Home / Reviews /Volgarr the Viking II review – Too ‘arrd for its own good ByRichard Seagrave 6 August 20246 August 2024
If you’ve played the original Volgarr the Viking, you should have an idea of what to expect from its sequel, Volgarr the Viking II. If not, imagine hardcore platforming adventure games of the ’80s like Ghouls ‘n Ghosts and Castlevania. Though even then, that might not prepare you for the level of difficulty presented here.
Volgarr the Viking II puts players in control of the titular viking king as he continues his violent adventure. As you’d expect, you won’t find much in terms of storytelling here; just hours of hardcore 2D platforming action, as you move from left to right, slashing at anything that stands in your way with your sword.
Initially, the action presented by Volgarr the Viking II seems tough but fun. One hit is all that it takes to kill you, unless you’ve been lucky enough to loot an upgrade from a chest or find a power-up hidden in a wall, Castlevania-style. Fall into an abyss or the deep depths of the sea, however, and you’ll die no matter how buffed up you are.
As well as relying on Volgarr’s sword to survive, you can block incoming hits with his shield, and also make use of thrown spears, which come in particularly handy when dealing with enemies which explode from a distance. Spears can also be thrown into certain walls, allowing you to create makeshift platforms — useful for finding secret areas, or simply progressing through a stage.
It’s the precision of your actions required here that often takes Volgarr the Viking II beyond challenging into the realm of unfair, though, particularly when it comes to jumping. Judge one gap incorrectly, and all your upgrades can be forfeit, a life lost, and Volgarr respawned at the last checkpoint. The levels here are huge, too, and so even that can feel like a kick in the teeth at times.
Your patience will be mostly be tested, however, when your movement is hindered, such as by being underwater. Here, precision when jumping is effectively thrown out of the window, and it’s all too easy to burn through your lives. You can continue, but you’ll be taken back to the beginning of the stage, which again, can be particularly punishing given the length of them.
Heck, even dying too often in Volgarr the Viking II comes with a punishment of some sorts. Hit ‘Continue’ enough times and Volgarr will turn into a zombie, making him invulnerable to pretty much all attacks. In some regards, then, it makes the game a cakewalk, with enemies and even bosses posing little threat. But you’ll still die if you fall into an abyss, and you’ll be locked into one of the game’s worst endings.
I’ve no doubt that some will love Volgarr the Viking II. It’s an attractive-looking game, its soundtrack is pretty epic, and its core gameplay is indeed quite fun, if not a little repetitive. With its overly long stages and extreme difficulty level that often simply feels unfair, however, it soon left me feeling cold. As much as I wanted to like my journey with Volgarr, I ultimately felt like I was fighting against him.
This review of Volgarr the Viking II is based on the PS5 version, with a code provided by the game’s publisher. It’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC.
Volgarr the Viking II review — GameSpew's score
Volgarr the Viking II 6 10 0 1Some may revel in the challenge provided by Volgarr the Viking II, but most will probably find it simply unfair at times. Repetition is also a problem when the game’s stages are so large. Still, it looks rather nice, and at least Undead mode allows players to brute force their way through, albeit with repercussions.Some may revel in the challenge provided by Volgarr the Viking II, but most will probably find it simply unfair at times. Repetition is also a problem when the game’s stages are so large. Still, it looks rather nice, and at least Undead mode allows players to brute force their way through, albeit with repercussions. Total Score
We like…
- Nice pixel art
- Epic soundtrack
We don't like…
- Feels unfair at times
- Stages are too long
