Summary
- Volgarr the Viking 2 focuses on maintaining challenge while being accessible to new players through new features like checkpoints and an undead mode.
- The sequel builds on the original's simple but tough gameplay with special abilities linked to gear, enhancing the action-platformer experience without losing its identity.
- Despite maintaining the essence of the first game, Volgarr the Viking 2 aims to offer a more complex and fresh experience for both longtime fans and newcomers when it releases in August 2024.
Gamers tuned into the indie scene in 2013 may be familiar with Volgarr the Viking, a brutally punishing, retro-flavored action-platformer that draws from the likes of Rastan and Castlevania. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Volgarr the Viking would be getting a sequel, building on the foundations laid by the 2013 cult classic, hopefully in exciting and unique ways.
But Volgarr the Viking is in a bit of an interesting position when it comes to franchise-building. Unlike a contemporary AAA game, which often strives to be bigger, grander, and more complex than what came before it, Volgarr the Viking 2 is rooted in the same 80s and 90s game design tropes as its predecessor. Simple controls, pixel-laden visuals, and a distinct, unforgiving approach to difficulty are all central to the Volgarr experience in a way that makes iteration and evolution something of a challenge. Kristofor Dürrschmidt, the lead developer for Volgarr the Viking 2, recently sat down with The Best War Games to discuss some of the challenges associated with making a sequel of this type, and the steps that have been taken to make a worthy sequel that retains the philosophical and mechanical heart of the burgeoning series.
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How Accessibility, New Mechanics, and Greater Ambitions Combine in Volgarr the Viking 2
Volgarr the Viking 2's Accessibility Options Are a Big Step Forward
The past decade has been huge for accessibility features in gaming. While hardcore gaming communities can sometimes be steeped in toxicity, with the 'get good' mentality often stretching out of the realm of good-spirited ribbing and into genuine gatekeeping, gamers are generally becoming more welcoming of quality-of-life and ease-of-use considerations. Maintaining a sense of challenge while honing in on this cultural shift was a big focus when developing Volgarr the Viking 2. In speaking with The Best War Games, Dürrschmidt said:
...new accessibility options exist, but the game isn't really easier. We made the first game for a very targeted audience and we figured that only those people would be interested in playing the game.
We didn't realize that it might have had a broader appeal than we thought and that other people who aren't familiar with these kinds of games would want to play it.
In an effort to be more accessible to a wider audience, Volgarr the Viking 2 adds features like an undead mode, which is effectively an unlimited health bar, and checkpoints, making death far less punishing than in the original. These changes make Volgarr the Viking 2 less frustrating, but it's crucial to note that they don't remove the game's challenge. Players can choose to start over upon activating the undead mode, and mid-level checkpoints can be destroyed for greater rewards, similar to Shovel Knight's checkpoint system. Through these features, Volgarr the Viking 2 strives to provide the same challenge as the first game, but without alienating new players.
Building On Volgarr the Viking's Mechanical Framework
Volgarr the Viking 2 is an action-platformer through-and-through, just like the game that came before it; precision and the pursuit of perfection sit at the heart of its gameplay loop. Part and parcel with these elements is the relative simplicity of its gameplay: there are no fancy combos to pull off, no ultra-powerful hidden moves, and no gear or XP grind. But Dürrschmidt has noted his desire to avoid making Volgarr 2 "Volgarr 1.2," as he looks to meaningfully develop the original's gameplay formula.
This is a tough tightrope to walk, as too much change could adulterate the game's identity. Side-stepping this issue has involved implementing special abilities linked to gear, like boots that create a shockwave when players land, or a flaming sword that slightly increases the range of midair attacks. These power-ups also serve as Volgarr's health bar, meaning that players will lose them as they get hit, like a multi-tier version of Super Mario's power-ups.
Volgarr the Viking 2 still has some secrets to unveil, but fans of the first game can rest assured: it is certainly more Volgarr the Viking. At the same time, serious steps are being taken to avoid retreading old ground, which will hopefully culminate in a more complex, fresh experience, for both veterans and newcomers.
Volgarr the Viking 2 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and last-gen consoles on August 6, 2024.