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Blackguards 2

Blackguards 2

Ahead of its release later this month, we take a quick look at this strategy sequel.

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This is a quick-fire sequel that follows on from the 2014 original, and like last year's game, it's a hex-based strategy RPG based on The Dark Eye pen and paper role-playing ruleset.

It's a lightning-fast turnaround for Daedalic, and you get the feeling that - narrative aside - they had a clear idea of where they wanted to go in order to progress their game. There's some new ideas in there, but it's also fair to say that if you played and enjoyed the original, there's going to be plenty here for you that's reassuringly familiar.

The preview build we were handed was big, and we didn't get to the end. However, what we did get to see was the first few battles, some of the new mechanics, and a cast of original and returning characters. Blackguards 2 is not a huge departure, but given the relatively quick turnaround, that's not really a huge surprise.

Our first impression of the game was the surprisingly interesting performances of the voice actors. While it feels like a radio play in many respects, and some of the performances feel a little over-cooked, there's some nice lines in there. The scene is set, a new character called Cassia is cast into an underground jail, a labyrinth full of spiders. These arachnids bite Cassia until she starts to lose her mind and her face becomes grotesquely deformed.

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Blackguards 2

Cassia ventures out into the underground labyrinth she now calls home, saying farewell to the gaoler who keeps her company. Eventually, once this early section is played out and the basic mechanics have been taught, she makes her escape, and fuelled by her ambition to destroy those that imprisoned her, she sets off on a journey of conquest. On her travels she meets some of the characters that will be familiar to veterans of the first adventure, and in the process our party size starts to swell.

As the party grows, so to does the options one has on the battlefield. It's not long after taking control of our fully-formed team that it becomes clear that the pacing has remained relatively intact. That is, it's quite slow. Shifting your team around the hexagonal maps takes time, and battles can sometimes feel overly long.

That's not to say that they're not interesting. Enemies will appear from various entrances, and there's loot, multiple routes through, and cover for units to hide behind. Each character has a certain amount of action points that can be spent on movement and attacks, and as you progress you develop more tactics to help your through some of the sticky situations you'll find yourself in.

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Our initial look at the game points to some well-constructed arenas. There are a few new features that spice things up somewhat, such as traps and environmental obstacles, and these certainly make for more interesting encounters overall. Casting spells has been streamlined, and all told the combat is very intuitive. These are thoughtful games for patient strategists; if you're looking for a rapid-fire action game this most certainly is not it.

Blackguards 2

The characters themselves are well-rounded, and some of the dialogue options are pretty funny. Between matches your taken to "towns", areas populated by characters that can either sell you gear, or give you background information on the wider world and so on. These areas are entirely static, and thus feel more akin to a point and click adventure. After matches you earn points to spend on unlocking passive and active skills, which acts as the RPG element of the game.

The story is one of vengeance, with the deformed Cassia leading a band of characters on a mission to take the throne for herself. Story isn't central here, but what we've seen thus far is interesting enough. The lead character and her allies must win battles on a multitude of maps, and in the process wrestle control of the region as they go. These turn-based battles once finished can be contested by the enemy force, and there's more defensive return matches where the traps and environmental hazards come into play, and there'll often be fights where, on paper, you're heavily outmatched, and only smart use of the opportunities dropped all around will get you through to the end.

Ultimately Blackguards 2 is going to appeal to those who appreciated the first game, but it could also appeal to fans of turn-based strategy. There's a sloth-like pace at times, and this will put off those looking for something more immediate and punchy. There's moments where the movement of your team around the maps - no matter how cleverly constructed these maps might be - is slow. Perhaps too slow for some.

That said, it feels solid, even in this Early Access state. The final version of the game is coming later this month, and then we'll find out what the mid- to late-game plays like. From what we've seen of Blackguards 2 so far, it picks up where the first game left off, but builds on the already solid franchise foundations with some interesting new mechanics. If you're a veteran of the original and saw that fantasy adventure through to the end, that news is likely to be warmly appreciated. This is not a game for everyone, but those who're looking forward to it have plenty of reasons to be excited.

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