The Banner Saga 2 (Nintendo Switch) Review

The Banner Saga 2 picks up directly after the heart-breaking choice the player must make at the culmination of the original. For those picking up the second game without playing the initial offering, firstly...good Lord, play them in order! Secondly, there is an option to recap the events of the first title even allowing gamers to make the final decision from the end chapter again to change the outcome, if the player wishes so.

On first glance, not much has changed. This still looks and sounds suitably epic, worthy of mention in the same breath as some of Disney's classic titles for the golden age of the House of Mouse. The story continues to tell the tale of a band of survivors struggling to continue living in a world where seemingly everything is against them,and provides some suitably satisfying set-pieces to satiate the appetites of adventure fans. One particular stunning scenario near the beginning of the journey sees Eyvind the mageusinghis abilities to create floating platforms as your caravan attempts to outrun an oncoming onslaught of Dredge.

The start of the game gives players a glimpse into a new addition to the series, which is the ability to set up defences to prevent enemies from getting closer to playable characters. While this does add an extra stage to combat preparation, allowing one to position everyone in the best strategic position, it does feel like an extra step before getting into the hustle and bustle of combat. Pro tip: put barriers in front of long-range spell casters or archers to give them protection, while they do their thing. New classes, such as poets and Horseborn (think centaurs), add much-needed buffs and position management in battles too.

At its core, The Banner Saga 2 is still very much a decision-making simulator with a steady, if unspectacular, turn-based battle system to spice up the encounters, adding to the feeling of constantly needing to move to the next destination, or die on your feet with a great axe in your hands,so others may live. Players can carry over their save files from the previous game, with the levels, experience, and items accrued over it following the player over to the second, which is definitely a welcome touch.