Rogue Legacy 2 First Impressions

At long last, Rogue Legacy got a sequel. I sunk so many hours into the first one that I lost count. It was the hardest game I’ve ever played, and still might be until I try my hand at the Souls series. That’s the great thing about Rogue Legacy though, you’re supposed to die. A lot. Because when you die, you take your money with you and let your kin use it for upgrades until you stand a fighting chance in the Castlevania-like levels.

I wasn’t exactly expecting a sequel, seeing that the first game was released seven years ago, but it’s welcome all the same. Initially planned for release into Early Access a few weeks ago, Cellar Door Games polished things up after a brief delay, and the game is out for the world to enjoy. This is the first game I’ve bought day one in who knows how long, but I did so because I have faith in this indie developer, with clear communication and timelines to be expected based on their exemplary social media presence.

The game throws you in with just as much context as Rogue Legacy did, which is not much at all. Vague lore takes a backseat to the killer gameplay, and the fluidity of Rogue Legacy 2 is undeniable. Precision platforming is a must, and watching your knight dance around the screen’s many obstacles is a thrill. There are some rooms that still feel like a bit of a shoot-em-up too, demanding the player be quick on their toes with dashes, downward slashes, and everything in-between.

Now, as this is not just early-access, but EARLY early-access, I did run into a big bug. The user interface has its code exposed for each selection. For example, a window that is supposed to be invisible is, in large overlapping characters, typed out as “[Window_AllMovement_Stick].” I’d much rather encounter bugs in the menu than in the battlefield though. Luckily, after a few hours, I didn’t run into any bugs at all.

Unfortunately, it’s apparent in the early goings that this is pretty bare-bones for the time being. The restriction on purchases is visible quite quickly, but this is to be expected for this stage of development. Everything that needs to be there for an early-access Steam release is present, and the game is much more playable than the majority of other early-access titles. Not just that, but it’s a blast, too!

There are the usual classes in an RPG, expanding on the first game: Knight, Barbarian, Magician, and Archer. Each play significantly differently, but I found myself sticking to Barbarian when possible for the emphasis of health/damage at the cost of speed/versatility. With plenty of playstyles accommodated, it won’t be hard for people to get into their niche and progressively get better and better at Rogue Legacy 2.

So, is it worth picking up this early? At a measly $19.99 with a launch discount of 10% AND an extra 10% if you own Rogue Legacy, it’s a safe purchase for those looking to sink plenty of hours into a game they’re looking to master. The first game was my gateway from casual to difficult gaming, so it certainly wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. I trust Cellar Door Games to expand, and, if they do so, I’ll keep coming back!