MetroidvaniaReview

Axiom Verge 2

·Combo Metroidvania
4
Great

"The multi-dimensional exploration design carries Axiom Verge 2 even as its combat still leaves a lot to be desired. It completely captures the joy of breaking down a spatial puzzle."

Metroidvania fit: High Fit. The main focus of the game is exploration, and while early game progression is heavily hinted at, it eventuall

Developer
Thomas Happ Games LLC
Time to Beat
~9 hours
Release Date
2021/08/11
Narrative/Cutscenes Story TellingEpic

4
Great

Final Verdict

Axiom Verge 2

"The multi-dimensional exploration design carries Axiom Verge 2 even as its combat still leaves a lot to be desired. It completely captures the joy of breaking down a spatial puzzle."

Metroidvania Breakdown

Combat
3/5

Combat is improved from the first one in the sense that it's not just about pathing exploitation, but it's also basically optional now, making it less of a focus

Platforming
3/5

Platforming is about getting from point A to point B, not about challenging the player

Exploration
4.5/5

Masterful. The only thing holding the exploration back is the rewards start to become less meaningful a little too early as you approach the end of the game, thanks to the game having fewer other challenges.

Puzzle
2/5

Exploring the map and figuring out where you can go is a puzzle, but I generally include that aspect of challenge with the exploration score. There aren't really any physics or logic puzzles to solve.

Story
3.5/5

Not as strong as the first game, but there are some compelling enough sci-fi ideas to at least intrigue the mind even if it might not cross over into something truly meaningful.

Graphics
4/5

The varied environments and backgrounds look fantastic

Music
5/5

Like the first game the tracks are extraordinary compositions having merit beyond ambience or simple background music

Replayability
3/5

There may be ways to sequence break this game yet to be discovered, but the skill tree is too simplistic to offer build variety and there aren't currently difficulty mode options. There is a speedrun mode however to ease that challenge.