
When players laid their eyes on the new graphical style, many were revolted by it. As it stands, the only reason to play this mode is to get the achievement. Unlocks would've made the mode more appealing since the game lets players customize their fighter with different hairstyles and clothes. There's no difficulty level to set, which is a shame since the AI doesn't put up much of a fight, and no unlocks are given for completing the mode.

All you get at the end is a timer showing how long it took you to finish the mode. Much like the first title, the game takes players through 10 opponents in 10 different environments but with no accompanying fanfare.

The good news is that the netcode is much better than the first game, and several of the matches played during this review period were smooth and had little to no lag.įor those looking for a stronger single-player experience this time around, however, prepare for disappointment. For those who don't have someone to throw down with locally, the game features online play. Nidhogg 2 is perfectly suited for multiplayer, especially local multiplayer, where part of the enjoyment comes from having your opponent right next to you as you both experience the ebb and flow of a fight. You can also mess around with other settings, like enabling low gravity. However, the game addresses this by letting you tweak any number of options, from removing weapons to restricting melee moves. Initially, the new additions can feel like a betrayal of the prior game's ideals, where the simplicity of using a foil and not dealing with too many environmental hazards meant having a simple game that still possessed some depth. As a result, players have some fighting depth if they don't mind the random nature with which they receive weapons at every respawn. As dangerous as a broadsword is, a quick poke from the foil can nullify it while everyone can fall for the dagger. The bow and arrow may have range, but a well-timed shot from another bow and arrow can cancel it out while a broadsword or dagger swipe can reflect the arrow back at its shooter. The differences between the four weapons balance out each other. The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon that has a slow setup but makes up for that with its range. The dagger has terrible reach, but you can perform swift slashes with it. The broadsword is slower to swing due to its weight, but it also does a good job of disarming your opponent. The most noticeable change is the addition of new weapons.

#NIDHOGG NINTENDO SWITCH SERIES#
You can also initiate a series of stomps to kill your opponent when you're bare-handed, so players are quite lethal without a weapon. Aside from a jump-kick, players can employ a regular roundhouse kick when no weapons are on hand a sweep-and-slide move is also available if you're aiming lower. Elevation can also be variable, such as when you're standing on an iceberg and it sinks. Bottomless pits and environmental camouflage were part of the first game, but now players have to worry about rotating spiked traps and conveyor belts. The first is in the environments, which play a more significant role in the combat flow. There are quite a few changes to the overall combat system. Even though the actual fights aren't very long affairs, every one that you encounter is very tense. Weapons can be thrown and picked up, so you can chuck your foil at an opponent and pick it up later so you aren't left unarmed. This is also useful if you're trying to disarm your opponent or defend against a jump kick. You can set the level of your foil, so your thrusts either aim low or high. Defeating or outrunning your opponent is necessary, but dying means that you have to chase down your opponent once you return, and you must kill him or her to be able to move forward once more.įor a game with such a simple premise, there's some depth to the combat. Once you kill your opponent, you run forward only to be met by your newly resurrected opponent. One hit is all that's needed to defeat your opponent, but dying and the act of killing are distractions instead of the main goal. For the most part, the gameplay is the same. Two people enter a duel for the right to be consumed by the Nidhogg. The sequel sticks with the original's outlandish premise. It was a surprise to see Nidhogg 2 come in with a slew of changes, and depending on your outlook, they're either for an improvement or a downgrade. It was a bona fide hit, but people weren't sure if they would see a follow-up anytime soon. More importantly, the gameplay was solid, as the simple fencing mechanic made way for a multitude of moves and strategies that could turn a match into a marathon war of attrition. The plot involved two combatants dueling for the chance to be eaten by the large flying worm that is the Nidhogg.

The graphics were reminiscent of a refined Atari 2600 or Intellivision title. The original Nidhogg fulfilled many of the requirements that characterized indie games at the time.
