The Banner Saga 2

The Banner Saga 2 is a worthy sequel and succeeds in propelling the series to new heights.

The Banner Saga 2 improves upon the original in almost every way possible and is, as a result, one hell of an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

The Banner Saga 2 doesn't change much of the experience that made the original such a well-loved surprise two years ago, and that's a good thing. The improvements may be small, but they're also substantial: the new combat units, the introduction of a second caravan story to follow, and the obstacles in the battlefield add up nicely. While beautifully written and populated with memorable characters and twists, the story does slightly suffer from a case of the "middle episodes" that may leave you eager for more. On the bright side, we know that more is on the way in a third and final installment...

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Too often RPGs and turn-based tactical battle games are the domain of knock off Middle-earths. Of poor fantasy pastiches stitched together with wizards sporting wispy gray beards, dwarves slurring cheap Scottish accents, and knights brandishing impractical shoulder pads. It is a joy and a treat to spend time with a world so different, so unique and intriguing. Even if it is a dying and depressing one.

On the road again.

The Banner Saga 2, the second game in developer Stoic’s trilogy of tactical role-playing games, is out now on Nintendo Switch. That’s great news, but it’s clear from the get-go that your overall enjoyment of the game will vary greatly depending on whether you have a completed save file from the first Banner Saga game (also now on Switch) to import from. That may seem fairly obvious to most people, especially when there’s a big fat ‘2’ in the name, but just like other choice-based games like Mass Effect 2 and Telltale’s The Walking Dead, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve played the first...

Few games are as relentlessly bleak as The Banner Saga 2. It begins right after the climax of the previous game, but regardless of your prior choices, the story will play out largely the same; the dredge (a relentless horde of warriors) are hunting down the remaining humans and varl (hulking, horned giants), in the wake of past events, and a massive serpent god seems hell-bent on bringing about the end of the world.

The success of the first Banner Saga – an unusual video game resembling a Nordic tale – has raised hopes of the fans for an equally satisfying sequel. It looks like the newest production from Stoic Games is going to meet those expectations.

As previously mentioned, The Banner Saga 2 is an ideal game for game-as-art deniers and an effective bridge for older generations who don’t quite understand the medium. It is unabashedly slow and beautiful, with a lot of strong storytelling elements to ease people into the unfamiliar interactivity integral to games, yet even to a seasoned gamer, there’s plenty to like. The Banner Saga 2 is far from perfect; the combat trips the flow up a bit, the pacing will have you a bit bored at times, the sound design is sub-optimal and I probably won’t be compelled enough to have a second go at it, but th...

The Banner Saga 2 is a beautiful sequel. There are moments where, as I watch the drama unfold in the dialogue and cutscenes, I almost forget I'm playing a game that came out in this decade. There's an evocative sense of timelessness about the story and world that few RPGs create. And now that the combat has become a strength and not a weakness, immersing myself in the richness of The Banner Saga's dying world is almost as enchanting as cracking open the weathered pages of my favorite fantasy novels.

In the end, Stoic has more than delivered on the promise of the first installment of the series. The Banner Saga 2 maintains the same level of surface quality, and underneath lie the same intriguing combat mechanics for players to mull over. Best of all, the game's story is second to none, meaning that fans will no doubt be eagerly awaiting further iterations of this stunning saga.