Seven years ago Axiom Verge got released and while I had a fair share of criticisms towards it, it really was a fantastic metroidvania. Without being too novel, it had several extremely clever additions to the formula of the genre and apart from that was a solid game with unforgettable soundtrack and cool visual style. A year ago Axiom Verge 2 got released on several platforms and had far less excited reviews overall, most emphasizing the change in focus of the game from action to exploration. Which excited me, because I love exploration in metroidvania games and the combat in the first title was my least favorite thing about it. Now that I’ve finally had a chance to play the sequel myself, I have to say that I love it even more than the original. Yet, I can see how it’s not going to be for everyone.
What haven’t changed is how cool the visual style of the game is, with creepy biomechanical Giger-esque elements (though this time this is somewhat de-emphasized), and how incredible the soundtrack is. As with the first game – I urge you to check out the music even if you have not interest in the game, it’s great. Maybe less consistently awesome, but still fantastic. The metroidvania basics also remain, with a map that you gradually fill, while getting new abilities and finding optional upgrades. Though, this time there’s a simple skill tree added on top, that is unlocked via one of the types of optional items.
But the way the game plays and feels is vastly different. Where Axiom Verge was mostly about tighter corridors, following the classic Metroid structure, and also heavily emphasized action, a crazy amount of different guns and many boss battles, Axiom Verge 2 is all about exploration. You still have combat, but it’s mainly in the melee range and isn’t really necessary, apart from clearing the way. There are boss enemies, but all apart from 2 boss encounters are entirely optional. And the world is extremely open at almost all times, giving you plenty of possibilities to explore and find cool stuff. There are clear goals, but you can often ignore them and try to explore as much as possible without going for the main story. Though, main goals is what often gives you upgrades that open up your possibilities.
This world is what, I fear, may overwhelm a lot of people. There are only a couple of moments where it’s very unclear on how you should get to where you need to, but that could be enough for some to get frustrated. But there at the same time, when you accept that it’s all about exploring and looking for interesting discoveries and possibilities, the game is amazing. The idea of a parallel world here is very reminiscent of the Spectral Realm from Legacy of Kain titles, meaning that after a certain point you start thinking of the entire huge world map in parallel versions (which is helpfully visualized by the game) and a lot of navigation puzzles are solved in genuinely inventive and fun ways due to that.
I guess that’s what Axiom Verge 2 is in the first place – inventive. Where apart from corruption and “save the progress of the map and items even when dying” the original title was a pretty conventional Super Metroid-like game, this sequel does everything to be something else. And apart from the La-Mulana titles, I think the last time I’ve played a metroidvania that was so wildly different and exciting was Toki Tori 2+ from 9 years ago. Another title that didn’t click with many.
And I can see that coming from the action filled original to the sequel is going to be a shock. Especially since I also feel that the enemies can be get really obnoxious at the beginning as you will undoubtedly be taking damage and dying as part of the experience. But, once you accept that this is part of the game, that avoiding the combat where possible is a better choice, that it’s all about the exploration and the navigation, the game gets very enjoyable… if you’re into this sort of thing in the first place, of course.
I loved Axiom Verge 2 and at one moment, when I realized how a new ability suddenly gave me so many crazy possibilities to explore, was unlike anything I’ve felt from games in a long time. Because more often than not metroidvanias are predictable, as great as they get despite this. But Axiom Verge 2 is anything but predictable. It’s a bit rough, it’s not for people who like action adventure platformers for the “action” part, not the “adventure platforming”. But it’s fresh, inventive and absolutely amazing if you love exploring these metroidvania worlds.