A couple of times these misunderstandings led to defeats that altered the course of the narrative.
THE BANNER SAGA CHARACTERS HOW TO
There were times when the length of a fight would take far too long just because I was unsure of how to resolve it. Unfortunately, these objectives aren’t always well communicated. Much like the last game, some encounters have special objectives. There are also upgrades to regular enemies, like the Slag, who can now summon these four-legged foes. There are some new enemies to keep things interesting, like the four-legged Dredge that can turn invisible and ambush your movements. This might be in-part to how familiar everything feels. I had to try a couple battles a second time, but for the most part I didn’t find much challenge this time around - and I certainly wasn’t as hesitant to start a fight as I was in the last entry. The combat itself feels less difficult compared to the previous game.
But much like in the previous game, you can promote your heroes to new levels once they’ve killed enough enemies, customize their stats with each promotion, and equip special items that will help in combat. The game lets you import your save from The Banner Saga, including your stats and levels. When you’re not enjoying the well-written story and making choices for your clan, you’ll be fighting in the well-crafted strategic combat or managing the journey of your clan in an Oregon Trail-esque screen. Mechanically, The Banner Saga 2 is very similar to the first entry. Do you want to take on the feared and alien horseborn as allies? How much do you trust the skeezy governor who’s traveling with you? With each new element comes a decision to make, and they aren’t the black-and-white variety. All of these new elements of course tie back into the decisions you’ll be making. The Banner Saga 2 not only gives us more variety in characters, but it also continues to flesh out one of the most interesting worlds in video games, adding new locations, races, and politics. He doesn’t care about civilians, he’s quick to engage in combat - he’s the bloody, ruthless commander that is the exact opposite of the leaders we’ve played thus far in the series. Bolverk is the perfect character to play when juxtaposed against Rook or Alette. This is the dark middle chapter, remember? Bolverk is the embodiment of the nastier tone as he leads his team of mercenaries (called The Ravens) on a bloody journey with a task given to him from the magic-wielding Valka, Juno. Here players can really indulge in their sadistic side as Bolverk’s character is given the opportunity - and motivation - to do some pretty awful things. The game quickly divides the clan and players also assume control of Bolverk, a Varl mercenary who was introduced at the very end of the first game. Much like in The Banner Saga, you aren’t just leading Rook or Alette’s clan. The first half of the main character’s narrative arc is almost a breaking of the fourth wall as the game attempts to see if there is any heart-felt material to mine in wake of the first entry’s ending. To some players, Alette’s death (or Rook’s, again, depending on choices) might not be as impacting, and the game allows your character to show both ends of the spectrum. The dialogue options have less to do with directing the narrative and more to do with reflecting on how the game is making you feel. The game’s writing is impressive in how it guides your emotions. With her death haunting Rook at the beginning of the game, the choices suddenly become more grey and I was less interested in saving my clan than I was in exacting revenge on those who took Alette from me. There’s a paternal instinct that made me want to be a better person for this digital daughter. Having Alette at Rook’s side in the first game gave me a clearer sense of right and wrong. I thought missing Alette, one of my favorite characters from the first game, would sour the experience but instead I found it as a driving force for Rook’s character.
While I don’t regret any of the choices I made in The Banner Saga, I was a little bummed to be playing with Rook. Players begin the game as either Rook or Alette, depending upon the choices from the first game. Things are bad and they just keep getting worse. Instead of a winner-take-all battle that offers resolution, this sequel continues to break its already-fragmented world. There’s also no satisfying conclusion to The Banner Saga 2. While the original game from Stoic Studio was a complete story, culminating in a climax filled with pathos, The Banner Saga 2 relies on the emotions, connections, and - most importantly - the story built up during the first outing. This is what makes The Banner Saga 2 different than your run-of-the-mill video game sequel.
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