If you can rush in with a stomp before your foe hits a "lunge" button, you'll crush them. And the game rounds all of that out with an aggressive new "stomp to kill" move, which unarmed players can use to attack and overpower any opponent no matter what they're bearing so long as they are not actively swinging. That's countered by weapons like the dagger and broadsword having attack speeds and ranges designed to handle this increased mobility. Nidhogg 2 wants its players to consider jumping more often, because there's something a little more Mario-like about how you hop now, and thus, you have more control and time with your in-air approaches (even if it's only a few frames). With new weapons come new tuning for other basic movements, and while I wouldn't dare declare the exact math of what's been changed, I've noticed an appreciable increase in jump floatiness. Maybe you'll run into one room jump-kicking like crazy, since you know your opponent will spawn with a slow-to-cock bow, while in another situation, you'll opt to commit suicide just to respawn with a certain weapon (this strategy is somewhat similar to walking a batter in baseball). After playing the game a while, I appreciate why. You can change it from the default of fencing-broad-dagger-bow if you'd like, but Nidhogg 2 doesn't let you choose "random weapons" as an option. There's also a strategy in minding the weapon spawning order, as weapons will always appear in a predetermined order. The dagger rounds out the list with a surprisingly deep strike and serious quickness (not to mention laser-fast throwing speed).
That stance matters when facing off with a bow-and-arrow owner. If a sword wielder stands still and deflects or strikes an oncoming arrow, then that arrow shoots right back at its shooter-which is a brutal counter for the distance-weapon's obvious perk of shooting from afar. Like last game, most swords can be held in a high, medium, or low stance, which you'll want to mind when trying to duel and block other swipes. The broadsword has the greatest range of rotation and can knock other swords out of fighters' hands, but in addition to its slower swing, it also cannot be held in a "central" defensive position. The fencing sword (from the original game) has the longest forward reach and is otherwise balanced well for things like stabbing speed and throwing speed. Nidhogg 2 has four weapons in all: the fencing blade, the broadsword (which I have taken to calling the Highlander), the dagger, and the bow-and-arrow.Įach has obvious strengths and weaknesses, and my months of on-and-off Nidhogg 2 play have proven to be delightful specifically because of their distinct tunings. The first major difference becomes apparent after your first respawn, when you come back to life. (You probably will, anyway.) Dying takes you out of the action briefly, and both players respawn over and over until someone wins the match. This brings up an on-screen arrow in your color and direction, and so long as you control the arrow, you don't have to do any killing. You can only progress to your goal point if you landed the last kill, which simply requires striking your opponent once.
You and your opponent land in a 2D, side-scrolling arena with swords in hand and a directive to run to the opposite end of the arena. The basics remain nearly identical this time around. If this dagger wielder had kept his weapon still, it would have deflected this middle-aiming arrow and zinged it back to its caster. Nidhogg 2 is everything a great sequel should be: an opportunity to build on a solid foundation, a successful gamble on updated mechanics, and a better game for fans both old and new. That love has only grown since playing its preview builds in bits and pieces-and it's grown more since getting the final version. Once I went hands-on with Nidhogg 2 last December, I instantly changed my tune. Where was the refreshing simplicity? What was up with these new weapons? Why did the fighters transform into grotesque, mutated Homer Simpsons? When its sequel was announced last year, fans-including myself-wondered what the heck was going on.
I had seen too many zillions-of-buttons, zillions-of-commands fighting games, and Nidhogg, even more than its one-button contemporary Divekick, served as a delightful palate cleanser. Of all the fighting video games I imagined might ever get sequels, Nidhogg was pretty low on my wishlist. The 2014 sword-duel game was a masterwork of simplicity, and it benefited from looking and playing like something from an early '80s home console.
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