The Banner Saga 2

 Xbox One
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 29
  3. Negative: 3 out of 29

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  1. Troublewalking
    Jul 2, 2016
    8
    Great game. Perfect if you like turn based strategy games. It's story is mostly text based, with cut scenes for choices. The game is listed at $15 bucks on Steam, but XB1 gold members get it this month for free. IMO it is easily worth the $15 bucks. I think it's Indie, but it feels higher tier. It's got all of the good stuff you expect from a Turn based strategy game.

    It does have it's    Great game. Perfect if you like turn based strategy games. It's story is mostly text based, with cut scenes for choices. The game is listed at $15 bucks on Steam, but XB1 gold members get it this month for free. IMO it is easily worth the $15 bucks. I think it's Indie, but it feels higher tier. It's got all of the good stuff you expect from a Turn based strategy game.

    It does have it's flaws, like...

    No diagonal attacks. Which I find odd, especially for ranged.

    Too short of caster/archer range. It's 6 squares, but when the Varl take up 4 squares, you see how limited that is. Literally it feels like using a caster is a punishment. And I love casters in these types of games.

    Healers heal armor and not health (virtually every attack ignores armor) Thus healers are virtually useless. If they healed health, I would always use one. Them seem pointless except for pushing the story and doing these amazing magics, that none of them posses when you control them.

    Sometimes the game forces you to have a character for a boss fight. It's usually fine, but when this requires a specific tactic, which is usually just a pain in the butt and less effective than even a basic zerge. You will literally wonder why it was put in, as it literally makes the fight tedious.

    No ability to spin the camera that I can find.

    Controls don't seem optimized for consoles.

    Other than that it is quite an enjoyable game. It's flaws are small, and what it does have, makes up for it's weaknesses.    … Expand
  2. riley794
    Jul 9, 2016
    4
    I am amazed by all the positive reviews this game is getting. The first game got great reviews and I felt that was mostly due to the fact that the game seemed innovative (even though everything in the game had been done before). I thought the sequel which is practically identical to the first game would not be so positively received. This is not a good game for the following reasons:I am amazed by all the positive reviews this game is getting. The first game got great reviews and I felt that was mostly due to the fact that the game seemed innovative (even though everything in the game had been done before). I thought the sequel which is practically identical to the first game would not be so positively received. This is not a good game for the following reasons: 1. To be continued ending (nothing says "you just wasted your time playing this game, better than a to be continued ending). 2. Its a tragedy (If you thing Romeo and Juliet sucked, then this game will suck). Loading screens (not a lot to this game, everything should load instantly!) 4. Controls suck (it is a pain to position your troops before battle, target different enemies with your attacks, and figure out what your character will be able to do once the move to a different spot). 5. Barely any voice acting or cinematic (They give you just enough to realize how much better the game would have been with more. Its like the game is a book that is being forced to become a video game).

    Summary: First game got a pass because it was considered and "indie title" so expectations were extremely high for the sequel. Game fails to improve on the first game, fails to provided the player with any sort of closure, fails to provide reliable controls, and fail to provide cinematic extras. I got the game for free but it is not worth more than $5.    … Expand
  3. Broyax
    Jan 7, 2017
    2
    Ah quel gâchis épouvantable !... mais voilà ce qui arrive lorsqu'une ou deux voire trois bonnes idées sont mises en oeuvre par des caves : on se retrouve avec de la merde ! Les deux ou trois bonnes idées : la gestion de l'escouade, des vivres et du moral ; l'univers Viking ça change ; le combat au tour par tour intéressant sur le papier.

    Sur le papier donc, le tour par tour semble    Ah quel gâchis épouvantable !... mais voilà ce qui arrive lorsqu'une ou deux voire trois bonnes idées sont mises en oeuvre par des caves : on se retrouve avec de la merde ! Les deux ou trois bonnes idées : la gestion de l'escouade, des vivres et du moral ; l'univers Viking ça change ; le combat au tour par tour intéressant sur le papier.

    Sur le papier donc, le tour par tour semble prometteur mais en pratique, c'est à chier par terre. Pourtant la 2D n'a rien à voir là-dedans (cf le vieux Fallout Tactics par exemple), non c'est bel et bien l'exécution exécrable la responsable : l'interface lamentable, la visibilité problématique, la lisibilité illisible... un putain d'échec.

    Bien entendu les graphismes à dégueuler partout n'arrangent pas les affaires, j'ai rarement vu aussi laid sans même la plus petite once de direction artistique pour limiter les dégâts (rien que la palette des -rares- couleurs est déjà une torture visuelle). En outre, ça se permet des temps de chargement pour cette 2D minable et gerbante, on se demande bien pourquoi...

    Enfin, ce jeu en carton est tout en anglais... la coupe est pleine, il est temps de vidanger cet étron numérique dans la basse-fosse des oubliettes du "jeu" indé.    … Expand
  4. piuspratik
    Feb 21, 2019
    10
    Excellent visual presentation. Absolutely loved the gameplay and the overall story in continuity. Survival mode is a nice addition and enjoyed the additional hours of challenging tactical combat. Leaderboards and ranking achievements is a nice touch. Playing as Rook and Alette with their optional additional missions and character development also helped increase the replay value.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best Xbox One Game of 2016
100
#100 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Aug 13, 2016
    90
    A masterful continuation of a captivating tale - powerful, sad and deeply involving. [Sept 2016, p.85]
  2. COGconnected
    Aug 5, 2016
    83
    The Banner Saga 2 picks up where the original left off, telling a stirring and engaging 2nd chapter of a hero’s tale. While very much an extension of the previous title, there are several welcome enhancements that should put the game on the radar of any serious turn-based fan.
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  3. Eurogamer Italy
    Jul 17, 2016
    90
    The Banner Saga 2, after its debut on the PC, shows all its qualities also on consoles. From the amazing graphics, up to almost perfect gameplay, lovers of the genre and fans of the saga have not a single reason to miss it.
    Read full review
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