The Banner Saga 2
Developer : Stoic
Publisher: Versus Evil
Release Date: PS4 – July 5, 2016, Xbox One – June 26, 2016 Xbox One Game’s With Gold – July 1, 2016
Platforms: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Essentially combining Game of Thrones, XCOM, and Oregon Trail, the original entry in the series was one of 2014’s indie darlings when it released on the PC. A year later The Banner Saga released on consoles to critical acclaim. The Banner Saga 2 picks up exactly where its predecessor left off, with either Rook or Alette (depending on your final choice) leading the remainder of your clan. By and large, everything about The Banner Saga 2 is better than the original title, with the exception of a few design decisions and whether you enjoyed the first title or not. The combination of deeper, more exciting combat, a story with stronger twists and turns, and the same breathtaking art design make this a sequel one not to miss.
First off, finishing The Banner Saga first is recommended, though a brief video recap does a modest job of getting novices up to speed. Otherwise, just know the Varl were created by the heavens as a race of horned giants (and can’t reproduce), the new-to-the-series Horseborn share a semblance to centaurs, and Dredge (golems of flesh and stone) harass cities and emigrants while they flee.
The Banner Saga 2 picks up after the tragic ending of the original, assuming the role of the character who survived. If you played the first game on the PS4 or Xbox One, all of your choices will carry over into the sequel, so the character that fell to the Bellower will remain dead. It’s a shame you can’t input choices at the start if you played the first game on the PC or another system, but it isn’t the end of the world. You get to choose whether to start with Rook or Alette as you make your way to the city of Aberrang, struggling to cope with the loss of your loved ones, trying to lead an army and keep your people safe. The Dredge are still at large, but death is still your biggest enemy.
Death will probably be inevitable, but at least managing your caravan is a relatively uncomplicated process. Training fighters will help fend off any ambushes which may lie ahead, while the rest of your followers act as clansmen, replenishing your dwindling supplies with each passing day. A constant bombardment of narrative events threatens to unbalance the books at which point you will have to make difficult decisions which could see sacrifices being made for the greater good. But even the right call can come at a cost.
This is not a story about winning wars or unraveling mysteries yet untold. The Banner Saga 2 favors survival and tending to refugees. On one side you have Rook’s company—or Alette’s—doing everything it can to reach Arberrang, the human capital untainted by a world-consuming darkness. On the other, you have Bolverk, a berserk Varl and overseer of the sellsword Ravens, who must escort a casket to the city of menders (mages) at Manaharr.
Without giving away any of the twists, the existential subplots which lingered under the surface of The Banner Saga begin to come to a head throughout the course of The Banner Saga 2. Though The Banner Saga 3 is clearly going to be loaded with revelations both big and small, there is a fair amount of setup in this entry which answers questions from the very first title. There’s often an issue with the second entry in any trilogy, be it movies, books or video games, feeling like it only exists in order to set up the grand finale. While there is certainly a fair amount of hinting at the major twists and turns to come, there are a number of mic-drop moments which will make you question everything you know about the general lore of The Banner Saga universe. One of the crowning achievements of Stoic’s development on this gorgeous series is your choices, both large and small, feel like they matter. From deciding whether you should spend your Renown on upgrading your characters or food for your clan, all the way to deciding whether to help villagers who seem to be in need, there’s a decided weight to every one of your actions. Make no mistake, if you loved making tough decisions throughout the course of The Banner Saga, you will be happy to know the consequences of even your smallest actions play major roles in your characters’ stories.
Luckily, there is plenty of opportunity to train your heroes and upgrade their statistics, with markets giving you the option to buy items harboring additional skill points for the ones you choose to award them to. These items can help improve the probability of deflecting attacks or bolstering a hero’s armor, so it is always worth checking in on the marketplaces. You can also rest along the road so your clansman, fighters, and varl gain more morale, but this takes up supplies so it can be tough to know what is for the best.
The battles take place on a grid, with each square translating to one unit of movement. Characters are generally allowed to move once and attack once per turn, and while it might seem like a simple approach, the gods of fate can turn against you quickly, so a careful approach is a must. Health and armor stats for each hero not only represent how much damage they can take, but also how much they can dish out. So if you choose to whittle down your opponent’s armor first, then you may be leaving yourself open to attacks which will not only affect your health, but also your attack power.
Combat remains relatively unchanged, with each hero having allocated health, armor, and willpower points to use. You will get to set your formations before battle and depending on the statistics of your heroes, you will be able to move further or attack at long range, with the willpower ability letting you push the limit of your move. Once an enemy dies, you will gain an additional willpower point which you can add to any of your heroes.
Each battle is different and every enemy has various ranges of armor and health, so each fight remains completely unique. The thrill of victory is thoroughly enjoyable, especially when you’ve put a good 20 or 30 minutes into a single encounter. One of the biggest additions is a completely new race: the Horseborn. Not only do they provide depth to the story, they feature added bonuses in battle, such as escaping after landing an attack. You will have to fight them as well so it is important to learn their attacks and special abilities inside and out as they play a big part in The Banner Saga 2.
Of course, the price of war can be high and if you’re lucky to escape with your life, you will still need to rest up damaged characters between fights. Kills and win convert into renown off the battlefield, which can then be used to level up your heroes and improve their stats, while items can be bought at the market to give your favorites some bonus attributes, such as increased defense or attack power. Like everything else in the game, however, these are also severely limited so carefully making sure you share experience points and accessories among your roster is important, particularly if some of your squad has to spend time in the infirmary.
Even though there’s a lot of doom and gloom to be found throughout The Banner Saga 2, one thing you can’t help but enjoy are the beautiful hand-drawn visuals which essentially make up every aspect of the game’s graphics. Inspired somewhat by the pre-computer generated, golden age of animation, it makes the most out of the 2D approach. Every character looks unique, adding some much-needed heart to a story which is so focused on survival and fear. Even the battle sequences are absolutely gorgeous, with character models animated right down to the finest detail in their actions. Topping it all off is a majestic, inspiring orchestral soundtrack by Austin Wintory which feels grand and epic in every scale.
Final Verdict
The Banner Saga 2 plays its cards well, pushing the boundaries of a person’s leadership. The writing does not vilify fans for abandoning women and children, nor does it worship heroics. No “this specific person will remember that” dances into view, and there The Banner Saga 2 excels. Apply logical reasoning and trust your instincts. The Banner Saga 2’s growth sounds incremental, not monumental, but as the sequel to many people’s “Game of the Year,” this still leaves a lot to love.
