Sequels are a tough act to pull off, even for big publishers, but for a indie company, it could be life or death. However, the sequel to Ronimo Games’ award-winning WiiWare hit “Swords and Soldiers” is a Wii U makeover that keep you not only talking about their games, but playing them as well.
Aside from a few minor issues, “Swords and Soldiers 2” is a witty and addictive side-scrolling real-time strategy title that, is just as inventive and addictive as its predecessor.
Luckily for Ronimo Games, a good RTS title doesn’t need all that much in terms of a continuing story. While it does have a story that continues from the prior game, it’s not essential to be up to date, at all. As a matter of fact, if you never played the 2009 original, have no fear, you can jump right in. All you have to have is a fondness for real-time strategy and the wackiness of the story. With various troops or vikings, demons and Persians fighting amongst themselves, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch up.
With various characters of interest, the story lis a large one that slowly unravels through the game’s 75 levels. Add in online-multi-player and a cool Skirmish Mode that can help you polish your skills and “Swords and Soliders 2” has more than enough content, for not only a digital game, but one that you’d find in store shelves.
75 levels is a lot, but it’s the length of each level and the hearty list of objectives in each one that sets the game apart. You’d expect the game to play thin at first, but you’ll be flying around the screen, doing four or five things at once after the first few levels. With a plethora of different troops and ways to defend yourself, via standard attack or magic, the action is dense and requires thought. After the novelty of the first few levels wears off, you’ll have to actually think and not just throw as many troops on the field as possible. This is where the game really shines.
The gameplay was easily the biggest strength of the first game, but its length, was not. Being able to attack your biggest weakness and turn it into a positive is the mark of a good game developer. Make no mistake, Ronimo games has what it takes to carve themselves a nice niche on the Wii U.
That has everything to do with the almost unusual way the game plays. A side-scrolling RTS? Yes and it plays great. Although it doesn’t appear to be the perfect way to play a RTS, it works its way into your heart after a few levels. Able to coast through the entire battlefield, it works just as well as the traditional over-the-top perspective all you geeks remember from “Warcaft” and” Starcraft,” especially after manage to master the awkward at first troop deployment menus. Add in the colorful 16-bit visuals and the laughs from the story and you have enough to keep your plate full throughout.
While the game is an awesome hybrid of RTS with old-school visuals, the added bells and whistles take something away. While Romino has proven they can make an awesome WiiWare title and even digital Wii U game, the voice-overs and lacks of inventive new modes give one the impression that they are not quite the big indie they can be, yet. The Skirmish Mode and Online Multiplayer do what they are supposed to, but they don’t feel all that different from the main game. In terms of the voiceovers they feel “forced.” While they can be funny at times, the pre-level banter doesn’t change anything. The banter during levels, feels like an attempt to capture the legendary sound bites from a game the likes of “Warcraft II.” If more time would have been taken to polish these features, Romino Games would have a nearly-perfect side-scrolling RTS on its hands.
As it stands, “Swords and Soldiers 2” is probably the only side-scrolling RTS on the Nintendo Wii U, but even if there was competition, it would still be the best. Plenty of levels promises a lengthy campaign and at a bargain price and solid gameplay, it’s an experience any bored Wii U can find some enjoyment in.
The Good:
A Unique Twist on the RTS Formula: If you haven’t played the original game, the side-scrolling nature may seem too quirky to be taken seriously at first, but after the first few levels, it’ll become second nature. In the end, it’s one of the game’s most redeemable qualities.
Solid Visuals: The cartoony, 16-bit visuals look similar to the Sega Genesis classic, “Comix Zone,” with naturally a medieval twist. Although they won’t win over any graphic whores, they get the job done and set the scene well.
A Fun Story: The characters here are silly. They have faults and weaknesses that play into the way you have to get through each level. At the same time, the plot thickens and they all find ways to grow. It’s not on the level of say a Square Enix RPG, but there’s enough story to warrant a connection to the world.
75 Levels: You will not beat “Swords and Soldiers II” in three hours and you probably won’t beat it in a weekend. With 75 levels and a few different ways to play, there’s plenty to see and do.
Difficult: After the first few levels, you’re going to die quite a bit. With waves of enemies coming your way, you’ll have to think about how you deploy your troops and use your resources. Don’t fret though, that feeling in your stomach when the action gets really fierce is exactly the way you should feel when you play a good RTS.
The Bad:
Poor Voice Acting: It’s done in an attempt give the game less of an indie feel, but it’s done in a way that doesn’t add anything special to the formula. While the game’s soundtrack is atmospheric and works great, the voice-acting is essentially mediocre.
Final Thoughts:
Thanks to a hearty stew of old-school gameplay mechanics and a funny story, “Swords and Soldiers II,”is a worthy addition to the series and a solid RTS for any hungry for something different on the Wii U.
