Axiom Verge 2

 PC
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. But Why Tho?
    Aug 11, 2021
    100
    Axiom Verge 2 is an outstanding game that really sets the bar for future indie Metroidvania games. It builds on the original’s success by introducing new mechanics and ideas that help freshen up a classic and sometimes stale genre. I loved every second of my journey as Indra, and I know you will too.
  2. Siliconera
    Aug 19, 2021
    90
    All in all, though, these are relatively minor blemishes on an impressive, bold follow-up to an acclaimed modern classic. Whether you’ve been champing at the bit for a new take on Axiom Verge or if this is your first experience with a Metroidvania, Axiom Verge 2 is a dense, beautiful game that’s easier than ever to get into and shouldn’t be missed.
  3. IGN France
    Aug 11, 2021
    90
    A sequel doubling down on its biggest strength: Exploration and forgetting its weaknesses, offering us a brilliant Metroidvania pushing the exploration at its best.
  5. PC Gamer
    Aug 11, 2021
    87
    A bold and ambitious sequel set in a satisfying, densely connected world.
  6. Multiplayer.it
    Aug 24, 2021
    80
    Maybe Axiom Verge 2 is not the sequel that fans of the first game expected. The metroidvania structure appears to be way more focused on exploration and puzzle solving: a different path for the series, but equally enjoyable once you get to understand it.
  7. Shacknews
    Aug 18, 2021
    80
    Axiom Verge 2 was more of what I wanted for the most part. Thomas Happ’s understanding of the metroidvania formula works very well throughout the game and it even changes up quite nicely from what the first game had for us. I enjoyed exploring and discovering new abilities, taking in the atmosphere of music and pixels, and platforming through varied pitfalls and foes. Combat feels half-baked and sometimes I really wish the game would have just told me what it wanted me to do next to move the story forward. The narrative going on is intriguing, but also a bit too technobabble at times. Even so, it’s a journey that pushes you into the unknown to overcome a vast tapestry of obstacles and enemies in stark isolation. For that, Axiom Verge 2 continues to nail down the Metroidvania-style in a solid and challenging way.
  8. Hardcore Gamer
    Aug 11, 2021
    80
    Axiom Verge 2 is exactly what a sequel should be in that it’s more of the same but different. Indra isn’t Trace so her skills and abilities don’t try to mirror his too closely, and the world she’s been dropped into frequently has wide open vistas in its background instead of more types of caverns. The level design is every bit as good if not better, featuring varied biomes that stand on their own but eventually all interconnect as new skills open up more passages. The switch back and forth between Indra and the drone provides a nice change of pace, with each earning different abilities that complement the other. And of course the soundtrack is fantastic, with its non-US-traditional instruments and vocalizing. If you loved the first Axiom Verge then odds are good the second one is everything you hoped for, and if you’ve never played the original then the standalone nature of the sequel means you don’t have to worry about having missed out. Either way, Axiom Verge 2 is an excellent Metroidvania, and a rare perfect example of a series that can balance quality and change to deliver something new.
  9. Destructoid
    Aug 11, 2021
    80
    Even when Axiom Verge 2 wasn’t hitting perfectly for me, it feels different and very much its own. Things start out slow, but give it a little time and Axiom Verge 2 really gets going, playing off expectations with clever alterations of the original game’s conventions. It’s dense as ever lore-wise, and it’s got some good music and worlds to move through. It’s a follow-up to Axiom Verge that doesn’t content itself with a simple recitation of the first game’s high points, and if what’s detailed above sounds like your jam, you’ll probably have a good time with it.
  10. Game Informer
    Aug 11, 2021
    78
    Even when Axiom Verge 2 left me frustrated, I never lost the sense of its intelligent design and mind-bending premise. With these first two games, Happ has laid the groundwork for a particularly weird and captivating fiction, and we’ve only just scratched the surface of its secrets. While I hope I don’t have to wait another six years to play Axiom Verge 3, I’m fascinated enough to have a controller at the ready for its inevitable return.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Aug 11, 2021
    Axiom Verge 2 isn't the most straightforward sequel, then, and some of its mechanical mutations are more successful than others. If you adored the guns and boss fights of the first game, then its sequel may be something of a disappointment. However, if you're into the puzzles and exploration side of Metroidvanias, Axiom Verge 2 shows a level of sophistication in its design that I haven't seen from this genre in quite some time, even if the end result can sometimes be a little obtuse. It's familiar, yet different; the kind of game the first Axiom Verge might have been in an alternate timeline, which feels fitting given its obsession with portals and shifting realities. With the door left open for even further forays into this kaleidoscope of different dimensions, you can bet I'll be back for more when Axiom Verge 3 rolls around.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 29
  3. Negative: 12 out of 29
  1. Rezwalker
    Aug 13, 2021
    5
    Axiom Verge 2 is a nice game but for me its a let down. Exploration is amazing, pixel art is amazing
    etc but combat are a bit boring. You can    Axiom Verge 2 is a nice game but for me its a let down. Exploration is amazing, pixel art is amazing
    etc but combat are a bit boring. You can skip boss's and your weapon are complet garbage and ultra slow.compared to the first one that had a **** of weapon
    its really short
    i was really hype for this release    … Full Review »
  2. BigheadSMZ
    Aug 21, 2021
    4
    I'll give it a few points for the music and aesthetics which are good, but this sequel is pretty boring. After two hours of play I had to putI'll give it a few points for the music and aesthetics which are good, but this sequel is pretty boring. After two hours of play I had to put it down because I wasn't having fun, running around with so little meaningful combat and upgrades was just... well, I already said it, boring. You're primary weapons are a pickaxe and a boomerang, which is a far cry from all the interesting weapons in the original. Compared to the first game, the hack tool in this one feels like more of an inconvenience, rather than an interesting gadget in your arsenal. The dumbed down weapons forces you to either want to avoid combat altogether, or use the hack tool to neuter them, not that they really present much challenge to begin with. The story seems alright, but I'm too bored to care about knowing what happens next. Shame because I was looking forward to this, but was left feeling disappointed. I guess if you're into games solely for exploration, this should scratch that itch. But if you are looking for all the classic elements that make a game in this genre fun to play, there are much better options out there.… Full Review »
  3. Wulf2468
    Aug 28, 2021
    0
    Axiom Verge 1 felt extremely polished. It was a really fun game to play, To me, it felt like a spiritual successor to Super Metroid.

