Fun co-op on top of a well made souls-like shooter | Full Review - Remnant II

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Remnant II is a post-apocalyptic souls-like shooter with a heavy emphasis on co-op and teamwork. A sequel to the popular game series Remnant: From the Ashes, and set decades after.

🟩Pros

🟥Cons

Remnant II promises improved graphics, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and a challenging souls-like journey through randomized environments. As a solo adventurer or alongside two friends in co-op, players will explore the various mind-bending worlds, fight for humanity's survival, and uncover the mysteries that threaten reality itself.

Each world presents a unique setting and backstory, immersing players in a diverse array of environments ranging from sci-fi alien-looking landscapes and lush forests, to medieval looking cities, and post-apocalyptic modern earth. Switching back and forth between worlds makes the game refreshing even for prolonged periods because the setting variations are so significant. Unfortunately, it is to its own detriment, as in addition to the randomized, grindy, and difficult nature of the game, it results in a slow paced narrative that you may soon quickly forget that exists — this is despite me playing on the lowest difficulty.

The game begins with players creating their character and going through a brief tutorial. From the three classes in the first game, the whole class selection has been entirely revamped and now features five distinct new classes to start with, with many more unlockable later on. The starting classes are Gunslinger (pre-order bonus, but unlockable later for non pre-orders) - a class focused on ammo and damage; Handler - a pet-based buffer; Challenger – a tanky character; Medic - a support character focused on heals; and Hunter - a long-ranged damage dealer. The character can run, dodge-roll, and perform both shooting and melee attacks, governed by a stamina system when enemies are nearby.

The game then starts off on the same slow-paced note as the first game, survivors on a quest suddenly saved by stranger inhabitants of the Ward. It is then revealed to take place decades after the first game, with returning characters from the first game. Still, it feels standalone enough that newcomers can easily start with this game, with the events of the first game still being told here in a brief summary as the players progress.

The visuals in Remnant II are a noticeable step up from its predecessor, boasting enhanced detail and stunning lighting, thanks to the advanced capabilities of Unreal Engine 5. While the environments are highly detailed and immersive, the character models still look somewhat plasticky, which is probably more of an artistic decision rather than lack of talent. The captivating design of various worlds and impressive lighting creates a truly immersive experience that draws players into the mysterious worlds they are about to explore.

Performance is a bit of a mixed bag. I felt some sluggishness at times especially when opening and closing menu elements, and I was getting fewer FPS than expected for my hardware in relation to the visuals I am seeing on screen. Despite DLSS or the other two upscalers definitely helping with the performance, I hate the fact that this game basically runs poorly without it. Additionally, annoying ghosting in graphics, which was also present in Remnant 1, is still present.

The hub from the first game, Ward 13 is back and bigger than before. Here, players will spend a substantial amount of time crafting mods, upgrading weapons, and stocking up on consumables… as long as they have the necessary materials that are gained from dungeon runs.

Red Crystals in the map all over the game function as checkpoints that offer healing and ammo replenishment at the cost of respawning enemies; as well as teleportation between worlds, akin to bonfires in the Dark Souls series. The game is unpausable, so accessing menus or even settings will continue the game in the background.

Control-wise, the usual traditional WASD shooter controls are mixed in with item and skill hotkeys; skills are bound to whatever key is available near WASD, similar to ability-based shooters like Valorant or Destiny 2. Item uses are bound to the number keys, which easily cluttered the keyboard more than MOBA games did for me. It also features full controller support, but the annoying cursor navigation is still alive and kicking, making menu navigation a pain in the ass.

These crowded keybinds will take some time getting used to, especially the 'heal' button being bound to number 1 instead of a weapon slot hotkey. It has gotten me killed more times than I could count in the early game, trying to switch weapons by instinct and only to suddenly find my character healing instead. So, I just swapped the heal and weapon switch buttons, making the experience much better for me.

Nevertheless, the gunplay and its controls are amazing. Guns feel powerful and they’ve made hits as satisfying as melee hits in traditional souls-like games. Enemies pose a tough challenge, even going as far as having equipped themselves with dodge mechanics to avoid bullets as much as they can.

Just like the first game, the randomized nature of almost everything in Remnant II such as Dungeons adds a lot of replayability and variety. Players must adapt to their surroundings, as each playthrough presents different challenges, layouts,  and enemies. The variety of zones, mini-bosses, and final bosses in each world contributes to the game's replayability, making it essential to explore and farm better loot. However, this randomization can also lead to exhausting grinds when trying to build a specific character build without the corresponding drops.

The progression system allows players to unlock skills and perks specific to their chosen archetype, and the trait points further customize character progression. While the starting traits may seem limited, as players progress, they unlock more options to specialize their builds and even select a secondary class, and unlock even more archetypes.

Equipment and itemization also play a vital role in shaping the player's preferred playstyle. With armor types, primary, secondary, and melee weapons, amulets, rings, and customizable relics – some of them with special effects and affinities, players have the opportunity to experiment with different setups. The randomized loot system again comes into play here, complimenting the randomized levels in the game.

While the solo experience is still viable just like the original game, the game truly shines in co-op multiplayer sessions, a feature that — in almost every game I’ve played — makes it more infinitely fun. Players can join or initiate multiplayer sessions at Red Crystals, with a quick match option as well for quick sessions. Of course, some character archetypes will become more crucial in multiplayer sessions, such as support, tank, and buffer roles.

Conclusion: Remnant II is a sequel that takes the best elements of its predecessor and elevates them with better character progression, improved graphics, and enhanced gameplay mechanics. It’s not without its quirks, such as the average performance and some control issues. However, the randomized elements offer both excitement and replayability while the gameplay experience is challenging, satisfying, but never feels unfair. Co-op gameplay remains a highlight, making the game infinitely more fun. If you love this type of fusion of souls-like and shooter genres and have friends to play along with, this is probably one of the most gratifying experiences to try this year.