NOTE: I've written expanded versions of this review for The Drastik Measure, where I go more in-depth on the game's mechanics. There are some edits I don't entirely agree with, but overall my points still stand.

Read my Early Access preview here[www.thedrastikmeasure.com] and my v1.0 review here[www.thedrastikmeasure.com]. The idea is for them to be read in sequence, as the latter is a companion/expansion to the first.


They added a whole third dimension; it just feels so fun shooting things from a third person perspective
Most of the familiar items and mechanics return, though some have been tweaked
Characters are distinct and each are a pleasure to play
Amazing boss fights and game mechanics (including the wacky Artifacts)
Multiplayer works out of the box and even allows for online matchmaking
Chris Christodoulou knocks the soundtrack out of the park again

Inability to save and resume runs for later
The necessary switch to the Unity engine means that PCs have to be built to a minimum spec for this to run smoothly

This game is my co-GOTY of 2020.

Oh man. The audacity of Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing to surprise release this into Early Access on the day of the PAX East stream. It was something that was hyped up since its announcement, and the BOGO deal for the first 2 days of launch pretty much sealed the deal. As far as marketing strategies goes this I feel was a tactical masterstroke. Just look at how many reviews this game has gotten, and a significant proportion of them are Steam-purchased reviews, which is an absolute necessity nowadays.

Enough comment on that, though - Risk of Rain 2 neatly transitions the game into a full-blown 3D roguelike looter shooter, and it's totally a blast. You'll meet enemies old and new, and they all have a bunch of new abilities. Maps might be the same (the choice of artstyle is great, the colours are vibrant and is generally easy on the eye), but loot and teleporter location isn't, and there's enough variety with levels switching between a few different ones. Occasionally finding the teleporter is a bit of a chore, though.

Risk of Rain 2 also sports a vastly improved multiplayer system. Setting up sessions in the old game was a chore due to port forwarding, but that's a thing of the past. A quick play mode even matches you up against random other people. The fun and excitement (as well as the teeth gnashing when a greedy teammate steals all the items) is all there.

The current character classes that are playable are all neat in their own right. Old favourites like the Huntress and Engineer have their own new twists to help with the transition to 3D. The Mercenary's transition to 3D is an especially interesting one, and has shades of Overwatch's Genji, in my opinion.

Of course, Chris Christodoulou[chrischristodoulou.bandcamp.com] holds it all together with his usual masterful command of polyrhythms and weird time signatures, all while retaining the famous motifs from the first game's soundtrack. All of these factors have combined to immediately skyrocket the game into one of my favourites to play.

Chances are if you're reading this now, you missed the day 1 BOGO deal, sorry! But I can unabashedly say it's still worth the price even now. For the penny pinchers, get in quick before it gets raised; still a fair and justified increase, in my honest opinion.

[b]NOTE: I've written expanded versions of this review for The Drastik Measure, where I go more in-depth on the game's mechanics. There are some edits I don't entirely agree with, but overall my points still stand.[/b] [b]Read my Early Access preview [url=https://www.thedrastikmeasure.com/2019/04/14/risk-of-rain-2-pc-preview/]here[/url] and my v1.0 review [url=https://www.thedrastikmeasure.com/2021/03/17/risk-of-rain-2-pc-review/]here[/url]. The idea is for them to be read in sequence, as the latter is a companion/expansion to the first.[/b] [h1]Nominated for Best Game You Suck At in the Steam Awards 2019[/h1] [h1]Voted for Better With Friends in the Steam Awards 2019[/h1] [h1]Nominated for Game of the Year in the Steam Awards 2020[/h1] [h1]Voted for Better With Friends in the Steam Awards 2020[/h1] [h1]Pros[/h1] They added a whole third dimension; it just feels so fun shooting things from a third person perspective Most of the familiar items and mechanics return, though some have been tweaked Characters are distinct and each are a pleasure to play Amazing boss fights and game mechanics (including the wacky Artifacts) Multiplayer works out of the box and even allows for online matchmaking Chris Christodoulou knocks the soundtrack out of the park again [h1]Cons[/h1] Inability to save and resume runs for later The necessary switch to the Unity engine means that PCs have to be built to a minimum spec for this to run smoothly [b]This game is my co-GOTY of 2020.[/b] Oh man. The audacity of Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing to surprise release this into Early Access on the day of the PAX East stream. It was something that was hyped up since its announcement, and the BOGO deal for the first 2 days of launch pretty much sealed the deal. As far as marketing strategies goes this I feel was a tactical masterstroke. Just look at how many reviews this game has gotten, and a significant proportion of them are Steam-purchased reviews, which is an absolute necessity nowadays. Enough comment on that, though - Risk of Rain 2 neatly transitions the game into a full-blown 3D roguelike looter shooter, and it's totally a blast. You'll meet enemies old and new, and they all have a bunch of new abilities. Maps might be the same (the choice of artstyle is great, the colours are vibrant and is generally easy on the eye), but loot and teleporter location isn't, and there's enough variety with levels switching between a few different ones. Occasionally finding the teleporter is a bit of a chore, though. Risk of Rain 2 also sports a vastly improved multiplayer system. Setting up sessions in the old game was a chore due to port forwarding, but that's a thing of the past. A quick play mode even matches you up against random other people. The fun and excitement (as well as the teeth gnashing when a greedy teammate steals all the items) is all there. The current character classes that are playable are all neat in their own right. Old favourites like the Huntress and Engineer have their own new twists to help with the transition to 3D. The Mercenary's transition to 3D is an especially interesting one, and has shades of [i]Overwatch[/i]'s Genji, in my opinion. Of course, [url=https://chrischristodoulou.bandcamp.com]Chris Christodoulou[/url] holds it all together with his usual masterful command of polyrhythms and weird time signatures, all while retaining the famous motifs from the first game's soundtrack. All of these factors have combined to immediately skyrocket the game into one of my favourites to play. [h1]When to buy[/h1] Chances are if you're reading this now, you missed the day 1 BOGO deal, sorry! But I can unabashedly say it's still worth the price even now. For the penny pinchers, get in quick before it gets raised; still a fair and justified increase, in my honest opinion. [h1][b]9.8/10[/b][/h1]