Being a fan of independent games in the early 2010s was fantastic, as titles like Super Meat Boy, Bastion, and Limbo set the standard for later titles. The original Volgarr the Viking, a 2D platformer inspired by the ways the genre had changed during the 1990s, is one of my faves from that era. It plays and looks like a 16-bit Sega Genesis game. It was extremely enjoyable to surpass its trials because it was brutally challenging but always fair, with careful balance. I hate to say it, but Volgarr the Viking 2, the 2024 sequel, completely throws that balance off. The few aspects that are different in this game end up being modified negatively. The game recaptures a lot of what made the original so wonderful, but it adds very nothing to improve on those ideas.
The Volgarr the Viking 2 bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor from 2013. As the game’s title character, Volgarr, you take control of a formidable Norse warrior equipped with a vast array of weapons bestowed upon you by the Asgardian gods. You advance from the left side of the stage to the right, slicing through legions of foes in your path. Volgarr the Viking, like a lot of classic 2D action-platformers, is characterized as much by your limitations as by your abilities. You cannot control the direction or momentum of your jump once you leave the ground. You can only swing your sword directly in front of you, crouching to hit low or standing to hit high. You can also double jump, but this doubles as an attack, which is sometimes not ideal because some enemies will attack back once you strike them.
Although it sounds harsh, one of the best things I was able to do with Volgarr the Viking 2 was to figure out how to work around these restrictions. Even though a lot of stuff is carried over from the original game—especially because a significant portion of the adversaries in this sequel are recycled—I liked how frequently I had to utilize my creativity in combat. To hit an enemy who is at an awkward angle, you might need to double jump forward and then backward, use a slope’s inclination to better line up a spear throw against an enemy who is low to the ground, or use your double jump slash to take out an enemy who is directly above you. It feels nice to use every move in Volgarr’s small repertoire since enemies are built in a way that forces you to do so. The platforming challenges exhibit a similar creative problem-solving approach, as they skillfully leverage Volgarr’s ability to project his spear into barriers, creating spontaneous platforms.
You have to employ every move in Volgarr’s small skill set to defeat enemies.
The foes also have intriguing small quirks that change based on how you strike them. For example, if you hit a dagger high, it would die in a single swipe, but if you hit it low, its torso will fly off their body and it will still be able to damage you. Some adversaries will have shields covering their upper half, making them open to slashes from a crouch. The level design of Volgarr the Viking 2 does a fantastic job of playing to the strengths and weaknesses of its opponents. You are frequently forced to exercise patience while waiting for an enemy that is only susceptible to low attacks to ascend a set of stairs to get a clear shot on its legs or come up with a different strategy for dealing with them.
The tiered power-up system from the first game is still there in Volgarr the Viking 2. You begin the game without any equipment, and in this situation, you are as vulnerable to death as Mario is when he does not have a mushroom. You will need to locate treasure chests to be able to endure more strikes, and each one you open will advance your power-up to the next level. If you are without gear, the next chest you discover will include boots, a belt, a blazing sword, and a helmet to complete the set. Every power-up you receive helps you in combat and serves as a barrier against a point of damage: The sword doubles your attack power, the helmet quickens your attack, and the boots create a devastating shockwave that covers all sides of you when you sever your sword from above. Generally speaking, it is a terrific system that, once you are properly equipped, really makes you feel powerful. It also pays you nicely for taking chances and going above and beyond to attempt to grab a chest.
I was enjoying myself immensely as I went through the first world. The levels were larger, yes, but some checkpoints could be destroyed in the manner of the Shovel Knight to add more riches at the cost of losing a respawn point. I also liked the quality of life enhancements, such as the sword power-up appearing later rather than saving it for the last tier. The difficulty felt like it was in the right place—tough but fair. However, as I progressed further, I realized that I was having less and less fun. This was primarily because of how Volgarr the Viking 2 is set out overall, but it was also partially caused by a huge difficulty spike that I encountered after I entered the second world.
Verdict
While not a terrible game, Volgarr the Viking 2 has a strange sense of self. Its combat and platforming are based on a foundation that challenges you to become proficient in extremely exact and cautious spacing, which makes for an engaging beginning. However, after using six continues, you enter a locked phase that eliminates any precision and makes you immune to all harm. The stages themselves are too lengthy for that kind of gradual mastery, even if it did not eventually trivialize itself with the Zombie Volgarr mode. That is unless you have the patience of a saint or the speedrunner’s talent. Volgarr the Viking 2 regrettably too frequently crosses the line from satisfying challenge to unfair annoyance, even for someone who enjoys hard-as-nails games.