    Axiom    Axiom Verge 1 felt extremely polished. It was a really fun game to play, To me, it felt like a spiritual successor to Super Metroid.

    Axiom Verge 2 on the other hand, had me wanting to quit playing 5 minutes into each session.

    The world was bland and forgettable. There weren't memorable locations that made it easy to get a sense of direction to back track to later. If you were to tell me the entire world was just ran through a randomizer, I would not be surprised.

    The sound effects were god awful and way too loud. Compared to all other sound that plays through my system, I had to put the sound at the lowest setting and it still was too loud. The attack sound effects, the sounds of breaking boxes, and many, many more sound effects were terrible to listen to. It was grating to the ears.

    The music was okay but extremely repetitive. As the game progressed, I ended up turning it down more and more.

    The story was "meh". The main character was not even remotely relatable. It was very name heavy and I wasn't enjoying the game enough to care to keep track of who was who in all the notes strewn about in the game.

    There was very little info on where to go throughout the game. There is a radar that is supposed to point you in the right direction or something, but it often lead me to a random spot with nothing there. The dots on the map are the best bet on finding where you need to go, but sometimes the starting point to get to that was half way across the map and knowing the final destination on the map not only were not useful, but actually did more harm than good.

    The power-ups were bad. The ones you picked each time you collected enough power-up juice never felt like they did anything. Going from no weapon power-ups to max didn't seem to change the number of times you need to hit enemies to kill them. The power-ups you obtained throughout the game that were required to progress were not that much better. A lot of them you only needed to use once or twice to continue the story and were only used thereafter to obtain secret notes or power-up juice.

    The combat was the worst. A boomerang was the only ranged weapon and it did basically no damage, was slow moving, and you can only have one out at a time so the slow movement also meant not being able to ranged attack again for quite some time. This makes the game primarily melee combat. The problem with that is the enemies are ranged, flying, and/or extremely fast. The AI chases you down, but always moves out of your melee range before you can get to them. Your attacks never get strong enough to make this okay and it takes many, many hits before even weak enemies die. It was so bad that fighting was not worth it and it was best to always avoid every fight.

    Ultimately, it felt like a prototype and every mechanic of the game was a gimmick. Near the end of the game, it started spitting out new mechanics left and right and were only used once. Each mechanic seemingly only designed to make them lose as much health as possible, in the most frustrating ways that were near unavoidable, just to prolong the end of the game.

    I would not play this again and I would not recommend this to a friend or even to an enemy. Axiom Verge 1 was so good, that I immediately bought Axiom Verge 2 when it came out. A decision that I now regret. If Axiom Verge 3 becomes a thing in the future, I won't be too enthusiastic about it and will definitely look up reviews and playthroughs of the game before even thinking about dropping money on the game. Even if I do decide to buy it, I would most likely wait for it to go on sale to recoup some of the money that was wasted on the mess that is Axiom Verge 2.    … Full Review »
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