The commands are still rather basic, with each unit able to move, attack, defend and use special abilities. There are now more enemies to take on, however. behaviour still falls short with some questionable moves at times. The enemy has also been given several new classes, removing a certain level of predictability from each battle, although A.I. The strategy in combat is also similar to the first game, although with a variety of new classes and races like the Horseborn (who can attack and relocate at the end of the turn) alongside the Vale and humans - allowing for close, long range and reaching attacks - you have a range of moves that can counter opposition powers. Battles still play out on a tile-based grid - similar to games like Final Fantasy Tactics - with each unit taking up a different amount of space. There’s a mix of basic requirements like protecting an ally, and there’s even active storytelling in battles from time to time to add a greater amount of context. Fortunately, there’s a bit more variety on offer this time, with the mission objective not always being to simply kill everything in sight. The battles, like the text-based aspects, adopt the same format as the existing game. Characters you encounter, befriend and battle throughout your journey can again offer mixed reactions in the form of betrayal, deceit and perhaps unforeseen alliances. Sometimes, sacrifices are unable to be prevented, and this is where a certain level of ambiguity comes into play. These conversations can also impact how your journey unfolds, with certain battles able to be avoided altogether and pathways or outcomes alternating as a result. You can basically put yourself, your party members and the caravan at risk, or once again take a more rational approach to ensure negative outcomes are minimal.

The text-based scenarios are akin to the first game, and the main characters will engage in various emotionally-charged exchanges, with the onus on you to make the decisions. Your actions in conversation and combat can have dire effects if you don’t do your best to calculate the lives at stake alternatively, certain actions can also lead to better than expected outcomes. This is an RPG incorporating text and battle decision-making. Like the first game, every decision you make has an impact on the outcome of your journey, which is again broken up into multiple chapters. Your only hope now is to head for the supposed safe haven - the city of Arberrang. Continuing from where the first game left off, your united caravan party is still on the run from the Dredge - an ancient enemy threat who are out to kill every living being in sight after the sun has stopped revolving. Your group is once again comprised of clansmen, humans, Varl (giant-like humans) and, this time around, Horseborn (centaur creatures), who you eventually encounter on your journey. Apart from the tutorials reacquainting you with how the game operates, it doesn't take long for the proceedings to get underway.Īfter a brief recap of the events in the first game, the second entry in The Banner Saga trilogy begins with the option to import a save, or else manually select from either Rook or his daughter Alette - a decision linked to the climax of the first game’s conclusion. There’s no secret behind what a sequel is meant to do - it’s there to continue and expand upon existing foundations laid by the first entry in a series.

The banner saga 2 deluxe edition