Risk of Rain 2
" Engaging action indie with deep item synergy and multiplayer co-op but plagued by instability and restrictive EULA "
Risk of Rain 2 Review
Risk of Rain 2 is celebrated as a highly addictive and engaging roguelike with a unique blend of procedural generation, intense difficulty scaling, and deep item synergy. Players praise its varied characters, strategic gameplay, and dynamic difficulty that evolves with each run, making every playthrough feel fresh and challenging. The game's art style, while not flashy, effectively supports gameplay clarity, complemented by an acclaimed soundtrack that enhances the experience. The multiplayer aspect adds significant value, especially when playing with friends.
However, the game's reputation has been marred by corporate decisions following its acquisition by Gearbox and Take-Two Interactive. Many users express strong dissatisfaction with the recent invasive EULA that collects extensive personal data, bans mods, and restricts player communication about bugs or cheats. Additionally, some players report multiplayer instability and frustration with certain DLC content, which they feel detracts from the base game's quality. Despite these issues, the core gameplay remains highly regarded by its community.
Highlights
Players consistently praise Risk of Rain 2's gameplay mechanics, highlighting its strategic itemization, diverse character abilities, and the ever-increasing difficulty that keeps runs engaging. The game's procedural level design and randomized teleporter locations boost replayability. The art style is appreciated for its clarity and uniqueness, while the soundtrack by Chris Christodoulou receives special mention for enhancing the game's atmosphere. Multiplayer mode, especially co-op play, is frequently cited as a major strength, making the experience more enjoyable and social.
Criticisms
The most common criticisms revolve around the new EULA imposed by Take-Two and Gearbox, which many players deem invasive and anti-consumer, involving extensive data collection and restrictions on modding and communication. Multiplayer suffers from stability issues, with frequent disconnects and unreliable reconnects. Some players feel recent DLCs introduce unbalanced or low-quality content, harming the game's overall experience. Additionally, certain gameplay elements such as the final boss fight and item balance are viewed as frustrating or inconsistent by parts of the community.
Pros
- • Engaging and strategic gameplay with deep item synergy and character variety.
- • Dynamic difficulty scaling that keeps each run challenging and fresh.
- • Procedurally generated levels enhance replayability and unpredictability.
- • Clear and unique art style supports gameplay clarity effectively.
- • Acclaimed soundtrack that enhances immersion and atmosphere.
- • Multiplayer co-op adds significant fun and social interaction.
- • Tangible progression system despite roguelike reset mechanics.
Cons
- • Invasive and restrictive EULA collecting extensive personal data.
- • Multiplayer instability with frequent disconnects and poor reconnect.
- • Recent DLCs criticized for unbalanced and low-quality content.
- • Restrictions on modding and discussing bugs reduce player freedom.
- • Some characters and items feel unbalanced or confusing to play.
- • Final boss fight can be frustrating and inconsistent in difficulty.
- • Corporate decisions have damaged community trust and goodwill.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
SURVIVE AN ALIEN PLANET
Over a dozen handcrafted locales await, each packed with challenging monsters and enormous bosses that oppose your continued existence. Fight your way to the final boss and escape or continue your run indefinitely to see just how long you can survive. A unique scaling system means both you and your foes limitlessly increase in power over the course of a game.
DISCOVER POWERFUL NEW ITEMS
More than 110 items keep each run fresh and full of new challenge. The more items you collect, the more their effects combine, the more surprising some of those combinations might be. The more items you encounter, the more lore (and strategy) you’ll discover through the logs.
UNLOCK NEW WAYS TO PLAY
Unlock a crew of eleven playable survivors, each with their own unique combat style and alternate skills to master. Learn the secrets of the Artifacts to toggle gameplay modifiers like friendly fire, random survivor spawns, item selection and more. With randomized stages, enemies, and items, no run will ever be the same.
PLAY SOLO OR CO-OP
Tackle the adventure solo or with up to three friends in online co-op, or compete in the rotating challenge of the Prismatic Trials. Brand new survivors like the Captain and MUL-T join classic survivors such as the Engineer, Huntress, and--of course--the Commando.
Escape a chaotic alien planet by fighting through hordes of frenzied monsters – with your friends, or on your own. Combine loot in surprising ways and master each character until you become the havoc you feared upon your first crash landing.
