What gameranx enjoyed

In Before You Buy, Jake highlights the exploration, visual identity and the motivation to hunt for new Shells. He also sees the sequel as a suitable starting point for players who have not played the first game.

The official feature descriptions support the underlying structure: an interconnected world, eight Shells and stamina-free combat. Whether those features feel satisfying is a player judgment.

What to weigh before buying

The same review criticizes repetition when sticking with one melee weapon and points to some uneven enemy variety and travel stretches. It also warns that dangerous attacks can kill weaker characters very quickly.

These are impressions from a PC review copy. They are not benchmark results for your hardware, a guarantee about console performance or a verdict on every later patch.

Match it to the experience you want

Consider it if you enjoy choosing your own exploration route and learning demanding solo encounters. If you mainly want a co-op campaign, the Steam and PlayStation single-player listings are a reason to choose differently.

Watch the linked review and official gameplay, then compare your platform and edition. For PC, check the published requirements instead of treating a reviewer’s experience as a performance promise.

What independent reviews liked

Rock Paper Shotgun's review is strongly favorable toward the sequel's heavy-metal identity and old-school sense of discovery. Gameranx highlights exploration, visual identity, and the motivation to find new Shells, and considers the standalone sequel accessible to players who did not finish the first game.

Those opinions align with documented features rather than proving everyone will enjoy them: the game has eight Shells, stamina-free combat, melee and ranged equipment, and a connected world. The value of those systems still depends on whether you enjoy learning difficult encounters and searching away from a prescribed route.

Steam player-review snapshot

On August 30, 2026, Steam's English-language review summary reported 5,301 positive and 1,357 negative reviews, for 6,658 total. That is about 79.6% positive, and Steam labeled the result "Mostly Positive." The figures are a dated snapshot and will change as new reviews are submitted.

This aggregate does not explain why each player voted positively or negatively, and it should not be merged with one critic's observations as though they were the same measurement. Use the count to understand broad current sentiment, then use detailed reviews and gameplay to evaluate the specific concerns that matter to you.

Account for the Week 1 Update

Some launch reviews predate the first major patch. The Week 1 Update made Glimpses and Tarcores renewable, added Shell respec, revised navigation with new daytime Beacons, rebalanced heavy weapons, improved ripostes, polished most bosses, and delivered performance and crash fixes.

That patch does not invalidate subjective criticism about combat variety or world structure, but it can change progression pressure, particular boss behavior, and technical problems described in early coverage. Compare the date and build of any review with the current version before treating its bug or balance observations as permanent.