Summary:
The game is a fusion of tower defense and roguelike deckbuilding, which means planning defenses carefully with a multi-layered defense approach.
Monster Train 2 improves on its storytelling by incorporating visual novel-style cutscenes, character stories, and lore.
Monster Train 2 introduces five brand new clans, each with its own playstyle, and over 200 new cards
We’re excited to have this review of Monster Train 2, the long-awaited sequel that’s already buzzing around the gaming world! If you loved the uniqueness of the original when you combined deckbuilding with tower defense, get ready. Everything you loved about the original is back, but just better. But, the real question is, does the excitement really live up to the hype? Or is it just the same old, same old?
More Cards, More Fun
Monster Train 2 expands its strategic depth and replayability with five brand new clans and playstyles. Now players can play factions like the Banished, who focus on Valor buffs to boost armor and damage. And the draconic Pyreborn, who loves hoarding gold and doling out Pyregel debuffs so enemies take increased damage.
The game is also full of champions, each inspired by one of the clans and possessing active skills and cooldowns. The combination of clan-playstyle diversification will not make two games feel the same. Whether new combos are discovered and utilize exploring different combos, players will not learn the same skills on every run.
On top of introducing new clans, Monster Train 2 has also added over 200 new cards. The new types of cards create new layers for customization and strategy, including new card types (Equipment and Room cards). Equipment cards can be equipped to units to provide buffs and debuffs. Meanwhile, Room cards have a permanent effect for certain train floors, adding a risk-reward relationship to offense and defense.
There are even new gameplay-modifying Pyre Hearts that alter the way you play the game with unique buffs and abilities. And, there’s also new currencies like Dragon Eggs that provide a robust risk vs. reward element to resource management.
Tower Defense Meets Roguelike Thrills
The tower defense genre meets the roguelike deckbuilding genre, all on a train traveling through the universe vertically layered across multiple floors. It’s challenging to wrap your head around making sure your Pyre, the train’s core, does not get overrun by hordes of enemies, by covering a limited number of floors with monsters and spells. Enemies spawn on the bottom floor and travel the train upward one layer after each turn. That means defensive planning must always be handled at a layered level, while moving through all the layers.
Aside from unit placement, Monster Train 2 pushes it even further, with an incredibly rich deckbuilding system. This gives the player agency in which strategy they want to pursue, with different clans having different playstyles, and champions within those clans with their unique powers. Additionally, the game also includes equipment cards that are used to enhance units. Players can upgrade spells, recruit new units, and purchase artifacts that give various buffs and additions that can be impactful to the game as a whole. There is quite a lot going on between battles that ensures every run will feel unique.
Visuals, Story, and Atmosphere
Monster Train 2 is upping its narrative game with better story elements that integrate through character events and lore. Monster Train 1 flowed in the tradition of many board games, without a narrative thread. In Monster Train 2, there are cutscenes with visuals similar to a visual novel, unfolding between runs. So you can get a glimpse into the uneasy alliances and motivations of the cast of characters.
They also serve to add additional context and more character flavor to the gameplay loop. Though the storytelling isn’t as nuanced as Hades, it makes the game loop denser with details without getting too distracting.
Monster Train 2’s graphics are definitely a step up from the original with sharper, more colorful graphics. The art style is still similar to the first game to embrace that cartoon-style, but it offers improved color saturation. The details make the imaginative world even more vibrant with an even larger variety of character design. There are dragons and snakemen, and even these adorable grifter cats running the stores!
The details only add to the quality atmosphere created by the impressive soundtrack. It has punchy, heavy metal guitar riffs and thematic anthems that really bring battles to life and stick in your head when walking away from a play session.
Conclusion
After reviewing Monster Train 2, it is evident that this sequel isn’t merely a new version of the first game. This game is a direct evolution from the original formula. The clans, strategic layers, and colorful design of the game create an exhilarating and novel experience of deckbuilding tower defense. Each playthrough will be unpredictable and new. If you enjoy strategic, fast fun, give this game a try.
