Rogue Legacy 2

Developer: Cellar Door Games
Release: Apr 28th 2022
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Indie
RPG
Addictive
Polished
Varied
Difficult
Confusing
Rogue Legacy 2 Poster

" Engaging action-adventure RPG with diverse classes and smooth mechanics but punishing difficulty "

Rogue Legacy 2 Review

Rogue Legacy 2 is widely praised as a highly polished and engaging roguelike that skillfully blends metroidvania elements with deep progression mechanics. Players appreciate the game's respect for their time, avoiding excessive grind by gating new content behind New Game+ modes, which reward skillful play with meaningful upgrades. The movement mechanics stand out, with each weapon offering unique playstyles that emphasize mobility and tactical combat.

The progression system is generally well-received, with difficulty scaling that keeps players challenged without feeling unfair. The game features a colorful, cartoony art style and a phenomenal soundtrack, adding to the immersive experience. While the story is not as prominent as in some genre peers, it is well crafted and adds satisfying context.

Some players note the game’s difficulty can be punishing and the upgrade system confusing, with exploration sometimes feeling unrewarding. Nonetheless, the extensive content and replayability make it a standout title in the genre, recommended for both newcomers and veterans alike.

Highlights

Players especially praise the varied and thoughtful movement mechanics, which are integral to combat and exploration. The wide array of fun-to-play classes encourages experimentation. The game’s polished visuals and vibrant art style enhance the experience, complemented by an acclaimed soundtrack. Replayability is a major highlight, with meaningful progression and New Game+ modes that keep the challenge fresh. The pacing and difficulty balance are also noted as well-executed, making for a rewarding roguelike experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the that can frustrate players, especially when exploration feels unrewarding and upgrades are costly and complex to manage. Some players find the grind to unlock the true ending repetitive and potentially tedious. The upgrade system’s increasing costs can be confusing, and some feel that difficulty customization places too much balancing responsibility on the player rather than the developers. The story, while decent, is considered less impactful compared to other roguelikes like Hades.

Pros

  • Respects player time by gating content behind skill-based New Game+ progression.
  • Movement mechanics are deeply integrated and vary significantly by weapon type.
  • Wide variety of classes encourages diverse and fun playstyles.
  • Polished cartoony art style with smooth animations and appealing visuals.
  • Phenomenal soundtrack that enhances immersion and enjoyment.
  • Difficulty scales well to keep players engaged without trivializing bosses.
  • Extensive replayability with meaningful upgrades and challenges.

Cons

  • Difficulty can be punishing and sometimes frustrating for average players.
  • Upgrade system is complex and costly, making prioritization confusing.
  • Exploration often feels unrewarding and can become tedious over time.
  • Grinding to unlock all content and true ending may feel repetitive.
  • Difficulty customization options shift balancing responsibility to players.
  • Story is less prominent and impactful compared to genre benchmarks.
  • Some players find the meta-progression gating restrictive.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Rogue Legacy 2 is what you'd get if you mashed Rogue Legacy and a sequel together. Every time you die, your children will succeed you, and each child is unique. Your daughter might be a Colourblind Archer, and your son could be a Pacifistic Chef. Either way, one of them is getting conscripted.

Release Date Apr 28th 2022
Publisher Cellar Door Games
Developer Cellar Door Games
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (7,500)
92% Positive 8% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
88