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While very similar to its predecessor in many ways, this sequel seems a bit more streamlined in terms of the structure of its main campaign, sort of blending all of the factions into one weird narrative with all sorts of alliances. There’s plenty of fun to be had, layering more and more units and spells on top of the pile until you’ve got a formidable set of options at your disposal to work with, and since they’re introduced in small bites it keeps things from being a confusing matter of trial and error attempting to understand how best to make use of each of them. Other changes include some nice “champion” units of sorts that are more expensive, and with a limit of one under your control at a time, but who are well worth the effort. Not only are they formidable on their own, when utilized well they also each have a special ability that can help turn the tide of battle. Add these on to a wider array of units this time with more varied roles and the strategy component is far more prevalent in this iteration. Periodic matches against foes who command armies are also terrific training for taking on human foes as in these matches you’ll be forced to choose which units you want to work with, giving you an opportunity to formulate how you’d counter enemies who go with different tactics to earn victory. While it may be easiest to play head-to-head against someone locally, at least for the moment I’m happy to report that I’ve had consistent success finding opponents online as well… though be sure you’re ready for a challenge most likely. You’ll have your choice of the 3 factions, each with their own units and relative strengths, and this is definitely where people hoping for a tougher real-time strategy challenge will find their fix. While the battlefield is hardly as complex as more elaborate titles, this being a linear battle between the left and right rather than having multiple routes to try to defend, that isn’t to say you won’t need to have an effective early, mid, and late strategy while also needing to keep an eye on what your foe is doing so they won’t catch you napping. All in all Sword & Soldiers 2 is a clear step up from its predecessor in pretty well every way. Artistically it is far more elaborate and full of character, the campaign storyline is as odd and silly as ever, the units are far more diverse and interesting, and the inclusion of online multiplayer is a cherry on top. While it may err a bit on catering to the lighter side of strategy make no mistake, the game is capable of being as complex as you can handle if you’re playing against another human, even if the solo challenge may not be as impressive. It’s well worth adding to your library if you’re in search of something fun but still satisfying in between bigger titles.
Justin Nation, Score:Nindie Choice! [8.5]