Rejoice fans of Nidhogg 1, Nidhogg 2 has finally released. The same silly but deep gameplay of the first title has been revamped with new visuals, new stages and even new weapons to use. The main goal of the game however has remained the same. Players must defeat their enemies and make it to the end of the stage to be devoured by the giant worm which signifies victory. If you loved the simple but clever gameplay of the first title, Nidhogg 2 will very quickly appeal to you with the same feeling but now expanded in several different ways.

If you’re a fan of the original amazing nature of Nidhogg, you will be surprised at how things have changed ever so slightly but for newcomers expect some quick fights and some deep gameplay despite a very simple control style. Players must reach the end of each map—which spans three sections—while having the advantage gained from killing your opponent. This is done by using one of several weapons—including your fists and or legs—to stab, pierce or knockout your opponent. Maps sometimes have their own ways of killing you, so players will need to be aware of their surroundings as well in Nidhogg 2. What you should come to expect is quick but satisfying battles with tons of reasons to go right back into another fight regardless of winning or losing.

You play as a proud warrior who must defeat your opponent who stands in your way of being devoured by the giant worm known as the Nidhogg. Arm yourself and make it to the end by any means necessary. Jump, kick, stab, and or throw your weapons, all of these are acceptable ways of winning. As long as you keep winning, you can keep progressing forth. However, should you lose a fight, your opponent gains the ability to move forward leaving you to have to defeat them before they reach the end. Being devoured by the Nidhogg is to win and if you want that honor, you must fight for it!

Nidhogg 2 is a very simple game in terms of controls and pacing. However, fans—Honey’s Anime included—of the first entry will tell you that looks can be deceiving as that same simplicity leads to some of the deepest gameplay you’ll see in a title like this. There might be only one objective in Nidhogg 2 but how you reach that said objective is up to you in many ways. How that’s even possible is thanks to the clever style of gameplay that mirrors the best elements from the first game but with several new additions to give some new ways to play.

Nidhogg 2 can be explained in four words, kill and move forward but that would be dishonoring what makes Nidhogg 2 so much fun. The idea is that you must beat either the computer or another player to make it to the end. As long as you were the last one to get a kill, you’re free to move on to the next screen. Though if your opponent gets a kill off you—whether that’s from them defeating you or the level doing so—then they get to move forward. It becomes a tug of war to see who can hold supremacy and it’s what made the first Nidhogg so much fun.

Now the basics of combat in Nidhogg 2 stay largely unaltered from the first game. Players will be given a weapon and they can either go high, mid or low to attack their opponent. Attack in certain ways can give you the ability to disarm your opponent or equally have you get disarmed. In Nidhogg 2, that formula has stayed the same but now gives players new weapons besides the rapier in the form of a two handed sword, dagger and bow. Each weapon has pros and cons to it though such as the daggers speed but short range or the two handed sword’s powerful disarm ability but slow swinging rate. These new weapons are mostly a treat—with one exception we will soon discuss—especially when a stage throws in random weapons you can use or are forced to use.

Nidhogg 2 also features several new maps which just add that much needed diversity not seen in the first game. The stages are fun, vibrant and cause players to have to think about how to handle a fight when placed in one. An example of this is seen on one of the maps that features a long straight tunnel. This means you can’t rely on jumping over enemies and must either wait for the perfect time to strike or use the slide move to take down an enemy. A level may feature a convey belt with spikes at the end and if you’re clever you can keep your opponent busy before they realize they’re about to fall right into the spikes. Nidhogg 2 as we said earlier may be simple with its control scheme but that simplicity has so much more depth than one can imagine when everything is combined together.

Now let us explain what doesn’t work about Nidhogg 2. To be honest folks, there are only a few drawbacks but they are pretty big nonetheless. First we here at Honey’s Anime are always truthful with our reviews and we must say Nidhogg 2 is ugly visually. The new designs work well for some of the stages but the character models—including the Nidhogg—are horrible to look at. Then the other major issue we have is in the form of one of the weapons of Nidhogg 2, the bow. Seriously, this weapon is terrible and usually getting it in a match means you’re either going to get a lucky kill or throw it away and just rush the opponent with your bare fists and legs. The arrows you shoot can be reflected and shot back at you if someone is using any one of the weapons, that’s how bad the bow is. Though luckily as we said the rest of the weapons are perfect and we have no issues with them whatsoever.

Nidhogg 2 is basically the same game as the first one and honestly that isn’t a bad thing in this case. Not only are there several new maps to enjoy, but some of the new weapons really gives some cool new ways to maim your enemies. Whether you’re playing online or fighting the computer you’re going to find much to enjoy in Nidhogg 2. Our biggest gripes for Nidhogg 2 come in the form of the absolutely ugly character designs and the bow which is flat out a terrible weapon. However, while Nidhogg 2 might not be pleasing on the eyes in terms of the character models, the stages are nice to look at and the gameplay is still amazing. We here at Honey’s Anime can honestly fully recommend Nidhogg 2 as a title you should definitely buy as soon as possible.

Nidhogg 2 might look terrible in terms of the new visual style—seriously we don’t know why they chose this art style over the original’s basic form—but that doesn’t stop the game from still being as fun as ever before. The new weapons—minus the god awful bow—are fun and really give Nidhogg 2 some new tactics in how to win a match. At its heart Nidhogg 2 is the same game as the first and that is perfectly fine with us here at Honey’s Anime. We fully recommend Nidhogg 2 for anyone who loved the first game or just loves a nice simple game that can be played for hours at end. With that our review of Nidhogg 2 comes to a close ladies and gentlemen, feel free to comment down below if you’re deciding on playing it anytime soon. As always we hope you keep coming back to Honey’s Anime for more gaming reviews and other articles to read for your enjoyment.