Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
- August 2, 2023
- Cornfox & Brothers Ltd.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is the next-gen answer to Zelda-lite!
Get on SteamIn Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, a thousand years before the original game, play as a young knight embarking on a journey with allies Trin and Gen to unite diverse races and defeat the resurrected Warlock Mesmeroth and his Dark Army. Experience improved combat, clever puzzles, and exploration in this visually enhanced prequel, battling enemies and solving problems alongside your companions using contextual commands.
Nintendo Switch
Reviews
- The game offers a charming and colorful world that captures the nostalgic feel of classic 3D Zelda games.
- The graphics are vibrant and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
- Gameplay is enjoyable with fun exploration and engaging puzzles, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- The story is simpler and less engaging than its predecessor, with many plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped.
- Combat and controls can feel clunky and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- Exploration is often unrewarding, with a lack of meaningful collectibles and a cumbersome stamina system that slows down traversal.
- story49 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally perceived as simpler and less engaging than its predecessor, with many players noting its rushed pacing and lack of depth. While some elements, such as plot twists and nostalgic references, are appreciated, the overall narrative is criticized for being predictable, poorly designed, and filled with plot holes. Additionally, design choices detract from the storytelling experience, leaving players wanting a more intricate and cohesive narrative.
“The mystery and the plot twists are well done.”
“The storyline, while enjoyable, left me craving more depth.”
“I love the gameplay and story.”
“The story of this game is simpler and less layered than the first.”
“Another is a story that at times was hard to follow and ends rather abruptly in confusing fashion.”
“The pacing of the story is very slow at first, but then it gets too fast too quickly and suddenly the world is ending and protagonists are lovers, when they had no previous implications of such.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and stunning visuals, effectively capturing a Zelda-like aesthetic. Many reviewers highlight the art style as a standout feature, with well-designed characters and environments that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention a lack of innovation in certain aspects, the graphics are generally regarded as a strong point, contributing to an enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience.
“The graphics are outstanding, the control is nice, the story is quite interesting, and the puzzles are challenging.”
“The graphics are simply stunning.”
“Oceanhorn 2 offers some significantly updated visuals and a much more immersive 3rd person camera position compared with the first game.”
“Everything from the graphics to the combat to the puzzles and world design feels like it's just 'good enough to be a game'.”
“All I kept thinking was how much the art style looks like those characters from Team America: World Police.”
“I'd rather compare it to Zelda: Ocarina of Time with refined graphics.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its nostalgic action-adventure mechanics reminiscent of classic Zelda games, while others criticize it for feeling simplistic and lacking excitement. Notable features include fun upgrades like the hookshot and decent boss designs, but some users find the overall mechanics to be generic or reminiscent of low-quality Unity projects. Despite the criticisms, many appreciate the visuals and find the gameplay addictive, suggesting potential for improvement in future installments.
“The overworld mechanics feel really nostalgic while incorporating the action-adventure style into it.”
“Beautiful visuals and addicting gameplay... would definitely recommend.”
“It's a Zelda clone, sure, but I have to say I'm enjoying the gameplay much more in this one.”
“It's cute and that's it; can't even jump... the story is boring from the start, and the gameplay isn't exciting either, so I couldn't even play it for 1 hour.”
“The game has this weird 'default Unity mechanics' vibe with its mechanics, like what you'd see in one of those clickbait videos like 'I remade Simpsons Hit & Run in Unity.'”
“Mechanics here are weird.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, featuring a range of whimsical and upbeat tracks alongside darker themes that reflect the game's narrative shifts. Reviewers appreciate the original compositions, noting that the music effectively captures the game's vibe and complements its art and design. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game.
“The music is very good, ranging from whimsical and upbeat like you'd expect from a kid-friendly game, to surprisingly dark with the 'source theme', which marks the beginning of the game's shift in tone at the final act (which I very much enjoyed).”
“First of all, I loved this game for its atmosphere and music; the plot is entertaining.”
“The music is pleasant and captures the vibe.”
“Even the music, a triumph of the prequel (especially Gillfolk's drop and Sky Island), could not save Oceanhorn 2 (OC2).”
“The music is pretty decent too, but it doesn't elevate the overall experience.”
“The music, while decent, fails to leave a lasting impression.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky character designs, such as the amusingly low-budget versions of familiar creatures, and humorous voice acting mishaps, including inconsistent dialogue and comical mispronunciations. Additionally, some bugs contribute to the humor, with characters exhibiting odd walking animations or becoming unresponsive, adding an unintended comedic element to the gameplay experience.
“It was kinda funny to see this game's dollar store versions of the Zoras and the Ritos, though lol.”
“There are some funny instances of voice performance mess-ups, like some clearly placeholder text-to-speech dialogue from some robot characters which are inconsistent with how they sound in other lines, or Mayfair hilariously mispronouncing 'calliope'.”
“There are some bugs, however, like people walking funny or just going non-responsive when you are following them somewhere.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players report that grinding in the game can feel like a full-time job, with significant rewards in loot and rapid leveling up after defeating enemies and exploring new areas. This system allows for quick progression, making players feel powerful early on, but may also lead to a sense of repetitive gameplay.
“Rngesus takes the wheel; grinding is my new full-time job.”
“I collected lots of loot grinding for a bit, beat a couple random enemies on the map, and when I got back to town, it kept raising my level 2-3 times each time I got to a new location until I was a legend after only a couple of quests.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some voice performances and writing resonating well while others fall flat, featuring predictable story beats and noticeable errors, such as placeholder dialogue and mispronunciations. These issues detract from the overall experience, highlighting a lack of polish in certain areas.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is positively highlighted, as players appreciate the mechanics that allow ice to freeze enemies and create platforms, indicating smooth and reliable gameplay interactions.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users highlighting its captivating music and engaging plot that enhance the overall experience.
“First of all, I loved this game for its atmosphere and music; the plot is entertaining.”
Critic Reviews
Bigger screen, same problems --- Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm Review
While it looks and performs better on console, a port simply cannot fix the problems at Oceanhorn 2’s core. Still, it may be worth dipping your toes in if you’re a 3D Zelda fanatic.
65%Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm XSX Review (Xbox Series X)
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is the next-gen answer to Zelda-lite!
80%Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm Review
Oceanhorn 2 is a decent game, albeit one that doesn't do enough to stick out from the crowd. Excellent presentation and a clear understanding of the mechanics underlying the Zelda franchise make for a game that is satisfying and ultimately worth the price of admission. At the same time, however, a slight pervasive shallowness in the various gameplay systems keeps it from ever becoming too engaging of an experience, as it never delves as deep as it could with many of its ideas. We’d give Oceanhorn 2 a light recommendation, but with the caveat that you might want to wait for a sale on this one.
60%
