I thought I knew what I was getting into when I booked an appointment to see Nidhogg 2, but the follow-up to Mark Essen’s stellar multiplayer fencing game offered a lot of surprises. I came in expecting more of the skill-based gameplay that the original game had perfected, but instead the sequel offers chaotic fun. This is due to a few small changes that end up having a huge impact.
On a base level, the sequel features the same exact core gameplay loop that impressed me when it released in 2014. Two players still face off in hand-to-hand combat, with the goal being to get to the edge of the screen. Players can only progress when they’ve made the most recent kill, and matches are a back-and-forth tussle to see who gets the honor of being eaten by the Níðh?ggr. Making Changes
The biggest change from a pure gameplay perspective is that new weapons have been added into the mix. No longer will players strictly face off strictly with swords (or spinal cords), as there are now more ways to murder your opponent. The build I played featured a bow and arrow, a standard sword, a knife, and a long sword that would send my opponent’s weapon into the air if blocked. Most of these weapons need to be used at different ranges, and they really change the dynamic of combat.
Since the weapons all feel distinctly different, players can be put into some major disadvantages in Nidhogg 2. This is due to the game randomly giving players a different weapon each time they spa...