Wargroove 2 Review (dreaxslar)
This is one of those times I wish Steam offered a neutral recommendation.
Pros:
-Gameplay is practically Wargroove+. An improved map maker, new units and commanders, two-tier grooves, and a brand new game mode, Conquest.
-Conquest is the roguelite addition to the series. It does what it's supposed to: give you a replayable game mode for single-player with upgrades and items and such.
-I like the new rat race. Rhomb is cool and has a cool theme.
-Aunty Arsonist Nadia is also neat, even if she and Alia were probably created to dissuade headcanons that Wulfar and Vesper were once an item.
-Campaign missions are fun and the objectives for stars are a nice challenge. Not everything is an "S-rank in x-turns" chore.
Cons:
-It's Wargroove+, not Wargroove 2. It's a new campaign and a new game mode at the cost of two game modes, Arcade and Puzzle (though Arcade is arguably something I won't miss). At $20, I'd rather this was a DLC to an already-solid experience instead.
-The music is serviceable, if giving Yoshi's New Island vibes with its repetitive nature. Definitely a step down in giving characters a unique identity with their themes. It's more "This is their nation's motif but slightly changed so it's Ryota's now."
-The story WAS passable, right up to the last campaign. Then one character assassination and sequel-bait later, I don't care to see what plot they could possibly cook up for Wargroove 3. Before that happened, the only real knock I could give the story was that it was trite and wanted to give multiple characters traumatic backstories without really delving into them or the effects it had on their personalities. Because let me tell you, NONE of these backstories were hinted at in the first game.
-Oh yeah, that's also a major knock against this game. I actually can't recommend it to you unless you played Wargroove 1 first. The campaign has a tutorial for newcomers, but the plot outright expects you to have played Wargroove 1 and its co-op campaign to completion.
-There are bugs that have been present since launch (disabling joint-defeat in team games doesn't do anything, for one). It's been 9-ish months.
So... yeah. I can tell there was a lot of passion put into this entry, but I can't overlook it's shortcomings. Please, if this game looks fun to you, I highly recommend you play its predecessor and then decide if this one seems worth it afterward.