The Rise and Fall of Volgarr the Viking
The early 2010s marked a golden age for indie games, with titles like Limbo, Bastion, and Super Meat Boy setting the stage for future releases. Among these gems was the original Volgarr the Viking, a 2D platformer reminiscent of classic Sega Genesis games but with a modern twist. Despite its brutal difficulty, the first Volgarr game struck a perfect balance that made overcoming its challenges incredibly rewarding. However, its sequel, Volgarr the Viking 2, fails to maintain that delicate equilibrium.
Volgarr the Viking 2 closely mirrors its predecessor from 2013. Players embody Volgarr, a powerful Norse warrior armed with weapons bestowed by the gods of Asgard. As you journey from left to right, slicing through swarms of enemies, you quickly realize the game’s limitations. Sword swings are restricted to specific angles, jumps lack control, and even double-jumping doubles as an attack. Despite these constraints, mastering Volgarr’s moveset and creatively tackling combat scenarios remain a highlight of the game.
Enemies in Volgarr the Viking 2 are designed to require strategic thinking and precise execution. Whether it’s utilizing different attacks for varied enemies or leveraging environmental elements to gain an advantage, the game demands players to explore every facet of Volgarr’s abilities. This problem-solving aspect extends to platforming sections, where the player must use Volgarr’s spear as a makeshift platform.
The game retains the tiered power-up system from its predecessor, rewarding players with enhanced abilities as they progress. These power-ups not only provide protection but also strengthen combat prowess, incentivizing players to seek them out. However, as the game progresses, flaws in its design begin to surface.
A Harsh Reality
Volgarr the Viking 2 spans five main worlds, each with two levels and a boss encounter. While the addition of mid-level checkpoints seems promising, the game’s increased level size and respawn system create frustrating hurdles for players. Losing gear upon respawn, limited lives, and a punishing continue system contribute to an unforgiving gameplay experience.
Additionally, the game introduces a detrimental mechanic where repeated use of continues transforms the player into an overpowered entity, stripping away the intended challenge. This forced transformation detracts from the core gameplay loop and diminishes the sense of accomplishment in overcoming obstacles.
Despite attempts to mitigate the game’s difficulty with a Practice Mode for replaying levels, the lack of new mechanics or enhancements in Volgarr the Viking 2 leaves much to be desired. While the sequel improves graphics slightly and introduces quality of life upgrades, it falls short in delivering substantial innovation to differentiate itself from its predecessor.