I enjoyed the first Banner Saga, a game dedicated to fatalistic Norse themes but tempered with a spiritual ending that sent a beloved character to a glorious Valhalla. But in this sequel, complexities give way to one-note characterizations and unclear motivations. Combat feels longer, more arduous, and unnecessarily drawn out. The high point is the showdown at Arberrang, where your decisions regarding the spoiled prince in part one will haunt you, and you may find yourself giving up security for loyalty or vice-versa. But the cliffhanger ending with the generic “darkness” did not excite me for part three.