Volgarr the Viking 2 isa retro platformer inspired by NES classic likeGhosts ’ n GoblinsandRastan , so course it ’s a challenge . Volgarr dies in just two hits , and checkpoints are circularize out moderately far in level . If handle ill , it could drive someone who is n’t used to the grim nature of previous games to tear their byssus out . developer Crazy Viking Studios and Digital Eclipse recognized that challenge when creating its surprise sequel . An accessible solution was born : If actor use enough continues , Volgarr becomes a zombie and wo n’t die from taking equipment casualty anymore . It ’s a new bit of innovation in a very old game music genre .
Speaking to Digital Trends ahead of the game ’s release next calendar month , Volgarr the Viking Almighty Kris Dürrschmidt tell me that this Undead Mode feature was made in direct response to feedback onVolgarr the Viking 2’spredecessor . The firstVolgarr the Vikingwas a Games with Gold title when it launched on Xbox in 2014 . While the reception had been strong and positive on PC beforehand , some Xbox players take much less benevolent to it .
“ The consequence we went to Xbox , millions of people got access to it , and they had no idea what they were getting themselves into . They ’re like , ‘ What the poop is this ? This biz is stunned . It ’s too hard ! ' ” Dürrschmidt tells Digital Trends . “ These multitude did n’t know what Volgarr was , and it was kind of shoved down their throat as a tiptop - backbreaking game that they did n’t have any fashion of warming up in . ”
That ’s a mistake that Dürrschmidt and Digital Eclipse did n’t desire to make when they finally decided to make a sequel . They wantedVolgarr the Viking 2to provide a feature that would allow people to get better at the game so they could find out to enjoy its sometime - schoolhouse trouble . As Dürrschmidt more bluntly put it : “ Everybody should have a fair jibe at deciding whether or not they really wish the game or not , rather than the game just punch them in the expression and transmit them on their direction . ”
Undead Mode comes to life
The source of Undead Mode inVolgarr the Viking 2began with reflecting on the first title . The mixed reception to the Xbox launching due to its difficulty was edifying for Dürrschmidt , but he says that his “ largest regret ” is that people did n’t get to see more of the game . Volgarr the Vikinghad aPath of the Valkyrie variationthat remixed levels for role player . Many player did not see them because toy well and not dying a fate was want to access these levels .
“ What happened is that a majority of players , well into the ninetieth percentile , never find that they ’ve only ever played half the biz , ” Dürrschmidt suppose . “ There ’s an full Valkryie Path that has completely dissimilar grade layouts and challenge . That ’s a whole 50 % of the game that a majority of people did n’t access , so we were a little sad about that . That ’s one of the thing that exchange forVolgarr 2 : visualize out ways that multitude can see the majority of the content and still experience really exclusive about it . ”
Game developer require the highest identification number of people to see as much of the secret plan as potential . Volgarr the Viking 2needed good cock to get hoi polloi acclimated to its stern difficulty . Dürrschmidt likened it to learning how to swim : “ We created this mode so people could get their feet smashed in the pool , acclimatise to the water supply , and then go , ‘ Oh , this swim idea is not so forged . ”
It did n’t start as an Undead Mode , though . The developer ’s first thought was for a baby Volgarr mode that would have put the Viking in a diaper , replace his weapon with a baby rattle , and made foeman explode into confetti instead of blood . While the developer were try out to be funny , they quickly got the feedback that this feel insulting and resolve to create something more close attach toVolgarr the Viking 2’snarrative .
For the newcomers
Undead Mode is n’t something players have to choose to prefer into ; it dynamically activates after player apply enough continue . Volgarr becomes a light-green zombi , and while he can still be knock back by attacks or lessen in pits , he will no longer suffer all his upgrades or die when hit by an foeman . That makes study enemy patterns and layer layout a much more welcoming process .
The developers ofVolgarr the Viking 2repeatedly focus that features like Undead Mode are n’t entail to make the game easy but to ensure that more people could have a chance to enjoy it . Dürrschmidt says challenging game often “ velvet rope ” people off , so only those already familiar or prepared for just a difficult experience even have a chance to dig in .
“ Undead mode is an extra layer to give people the chance to continue playing , ” manufacturer Calvin Vu tell apart Digital Trends . “ As people playact the game , you ’re either skilful at it or not , and most people are n’t good at it at first . How long it takes you to get adept at it varies from person to person , and if some people are really challenged by it , you may see the thwarting happening as they are repeatedly cash in one’s chips . When that happens , we did n’t want it to be the oddment of the game for you . ”
Vu compares it to the X - Men ’s preparation space , the Danger Room ( Volgarr the Viking 2also features a recitation modality where players can come to grips with the grease monkey ) . I encountered Undead Mode during my workforce - on withVolgarr the Viking 2at Guerilla Collective 2024 and found that it helpfully relieve me into the experience during a feverish consequence . That ’s a testament to how well the idea works .
For the fans
While accessibility is always a positive variety , some hardcore Volgarr the Viking fans are still worried about Undead Mode ’s inclusion . Upon its declaration , Dürrschmidt says some fans message him and said he “ ruined the biz ” by include it . In response , Vu tells me that Undead Mode is “ in no way behind the plan of how challenging this biz is , ” while Dürrschmidt want people to play the secret plan first before asserting that . They also highlighted the welfare for the most skilled players who never activate Undead Mode , such as Volgarr not looking like a zombie .
“ That visually piss it so people who postulate to warm up up get what they want , but the hard-core musician that are pullulate and doing speed runs have a visual theatrical that they are actually doing very well versus somebody who ’s not , ” Dürrschmidt sound out . “ And it ’s draw to endings and thing of that nature . you could play through the game , beat it , and see an termination as a automaton . But it ’s not a great ending to pull ahead as an undead affair because that does n’t end well for Volgarr . ”
Harkening back to the Path of the Valkyrie , the developers no longer want to lock in half of the biz behind a difficultness bulwark but are still OK with holding back the endgame challenge and best end for people who do n’t twist into a zombie . participant will postulate to quash touch off Undead Mode and use very few keep on to see the terminal level and well ending for the plot , so those mad at this feature of speech ’s inclusion can take some solace in that .
Still , the hope is that all players can habituate feature like Undead Mode to eventually achieve a gunpoint where they no longer need those training wheels to ride through the secret plan to its proper conclusion . Volgarr the Viking 2′s developer trust it ’s a biz players can truly get better at the more they represent . Calvin Vu was one of those people who did n’t likeVolgarr the Vikingwhen it originally came to Xbox and admits he was quite bad at this game toward the start of the project . But over time , he got better and is now quite near at it .
Volgarr the Viking 2features like its practice mode and Volgarr turning undead after several continues give all player that same opportunity . It ’s not about watering down the pattern of the sequel so it appeals to everyone , but give everyone a shot to delight this rugged - as - nail platformer and then go on to relish even more plot of its ilk . There ’s a billet for old - school game trouble and accessibility to coexist .
Volgarr the Viking 2launches for Nintendo Switch PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , and Xbox Series X / S on August 6 .
