Remnant 2: A Unique Blend of Dark Souls and Third-Person Shooter

Remnant 2 offers a refreshing take on action games with its fusion of Dark Souls-style gameplay and third-person shooter mechanics. Building upon the foundation set by its predecessor, this current-gen-only title takes advantage of Unreal Engine 5 features and the enhanced power of next-gen consoles. We’ve thoroughly tested the game on PS5, Series X, and Series S to determine how well it utilizes the capabilities of these ninth-generation consoles and if its procedural systems deliver an engaging adventure.

Impressive Visuals and Design

Remnant 2 makes a strong first impression with its visually stunning tutorial area, reminiscent of the post-apocalyptic city seen in The Last of Us. The artwork, detailed assets, and advanced lighting create a lived-in environment that is pleasing to the eye. However, as you venture further into the game, the quality of the locales becomes more varied. While some areas, like the dark city of Losomn, lack the same level of visual detail and sophisticated lighting, others, especially the interior spaces, shine with high-fidelity models and materials.

One reason for this inconsistency may be the absence of certain Unreal Engine 5 features such as real-time global illumination or ray tracing effects. Instead, the game heavily relies on the Nanite virtualized geometry system, which eliminates any LOD pop-in and provides exceptional up-close geometric detail. Although the virtual shadow maps enhance the sharpness of the shadows, there is a lack of progressive shadow cascade that can be found in other games with higher resolution shadows at close proximity to the camera.

Procedurally Generated Environments

Remnant 2 utilizes a procedural generation system that combines prefabricated environmental blocks to create its locations. While key areas remain consistent across playthroughs, the sections in-between shift based on the character you create. This results in a mix of visually appealing blocks, from enchanting faerie interiors to futuristic science-fiction landscapes. However, some blocks, like the exteriors of Losomn, are not as visually captivating.

The game’s extensive procedural systems contribute to its replayability but can also make it feel less cohesive compared to other action titles. As you progress, the lack of visual signposts and a strong sense of progression may leave you relying on the in-game map to navigate each level. Regardless, the use of Nanite technology ensures that each environment is intricately detailed, and the overall visual improvement from the first Remnant game is evident.

Attractive with Few Limitations

Despite a few minor shortcomings, Remnant 2 remains an attractive game overall. The environmental art is of impressive quality, highlighted by the generous use of polygonal detail powered by Nanite. The lighting is well-executed, enemies are visually compelling, and player animations are responsive. The game’s motion blur adds a nice touch to the visuals, even when playing at 60fps.

The game does have limitations, such as noticeable occlusion issues when screen-space effects are used extensively and less elaborate cutscenes without lifelike characters or detailed facial animations. However, these are minor drawbacks considering the smaller production values of Remnant 2 compared to AAA titles.

Graphics and Performance Modes

Remnant 2 offers three modes on PS5 and Series X: a 30fps quality mode, a 60fps balanced mode, and an unlocked performance mode. Interestingly, these modes mainly differ in graphical features rather than perceived resolution. The quality mode showcases denser foliage, more detailed screen space reflections, and higher-resolution shadows with less breakup and artifacting. The balanced and performance modes appear similar visually but may exhibit tearing in the latter due to the absence of vertical sync.

The rendering resolution varies based on the mode selected, but motion blur and cutscenes with depth-of-field effects make it challenging to determine the exact values. From limited samples, the quality mode resolution on PS5 and Series X averages around 1296p, while the balanced mode drops to approximately 792p. The performance mode maintains a consistent 720p resolution, indicating the use of dynamic resolution. Additionally, the balanced and performance modes upscale to around 1440p with possible implementation of Unreal’s Temporal Super Resolution.

The Series S version delivers similar graphical settings to balanced mode on PS5 and Series X but only offers a 30fps mode without motion blur. Internally rendering at around 900p and upscale to 1080p, the Series S version lacks the same level of detail and smoothness as its counterparts.

Overall, Remnant 2 may not push the boundaries of Unreal Engine 5, but it is undeniably an impressive game that showcases the capabilities of the current generation of consoles. Its captivating visuals, intricate environments, and engaging gameplay make it a worthy addition to any action game enthusiast’s library.