Video Game Review - Blackguards 2

Rob reviews Blackguards 2 on Nintendo Switch...

Initially appearing back in 2015 as a PC exclusive, Blackguards 2 soon found its way onto both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For Nintendo Switch owners the wait has been a little longer. Now, 6-years after its initial release Blackguards 2 has found its way onto the hybrid console. 

But was the wait worth it? 

Developed by the good folks over at Daedlic, Blackguards 2 takes place three years after the original game. The game starts with Cassia - a noblewoman - who soon finds herself thrown into a sprawling dungeon beneath the city's streets. During Cassia's aforementioned years trapped in the dungeon, the throne of Aventuria has been usurped by the evil Marwan. This then spurs Cassia to finally escape the dungeon and set things right. Playing out as both a prologue and a tutorial, this opening eases you into the mechanics of the game before jumping three years into its future. 

The gameplay is very similar to other turn-based RPGs. Throughout the journey, you'll be able to recruit a versatile party of hard-hitting swordsmen, ranged archers, and spell casters all in aid to restoring Cassia to the throne. New to the series is also the ability to hire mercenary characters. If you've got the gold to afford their services, these special characters will join your squad and help reinforce your weaker areas. Of course, you don't have to use these, but for missions that are becoming a struggle - it's a nice bonus. 

Cassia's mission to re-take her throne is further accomplished by moving to locations via an overworld map, to then delve into the subsequent battle. Fans of turn-based RPGs will already be accustomed to how these encounters will play out, and for the sake of nostalgia Blackguards 2 continues this trend. Each character has a certain number of action points which dictate what they can do in that turn. Movement is controlled via a hex-grid system which is conveniently displayed over the environment. 

As you move across the landscape your party will soon come into combat against the opposing side. Here is where you'll use your team's abilities and attacks to slowly deplete the enemy's health bar - before they do the same to you. These fights aren't necessarily difficult, but the vast majority of the fantasy monsters that you battle are real bullet sponges. This then meant that a few hours into the game's story, I'd gotten tired of fighting the same style of the enemy. 

When it comes to performance, the Nintendo Switch handles Blackguards 2 pretty well. Don't get me wrong, the game isn't a particularly resource hog and even back during the initial release it wasn't known for its stellar visuals.  That being said, Blackguards 2 doesn't stray far from those tried and tested environments that come with being a fantasy game. Expect to see places such as spider-filled dungeons, sprawling fields, and plenty of medieval towns and other locations. While they all serve their intended purpose well, these locations don't make the title stand out from the crowd. 

When it comes to docked vs handheld,  neither makes much of a difference. As mentioned above - the visuals are a little dated, and neither mode improves them. For me playing in docked mode was ideal as my 50' LG distorted the image.

Even with its lacklustre visuals, Blackguards 2 does have some light within its darkness. While the soundtrack is criminally underused, in the sparse moments it is used, it's used very well. The orchestral tones help to build the fantasy atmosphere that the game commands, and during those tough times it conveys the mood in the room. 

Character dialogue is also well written, with the voice acting well performed. Player choice plays a big part in how Cassia's adventure unfolds and it did make for a refreshing change to see a game allow you to take on a more evil root. While this doesn't necessarily mean that the game is infinitely repayable, it is nice to see how the world adjusts to a more chaos-fueled Cassia. 

While Blackguards 2 isn't a unique game it still delivers a pretty engaging turn-based RPG. While the narrative leans into those typical fantasy traits, it's still engaging enough for the hours you'll spend with it. The inclusion of a mercenary guild and choice-based gameplay does allow for some replayability. That being said considering the game launched some time ago - it is beginning to show its age. 

Rating: 7/10 

Blackguards 2 is out now and can be purchased via the Nintendo Switch eShop by clicking here. 

A code was kindly provided for this review

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