Volgarr the Viking II Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, & PC)

Dive back into the trenches of lava pools and bottomless pits in the second iteration of the Volgarr franchise. Crazy Viking Studios returns, this time in collaboration with retro specialist Digital Eclipse. The studio has been faithful to the original Volgarr the Viking (2013), retaining much of the painfully precise platforming and brutal combat mechanics. Of course, the intensity and high level of challenge of the original is what made it so special. Perhaps making it one of the best platforming experiences you can play.  

Now, with the sequel currently out on all major platforms, veterans have a new challenge to throw themselves at and hope to overcome. Newcomers, on the other hand, may want to approach the original or the sequel, preferably both, with caution, as the gameplay is, by all means, not for the faint of heart. Shall we see what Crazy Viking Studios has been cooking for us? Cue Volgarr the Viking II review.

Same Old

A quick recap of the original tells us how the god Odin has resurrected the titular Volgarr to fight beasties on his behalf. You’re sipping beer at an inn someplace in Midgard when monsters launch their first attack. From then on, it’s bloodshed of all who dare stand in your way. 

Truthfully, the end goal of your fight against the myriad of monsters that will be spawning along the way is unclear. The story is barebones, most of the time, with barely meaty characters or story development. But that’s the point, I guess: to keep a tunnel vision of the main task at hand, which dictates that you decimate all the enemies you come by.

And so, your barbaric journey through Midgard ensues, from the snowy mountains to the steamy lava pools you must avoid. There are lots of hazards and hoops you must jump through that will punctuate plenty of your paths. From bottomless pits to spike traps, anything goes. And best of all, you won’t see any of it coming. 

It’s made all the more unpredictable by the horizontal and vertical traversal of the levels you’ll be tasked with completing. You can climb ladders and swing across stages. You can also throw a sword into walls and conjure up impromptu platforms to reach higher. All of these will be familiar to anyone who’s played the original, as the platforming and overall gameplay remain mostly the same. 

Conquer the World

You’ll traverse diverse worlds in total. There’s also a sixth final and secret world you’ll need to unlock toward the end of the game. Each world has two levels and a boss. The worlds are significantly more prominent in scale compared to the original, with evidently more ground to cover. And not just increased vastness of space, but also packed full of plenty of more obstacles and enemies to beat. 

As such, Volgarr the Viking II has been gracious enough to add at least one mid-checkpoint for each world. Here, you can respawn if you die. But you’ll also have lost all the power-ups you’ll have acquired up to that point. It’s pretty damning when you’ve just died and could use an upper hand. However, getting another power-up after a checkpoint is scarce, leaving you with no choice but to rely solely on your skills (and patience).

But that’s only a small taste of the level of brutality Volgarr the Viking II throws at you. Plus, it does so deceivingly at times. Take, for instance, the freedom to destroy a checkpoint in exchange for treasure and extra points. But if you happen to die, you’ll be taken all the way back to the beginning of the world. And yes, still with none of the power-ups you’ll have acquired. 

It Gets Worse

So, at first, you can forge ahead at a brisk pace, with a double jump and roll combat and traversal move at your disposal. But sustaining one hit will cause you to die. So, you want to be careful when you venture into the world of Volgarr the Viking II. Storming into stages you haven’t mastered will surely cost you. 

As you learn to take your time to anticipate any potential attacks, you’ll come across stashed away treasure chests that grant you power-ups. From a sword to a helmet and a shield, you’ll gradually build robust gear. These allow you to sustain up to six hits (it doesn’t apply to falling into bottomless pits and lava pools, which will still cause you to die instantly). Moreover, each power-up will grant you extra buffs. The sword, for instance, will allow you to inflict double damage, the helmet ramps up your attack speed, and so on.

But, (there’s always a but coming, huh) if you’re hit by an enemy, Volgarr the Viking II takes away one power-up after another until you’re left defenseless, and, eventually, succumb to inevitable death. “Inevitable,” because dying in this game is guaranteed. You’ll die over and over again; it’ll become second nature. You’ll die so much, in fact, that you’ll use up your “Continue” allowance and be locked into the Undead Mode.

Soulless Being

The idea is that you’ll have resurrected so much that you no longer have enough lives to spare, leaving you but a washed-up zombie who cannot die from attacks. Undead Mode is pretty much “easy difficulty,” and I imagine rookies will have a field day on it. Veterans, however, may take it to heart as the game locks you in the mode until you beat the game. 

Only then can you challenge yourself again with the normal difficulty and even ramp up the speedrun timer. You can also delete your save file and start the game anew, but trust me, you’ll still end up locked into Undead Mode. Yes, Volgarr the Viking II is that brutal. And yes, it’s still a fantastic time worth spending, albeit bursting a vein at times. 

The truth is, the high level of challenge is quite addicting. It’s incredibly satisfying when you finally manage to beat a level. After multiple tries, you finally master the exact time you need to jump or slash an enemy at their exact point of weakness. It takes quite a ton of cramming the level designs to anticipate any potential hazards that are just about to spring up. Enemies, too, vary greatly and push you to problem-solve in ways that stretch the imagination. 

One way you can cram the levels is via the Practice Mode. You can play the mode from the main menu to master the level designs, including enemy placements and hazards. However, Practice Mode only unlocks the levels you have been able to beat at least once. And thereafter, perhaps you can challenge yourself with a faster speed run.

Retro Vibe

As for the environments themselves, they look stunning. It’s pixel art showcasing the best parts of retro gaming. Colors are vibrant as they jump off the screen, while Volgarr and enemy designs are intricate enough to distinguish them from one another. It’s easy to spot obstacles and hazards, although spotting them and finding the best route to beat them is a different story. 

Sound effects, too, are excellent, with deeply immersive tunes. And so is the music score, which is a banger, just like the original. With multiple endings, of which the lamest one is tied to Undead Mode, you’ll be pressed to want to return for another chance to beat the game and unlock an even better ending. 

The highest difficulty has the most powerful ending of them all. It’s well worth aspiring to unlock, albeit with much-warranted breaks in between to cool off and rest. And then, with a clear mind and even more patience, who knows, you may be the first to beat the game in one fell swoop.

Verdict

Volgarr the Viking II, isn’t at all different from its 2013 original. Titular Volgarr has the same moves, abilities, and weapons as before. Moreover, the sequel exerts the same level of brutality of precise platforming and savage enemy attacks. Unlike the original, however, the sequel adds mid-checkpoints and an Undead Mode. Both are welcome to at least give breathing room to newcomers learning the mechanics for the first time. 

Platforming requires extreme precision, while combat is often packed with surprising twists and turns. You may think you’ve finally got a handle on swordplay, only to realize that it takes a mastery of the level designs, too, to beat the levels. Regardless of your skill level, you’ll die a tad too many times. But even with the level of savagery the game throws at you, it still retains that incredible feeling of satisfaction when you finally manage to beat the game. 

Still, newcomers and gamers who aren’t fans of brutal retro platforming may want to exercise caution before jumping into this one. The playthrough can quite quickly turn into a rageful affair as you constantly get beaten down. The question is whether it’s a beatdown you’re willing to endure for the satisfaction that will come with finally beating the game.