PC Gamer - UK (2022-07)

Once again, you step into the shoes of

a randomised hero tasked with

navigating the levels of a procedurally

generated castle. Said castle is a

gruelling gauntlet teeming with

tough enemies to

defeat, tricky obstacles

to overcome, and

valuable gold to steal.

If, or more likely, when

your hero reaches the

bottom of their health

bar, you’ll swiftly find

yourself in the footwear

of their descendant.

At the start of each run, you’re

given a choice of three characters

from an array of unlockable classes.

Old favourites such as the Knight and

Barbarian are mixed with exciting

new options like the Gunslinger and

Valkyrie. Classes now come with

their own unique stats, weapons,

talents, and passive abilities, making

each feel distinctly different from the

last. One of the most unusual and

enjoyable new additions is the Chef

class. Not only can they cook up a

mean stew to replenish their health,

but their trusty frying pan can inflict

burn damage as well as deflect

incoming projectiles like a deadly

game of ping pong. However, some

classes are considerably more

effective than others, and I found

myself passing up the less useful ones

after giving them a few tries. For

example, a lack of multidirectional

aiming for spells meant the mage

class sat on the bench for most of my

time with Rogue Legacy 2.

Threatening you along your

journey is a relentless horde of

enemies. Some fill the screen with

deadly projectiles, while others want

nothing more than to whack you

with a powerful melee strike.

Enemies aren’t your only worry;

levels are a platforming labyrinth,

filled with hazardous obstacles like

spiked pits and flaming traps which

require careful timing

and patience to

overcome. It’s

fast-paced and

incredibly fun, and

despite being bested

many times, I couldn’t

wait to jump back in

for another go.

The most significant

addition to Rogue Legacy 2’s

family-orientated antics is the

heirlooms. Once obtained, these

helpful trinkets unlock traversal

abilities, including a double jump and

an aerial dash that allow you to reach

new locations. As well as adding a

delightful metroidvania element to

the game, this expanded moveset

gives you more evasive options when

it comes to avoiding damage from

enemies and other dangers.

GENERATION KILL

Roguelites, by their nature, involve a

lot of repetition, but Rogue Legacy 2

goes to impressive lengths to ensure

that it never feels like a slog. The

upgrade system offers numerous and

varied enhancements that add more

than mere buffs to your stats. Your

hard-earned gold can also be spent

unlocking new classes, merchants,

and game-altering upgrades such as

the Architect and an adoption centre.

Eager to see what interesting new

upgrades were available, I was often

strangely excited at the prospect of

my hero’s demise.

Rogue Legacy 2 doesn’t deviate

hugely from the genre’s well-worn

formula, but it does what every good

roguelite should: entice you back for

more. You’ll settle in for just one run,

and find that you’re unable to put

down the controller when met with

the all too familiar death screen.

Instead, you choose yet another heir,

promising yourself that, this time,

you’ll conquer the castle.

Cellar Door Games’ latest stands

among the finest in a genre it helped

define. The demanding yet endlessly

entertaining gameplay, fuelled by a

rewarding progression system, is as

absorbing as it was the first time

around. While the enhanced visuals,

bolstered character options, and

delightful traversal abilities make for

a sequel that not only lives up to its

predecessor, but easily surpasses it.

88

This sequel is a sublime

addition to the Rogue

Legacy family and one of

the best roguelites I’ve

played so far.

VERDICT

B

ack in 2013, the original Rogue Legacy won the hearts of many

a roguelite fan, with a twist on the genre that saw failure go

hand-in-hand with progress. And nearly a decade on, Cellar

Door Games faces not only the weight of expectation that

comes with creating a sequel, but competition from an army

of titles inspired by its formula. Far from buckling under the pressure, the

dev has crafted a follow-up that revitalises the series with fresh ideas.

FAMILY VALUES

ROGUE LEGACY 2 joins its forebear in the roguelite hall of fame

By Anne-Marie Ostler

The varied

mechanics

mean that

grinding never

feels like a slog

NEED TO KNOW

WHAT IS IT?

A cheerful and

challenging dungeon

crawler where death is

a good thing.

EXPECT TO PAY

£22

DEVELOPER

Cellar Door Games

PUBLISHER

In-house

REVIEWED ON

Intel Core i7-11700K,

GeForce RTX 3070,

16GB RAM

MULTIPLAYER

No

LINK

roguelegacy2.com

HEIRY SITUATION

Traits that’ll spice up your adventure

VERTIGO

Having a hero with this trait

literally turns your adventure

on its head.

SYNESTHESIA

Bored of bland rooms? Leave a

dazzling trail of colour

everywhere you go.

DIVA

Unleash your star power with a

spotlight that darkens everything

but you.

GIGANTISM

Gain massive size and reach but

also become a much bigger

target for enemies.

Rouge Legacy 2

REVIEW