Risk of Rain 2 is a rogue-like stunner of a game by the developer Hopoo Games that combines fast paced chaotic gameplay with shrouded but vast lore. You are started off with a choice of character/role with different abilities and playstyles. Immediately after setting down on the planet you are berated from all angles, but don’t you worry you have up to 166 different items and 41 pieces of equipment to help you on your journey. Can you beat Mithrix and escape before the planet crumbles?
Gameplay – 9.9/10
I’ve never seen a more perfect flow and speed mixed with tactics and smarts. It never ceases to blow me away every run. It’s rogue-like, which means it’s set in randomly generated stages that get progressively harder with randomly generated loot, and bosses compliment it all. Every item in this game can be utilized to be completely overpowered or actually just ruin a run but there are loads of different builds and setups you could make just from being creative about what items you pick up. Each enemy has a different function, there’s big worms, stone golems, and mechanical eyeballs that shoot orbital beams at you pretty much. Each character as well has so many different types of play and 17 different people to choose from.
Lore – 7.6/10
I will be honest I’m not super well-versed in the lore as I mainly focused on far runs, but from just playing there’s a ton of secrets like special bosses, worlds, or little informational blurbs about an enemy that you’ll just come across as you go on. If you fancy lore and you actually wish to search for the lore it’s a massive rabbit hole that I only touched the surface on.
OST – 9.8/10
As all indie games are, this game’s soundtrack is absolutely legendary. I can tell you I have 100% listened to their music in my free time. They have a plethora for each situation, whether that is an amazing guitar riff for a boss fight, orchestra for drama and climax, or a smooth slower paced track for simply traveling around it has it all and the artists are all super talented and dedicated to the craft, and it shows would absolutely recommend at least giving this OST a listen
Graphics/Design – 8.8/10
It’s an indie rogue-like that hones in on a cartoony style and as it’s so simple I can’t really give it super high rating BUT I will say it hones in on its craft quite well. Each world is intricately made and the fauna and environment in each world is unique and well thought out, and the way each world is formed makes it feel like I have actually traveled far and am now in a new part of the world, or even a different one entirely.
At the end of the day this game chooses to focus a fun, chaotic experience over anything but even what it does not focus on it still excels in and I’m promising you that I have barely scratched the surface on this masterpiece please please if you ever have the chance to try this game and like roguelikes, this should be an immediate pick-up.
