A legacy to remember

Rouge-like games come a dime a dozen. We all know this, and truth be told, I only like a handful of them. Rogue Legacy was one of the very first that stuck with me and kept me playing all the way to the end. That really means something to me. It’s a hard sell for me when someone tells me I could play a game for multiple hours and only make a little progress. Of course, Git Gud is the easy phrase to tell someone like me, but when a game like Rogue Legacy and even more so Rogue Legacy 2 adds just enough to keep me going, it really says something about the quality of the game.

Just like in the first game, Rogue Legacy 2 has players taking on the family lineage as they traverse a large dungeon composed of smaller dungeons. Each run allows players to choose a different heir to take into the dungeon each with their own class, abilities, and perks/flaws that go along with it. Their goal is to defeat the bosses of each major area to take down the main boss. Easier said than done, but with some patience and some good luck, it can be done.

MSRP: $24.99
Price I’d pay: $24.99
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC

A good amount of things carry over from the first game. The overall feel and main crux of the game is the same, with some extra bits here and there. First, the game has that Metroidvania feel but with a unique twist – players obtain information that clues them in on puzzle completions or hidden areas that will show them where they need to go. This is all found via multiple ways, but usually through reading materials or talking with spirits. I was even able to stumble upon some without even trying.

Along the way, players can find relics they can equip. Many are nice boons while some can be a curse with a benefit. The game does a great job with the “give and take” aspect. With each relic, players will lose resolve after falling below 100 resolve, they will lose some of their max health, but many of these relics can make or break a run. Of course, along the way, players will find gold they will use to upgrade their castle for permanent stat increases and other rewards. They can also upgrade their gear and activate permanent passive abilities in town with the right amount of gold and resources. Of course, players will have to forfeit any leftover gold to Charon to begin a new run or, if they have upgraded it, have some of that gold stored in the living safe that keeps a portion of it.

The gameplay feels as tight as ever in Rogue Legacy 2. What was one of my main reasons for playing all the way though the first game was how the game controlled. The jumping, attacking, skills and everything in between just felt sublime. This is no exception here. RL2 feels just as good if not even more precise which is great for someone like me who could easily be turned off a game like this if the combat was not gelling. It’s one of those games where I feel like if I died, I knew it was because I messed up, not the game.

The new overhaul of the visuals is also a nice touch. This time around, the game went for a hand drawn look that absolutely pops on the TV. It looks and feels like I’m playing a cartoon and with the over exaggerated yet cutesy look to it all it works really well.

There’s so much to Rogue Legacy 2. Tons of secrets, areas to explore, classes and traits to try out, upgrades to obtain, and much more. The best thing I can say about it is that every few runs, I would be able to get a build that was haphazardly put together because it is all randomized, but it worked well. When I find that one relic I needed for a specific character or I found the next piece to a puzzle that I needed, I felt like I was really making a difference in my progression even if things were random, I felt like I had a chance each time. That’s what makes this series special. That sense of progression is almost perfect and it’s all due to the programming of randomness. I’m never up a creek with a paddle and when I progress, it feels meaningful.

Of course, there were the times I would make it right to where I left off and ended up dying once again to the same boss, but I would always leave the dungeon with gold for a nice upgrade that would eventually lead me to victory. That’s just going to happen in a game like this, but because the gameplay felt so good, I never minded it.

Rogue Legacy 2 is a fantastic game. It takes everything I loved about the first game, refines it, adds way more content, and keeps the gameplay just as tight and smooth. It’s a rogue-like that even non-fans of rogue-likes can warm up to. If you played the first game, this is a no-brainer. Even if you haven’t, you’ll have a great time here with a game jam-packed with content. I cannot suggest this one enough.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Great gameplay
  • Tons of content and things to do
  • Progression is superb
  • Wonderful style
Bad
  • Some repeated runs feel the same until a big upgrade
9.5
Excellent
Written by
Drew is the Community Manager here at ZTGD and his accent simply woos the ladies. His rage is only surpassed by the great one himself and no one should stand between him and his Twizzlers.