When Gunfire Games released Remnant 2 players were surprised at how much there was to uncover. There weren’t just elaborate secrets, but an amount so overwhelming it’s hard to say when all of them were discovered. Now that the second expansion, Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom, is available, players are wondering if Gunfire Games can keep it up. Given there is a new archetype, weapons, and location to explore, is it a must, or is it all flash and no substance?
Unlike Remnant 2: The Awakened King, Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom crafts its own adventure. There are some ties to the original storyline, as some background details touch on the queen, with the rest centering on a story about reclaiming an item stolen from a mysterious force.
Return the Precious Thing
While there is a fair amount of narrative for those willing to track it down, this adventure is far more in the background. Players are tasked with finding an item that “we will know belongs to them when we find it,” across a couple new locations.
Despite having a lot going on, this is a far lighter experience. In all it took me about 11 hours to complete Remnant 2: The Awakened King the first time, compared to this struggling to pass 5 hours. It’s just a far more linear experience, coupled with several stages that don’t seem to have more than meets the eye.
This isn’t a bad thing per se. One stage I enjoyed was Proving Grounds. Instead of giving players a bunch of enemies to overcome, it’s centered more on puzzles/mechanics. It’s unique, and in turn offers a much needed change of pace.
The same holds true for enemies. With most of them being animated statues of various types, it feels like a legitimately different area. These enemies are also fairly aggressive, complete with the ability to travel underground. As someone very much so out of practice, it didn’t take long to remind me of the importance of dodging.
Where things start to fall behind is Yaesha’s design. The main area, which features lovely names like Glittering Grotto and Lambent Pass, are simply gorgeous. Vibrant purple visuals, striking flowers, and even some enemy attacks add so much ambiance to this location. It’s just a shame some of the side locations don’t have this luster.
Which is Which?
When I first found Earthen Coliseum I was reminded of base Yaesha maps. I forget which map(s) featured the gate pictured above, but there was at least one. Later I thought I was suffering from deja vu because Proving Grounds reuses this room. Even looking at them side-by- side I can’t actually tell one from the other without looking at the room indicator.
It isn’t just the initial room, but the overall design itself feels very reminiscent of Remnant 2 base. I know I’ve seen more than a few reused rooms, something that stands out when there are fewer places to explore.
While this would normally be a larger negative, it makes sense as Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom adds a new archetype (class). Invoker involves a somewhat obscured quest to unlock a skill/buffer/healer hybrid archetype. I don’t know if Invoker will end up being a meta choice, but I can say it’s a lot of fun.
With Invoker players need to maximize skills, and control set locations. Not only are allies buffed/healed by summons, enemies are punished for advancing. Skills also have a sizable range, so it isn’t as limiting as it might sound. Many new items, such as the mutator Spellweaver, help players maximize build potential.
Large Area of Effect
This choice makes exploration feel a lot more useful. Before players are so set in their build the quest was largely centered on finding a new desired armor set, or perhaps a specific amulet. Since Invoker is all about skill rotations, obtaining new resources allow for radically different, and unique builds. Something that adds a lot more than a hidden room, or rare location spawn.
Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom Review Verdict
Editor’s Note: Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom was reviewed on PlayStation 5, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.
