The first Remnant was a sleeper hit for me, so when this one came to Game Pass I was eager to check it out. Having finished it, though, I'm left disappointed. Playing Remnant II is like returning to a treasured memory, only to find reality doesn't live up to your expectations.
I will say that the game looks good and feels great to play. Unreal Engine 5 delivers the graphical goods (even on my Series S), shooting feels weighty, and dodge rolling never gets old. Another area the sequel improves is the bosses. Whereas the first game's bosses usually relied on unleashing hordes of minions to keep you occupied, the bosses in this one have more creative tricks up their sleeves.
Where the game falls short is in vibe. While the original Remnant wasn't consistently brilliant in this regard, it had a lot of imagery that stuck with me: The oppressive, rain-drenched tutorial, the decrepit ruins of Earth, the endless dunes of Rhom, and so on.
Remnant II, on the other hand, feels more forgettable. Losomn is a tribute to Resident Evil 4 that's so on the nose it feels like a borderline parody. Yaesha is back but it was never one of my favorite areas to begin with. And N'Erud is superficially similar to Rhom, but with a dense layer of fog that smothers the Dune vibes.
It doesn't help that the story continues from the first game's DLC, which I never played. The original Remnant didn't have a strong story either, but at least the protagonist had a sense of purpose. Remnant II, by contrast, feels like a series of fetch quests. The game explains why I'm exploring all these worlds, but the motivation is vague at best.
There are also all sorts of new class and equipment systems that are a mixed bag. While I appreciate all the build flexibility, I don't like that there are few permanent benefits from leveling up each class. After reaching level 10 in my primary class and the secondary class I acquired early in the game, I wanted to try a new secondary class. But switching from a Level 10 class to a Level 1 class was a huge downgrade, and I was near the end of the game with little incentive to grind. I suppose if you're looking for that Diablo-like grind you might not mind this, but for me it didn't hit right.
Is Remnant II worth your time, then? The long and the short of it is that if you enjoyed the first Remnant, you'll probably find some entertainment in this one as well. Just be sure to come in with measured expectations and you won't end up feeling disappointed like I did.
I will say that the game looks good and feels great to play. Unreal Engine 5 delivers the graphical goods (even on my Series S), shooting feels weighty, and dodge rolling never gets old. Another area the sequel improves is the bosses. Whereas the first game's bosses usually relied on unleashing hordes of minions to keep you occupied, the bosses in this one have more creative tricks up their sleeves.
Where the game falls short is in vibe. While the original Remnant wasn't consistently brilliant in this regard, it had a lot of imagery that stuck with me: The oppressive, rain-drenched tutorial, the decrepit ruins of Earth, the endless dunes of Rhom, and so on.
Remnant II, on the other hand, feels more forgettable. Losomn is a tribute to Resident Evil 4 that's so on the nose it feels like a borderline parody. Yaesha is back but it was never one of my favorite areas to begin with. And N'Erud is superficially similar to Rhom, but with a dense layer of fog that smothers the Dune vibes.
It doesn't help that the story continues from the first game's DLC, which I never played. The original Remnant didn't have a strong story either, but at least the protagonist had a sense of purpose. Remnant II, by contrast, feels like a series of fetch quests. The game explains why I'm exploring all these worlds, but the motivation is vague at best.
There are also all sorts of new class and equipment systems that are a mixed bag. While I appreciate all the build flexibility, I don't like that there are few permanent benefits from leveling up each class. After reaching level 10 in my primary class and the secondary class I acquired early in the game, I wanted to try a new secondary class. But switching from a Level 10 class to a Level 1 class was a huge downgrade, and I was near the end of the game with little incentive to grind. I suppose if you're looking for that Diablo-like grind you might not mind this, but for me it didn't hit right.
Is Remnant II worth your time, then? The long and the short of it is that if you enjoyed the first Remnant, you'll probably find some entertainment in this one as well. Just be sure to come in with measured expectations and you won't end up feeling disappointed like I did.