(mini-review.)

Everything that made the first Banner Saga charming, atmospheric, melancholy and wonderful continues in this sequel. The game is slightly shorter and slightly more complex, both in gameplay and storytelling. While the game does feels rich and robust, it can overwhelm on a few occasions. The occasional fight can annoy but, as a whole, the story is unique, captivating and it stays with you long after you finish. Deep, meaningful decisions abound, often forcing you to wrestle with painfully final alternative possibilities.

The art, music and design are all absolutely singular and inspired. The game is stable, runs on junk systems and is pretty much unlike anything you've experienced before. While the game lacks a ton of social interactivity or replayability, the story makes up for all shortcomings by raising all the stakes. Tension increases exponentially as you realize that you are watching the end of the world unfold around you. In this story, there are no happy endings and provincial ideas of cavalier honor and triumph are pyrrhic at best.

On sale for 5-7 USD, this game is a bargain and is sure to leave an indelible mark on you.

Highly recommended.

9/10.

(mini-review.) Everything that made the first Banner Saga charming, atmospheric, melancholy and wonderful continues in this sequel. The game is slightly shorter and slightly more complex, both in gameplay and storytelling. While the game does feels rich and robust, it can overwhelm on a few occasions. The occasional fight can annoy but, as a whole, the story is unique, captivating and it stays with you long after you finish. Deep, meaningful decisions abound, often forcing you to wrestle with painfully final alternative possibilities. The art, music and design are all absolutely singular and inspired. The game is stable, runs on junk systems and is pretty much unlike anything you've experienced before. While the game lacks a ton of social interactivity or replayability, the story makes up for all shortcomings by raising all the stakes. Tension increases exponentially as you realize that you are watching the end of the world unfold around you. In this story, there are no happy endings and provincial ideas of cavalier honor and triumph are pyrrhic at best. On sale for 5-7 USD, this game is a bargain and is sure to leave an indelible mark on you. Highly recommended. 9/10.