Remnant 2 – a Soulslike that From would be proud of (Picture: Gearbox Publishing)
The makers of Darksiders 3 return with a Soulslike sequel that almost manages to beat FromSoftware at its own game.
Given the ongoing problem with indie sequels flopping, no matter how good they are, or how beloved their predecessor was, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to predict which ones will see a follow-up. 2019’s Remnant: From The Ashes didn’t seem to make much impact at the time but it has since gone on to sell over 3 million copies, and that’s no small achievement. Which is exactly how you’d describe its sequel.
The Remnant franchise is by US team Gunfire Games, who were formerly Crytek USA and before that many of the developers worked at Darksiders creator Vigil Games – which explains why they also ended up making Darksiders 3. You can see a little of those games in Remnant, which is also a third person action role-player, albeit one with a darker tone and a heavy influence from Dark Souls.
The upcoming Armored Core 6, by FromSoftware themselves, could already be construed as Dark Souls with guns but Remnant 2 is a lot closer to what most people would imagine from that description. That’s not the only way it differs from other Soulslikes, though, as it also mixes in elements of looter shooters, while embracing procedural generation in a way that feels truly next gen.
One thing that hasn’t improved from the original is the storytelling, which despite having a super weird post-apocalyptic plot, about invading interdimensional tree monsters, is actually very drab and uninteresting. It tries to mimic elements of From’s abstruse storytelling, but it doesn’t really work because there are actual real people you interact with all the time and no good reason is given for why they can’t just tell you exactly what is going on. Or why they have to be so boring.
This is much less of a problem than it might have been because the interdimensional angle means that you’re constantly visiting completely different realms, from stock fantasy lands to robot-filled sci-fi worlds, and the sheer novelty of that largely makes up for the weak narrative.
It’s not just the different worlds that makes Remnant 2 so unique but the fact that it’s almost all procedurally generated. That’s not an entirely new concept for Soulslike games – even Bloodborne experimented with the concept – but it works better here than we’ve ever seen before. Everything, from the stage layout to enemy and items placements change not only after you leave and come back, but every time you die or use the game’s equivalent of bonfire checkpoints (which also respawn enemies).
There’s also an element of randomness added to side quests, boss fights, and even the level theme itself. It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on, when you’re playing through it, but there seem to be at least two completely different set-ups for each world, complete with their own background visuals, enemies, and storylines, which may make Remnant 2 one of the most repayable games ever. The only downside is that there’s only a finite number of enemies and each theme only gets two or three unique ones, which can get repetitive.
The action is sold without ever being exceptional – it certainly can’t compete with something like Returnal – but all the weapons feel powerful and effective, while enemies swarm you in unfair but manageable groups.
The bosses are notably more entertaining than in the first game and instead of being tiresome, Destiny style bullet sponges they’re all very unique, with standouts including one where you’re being chased around a haunted house by a ghost and another where you’re stuck in a giant sentient labyrinth.
Remnant 2 – when being random is a good thing (Picture: Gearbox Publishing)
The class types are interesting too, with the obvious standout being the Handler, which gives you a dog to follow you around and order about. Apart from the more obvious benefits of a canine companion they have an unlockable perk that allows them to revive you if you fall, which is extremely helpful.
This is especially handy if you’re playing alone which, it has to be said, is probably not the ideal way to experience the game. Most of Remnant 2 is manageable, by Soulslike standards, on your own but it gets extremely difficult in the final world and that’s when the three-player co-op becomes almost a necessity. Even if the occasional performance issues in single-player become more frequent the more people you have with you.
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There’s a mountain of additional skills and perks for all the classes, plus you can switch classes if you find and complete particular side quests. You can even double-up and gain access to two sets of perks at the same time – allowing you an impressive amount of control over exactly what your character is capable of. And that’s before you get into all the rings and jewellery that can further alter your range of abilities. Weapons can also be modded in a similar manner, unlocking alternative fire modes, although armour is strangely more static by comparison.
The quality of the boss battles, in particular, makes you wonder if maybe Remnant 2 would be even better if it was handcrafted, instead of relying on procedural generation, but the technology is used so well that the game manages to be both very familiar, in terms of its obvious inspirations, and impressively unique. It’s arguably the best Soulslike that has nothing to do with FromSoftware and proof that you don’t have to rely only on them for innovation in the genre.
Remnant 2 PS5 review summary
In Short: A significant improvement on the last game and one of the best Soulslikes of recent years, with excellent use of procedural generation and so much variety it’s almost impossible to see everything.
Pros: An impressive amount of variety in terms of worlds, enemies, weapons, and loot, allowing for highly customisable characters and weapons. Good graphics and excellent boss fights.
Cons: The combat is solid but unexceptional. Unengaging storytelling and some performance issues. Playing solo is never quite as good as with friends.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PC
Price: £44.99
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
Developer: Gunfire Games
Release Date: 25th July 2023
Age Rating: 18
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The makers of Darksiders 3 return with a Soulslike sequel that almost manages to beat FromSoftware at its own game.
