75
Axiom Verge 2 offers an extraordinarily beautiful, coherent and original world, but sometimes exploration gets tedious and some mechanics and design choices get in the way of experiencing this intriguing setting. It is a unique game in a way, but I feel that it shouldn’t have sacrificed some elements on the altar of originality. [11/2021, p.46]
80
Axiom Verge 2 is an unexpected and greatly enjoyable evolution of the first game, more focused on exploration than combat. It's the second step in Thomas Happ's ambitious sci-fi universe.
95
Axiom Verge 2 is amazing. Many have tried to make games that can work as light entertainment and heavy, honest stories about their own lives at the same time. Few have succeeded as well as this one. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 19]
9
Such a great Metroidvania in it's own way. Sure compared to the first Axiom Verge, which I also enjoy, it is less challenging and the artstyle is not as unique as in the first entry. However the main focus of this game is clearly the exploration. Except the final boss, every boss in the game is optional, but it is still rewarding to defeat them, because you can gain apocalypse flasks, which you need to upgrade your abilities. The leveldesign offers visual variety and a lot of possibilities to navigate through the world map. So exploring the world and searching for new upgrades and text log, where the lore of these world is written, never gets bored or tedious. It was a fun and enjoyable experience from beginning to end. The creator accomplishes, that feeling, that this world as a lot of secrets to offer, especially storywise, if you only dig deep enough. Some flaws however, are lowering the experince a bit. The grappling hook is very clunky to use and it feels worse than in the first Axiom Verge and even there it was immature. The bossfights are easy and getting repetitive very quickly. This is'nt that bad, because they are optional, but it would fit the experience of exploring better, if the bosses itself where more unique. All in all it was a very fun experience and I will definetly replay the game someday. The main reason is, that it has so much to offer on storyside and the gameplay loop by exploring the world is very fun.
8
While the first game is a bit better than this one, it still has some really cool things going on for it. The world seems a lot more open and there are some really neat mechanics and abilities you get that make it more fun to play the further you progress.
6
It's a weaker game than the original, but let's hope they make the 3rd one better.
Axiom Verge 2
Released On:
Aug 11, 2021
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
75% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
25% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Oct 7, 2021
95
Axiom Verge 2 is amazing. Many have tried to make games that can work as light entertainment and heavy, honest stories about their own lives at the same time. Few have succeeded as well as this one. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 19]
Aug 11, 2021
85
Axiom Verge 2 is a fantastic evolution of Axiom Verge 1—it feels like a different game, but with enough gameplay and story connections to remain familiar. My issues with the protagonist and wayfinding pale in comparison to the addictive exploration and beautiful vistas that Axiom Verge 2 revels in, and I can’t wait to speculate wildly about the storyline.
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
51% Positive
40 Ratings
40 Ratings
33% Mixed
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
15% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
Jul 19, 2022
10
Loved it. The world design is brilliant and the interplay between the main world and the breach is a real mindbleep. There's lots of fun in the end game trying to figure out how you can get to different places in these two worlds. And the aesthetics are great. There's things going on in the background of this game that I guarantee you haven't seen before. It's excellent. Give it a try.
Sep 7, 2021
10
Amazing game! Great level design and combat and story! I absolutely adore the pixel art look, one of my favorite metroidvanias of recent memory!
Aug 24, 2021
80
Axiom Verge 2 is a proper love letter to Metroid. The vast world is challenging and exciting to explore, the power-ups provide intelligent ways to solve puzzles, and the story is involving. It's not perfect though, thanks to the lackluster combat and occasional bouts of frustration.
Aug 16, 2021
80
A triumphant answer to the question of what Axiom Verge is outside of its influences, and a clinic in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in nonlinear platformers. And though the pacing is less dynamic than the first game, the meditative vibe that it encourages makes it stand out.
Sep 28, 2021
75
Axiom Verge 2 is a 2D metroidvania game that focuses on exploration in its huge environment. If you played the first Axiom Verge game you may be disappointed in some of the changes like lack of weapons and less of a combat experience.
Aug 24, 2021
70
Axiom Verge 2 adds some interesting twists to the Metroidvania format and it does get good once the player unlocks the drone, fast travel, and some of the special abilities. If the player is willing to sit through a slow start and some dicey combat encounters, then Axiom Verge 2 becomes a lot of fun to play, with a world that's fascinating to explore and treasures that are waiting to be found in its beautiful and scary alien world.
Aug 13, 2021
60
A curious sequel whose simplified combat and lack of challenge undermines some of the best level design and puzzles in any recent Metroidvania.
Aug 28, 2021
10
As many have said, this game is unorthodox. Very few bosses, a shift in tone and gameplay style from the first Axiom Verge. But having played AV2 first it is still a succinct and phenomenal experience with some really clever puzzles. If you go in expecting AV1 redux, you'll almost certainly be disappointed, but this game includes many quality of life improvements over the first, while being generally more polished, more well balanced in difficulty, and with a plot that feels more professional and easier to take serious. The writing hits some divine notes in playing on sci-fi metaphysical identity distortion. If you go in expecting at face value, a good metroidvania, leaning vania, you will be blown out of the water by the game's soundtrack and atmosphere that really show strides of improvement over the first game. The first game was good, but taken by it's own merit, AV2 is a slice of the sublime.
Nov 24, 2023
6
It's a weaker game than the original, but let's hope they make the 3rd one better.
Mar 5, 2022
6
"Despite my gripes, Axiom Verge 2 is not a bad game, but rather a disappointingly mediocre one. It starts out well, with the great visuals and epic soundtrack, but as you progress things start to fall apart. From tepid combat, to dull NPCs and enemies, to a sometimes confusing map, the game starts to frustrate in different ways. The beautiful aesthetics of the world and the nifty drone help save the game from mediocrity, but the game could (and should) have been better. You won’t have a bad time playing the game, but there are far better Metroidvanias on the console you could be playing instead." ****/2021/08/18/axiom-verge-2/
Aug 17, 2021
4
Nowhere near as good as the first game. The combat is terrible, enemies can be avoided. For what do I need to play this game when there is no real challenge? Axiom Verge 2 is the biggest disappointment of 2021. Avoid it when you loved the 1st game as the sequel is not good.
SummaryLife. Afterlife. Real. Virtual. Dream. Nightmare. It’s a thin line. It’s Axiom Verge 2. The sequel to Axiom Verge, Axiom Verge 2 expands on the universe with completely new characters, abilities, and gameplay.
Rated Tfor Teen
