranged, melee, support or healer, but with cooler names like Gunslinger, Handler and Medic. Each has their own pros and cons. And each has their own abilities that you unlock over time with XP and upgrade points. After a very, very long time then your character can also evolve into a multi-class archetype.

Dynamic Lament

The core moment-to-moment fighting feels like the first game but a little bit sharper. You wield a main and side weapon, along with a melee weapon for close encounters. You’ll be dodge-rolling out the way and targeting enemies weak spots.

Remnant 2 also features dynamic threat generation, a fancy term for random enemies spawning at any time. This also means there is usually no time to catch your breath or work out your next move.

And if you are low on health items or ammo, it’s a nightmare. Remnant 2 loves to spawn a horde ready for battle when you are low on supplies and a mile from a checkpoint.

Soulslike Boss Modes

Boss fights themselves are broken into two types; sub and main. The game’s cadre of big bad ones come in a very healthy variety. Remnant 2‘s boss range from stronger spins on normal enemies to ones with unique modifiers that are a true test of your skills.

Remnant 2 has plenty of occasions when friends almost feel necessary. And this is co-op aspect of the game where it excels. You build a three-man squad with your mates to do battle. You’re all free to mix your archtypes and decide on the best formula with which to tackle the baddest bosses.

Remnant Style

Remnant 2 packs more details and passes more polish over it visuals than in the first title. The audio presentation is also solid, with a fitting soundtrack and adequate voice acting.

However, some lines will grate on you quickly, as your character will drop a line after all enemies you are fighting are dead. This is mainly used as a signal, to show you’re in the clear but it does get on your wick after the fiftieth time.

The game’s camera system can go a bit wild at times. And this can be a huge pain during a fight and not helped by the occasionally sticky aim.

Ultimately, Remnant 2 is more Remnant so fans get what they want. However, it’s far from just a carbon copy, giving you more of everything with some new features, all while refining the experience. Gunfire then wraps it all in a compelling tale that will see you through its challenging gameplay.