As a long time fan of Darkest Dungeon, it was a jarring change to say the least, but the benefits of the new approach quickly made themselves apparent. Instead of the XCOM-like structure where you build a large pool of units to pull from for each dungeon delve, it presents a roguelike structure where you select a core team of four that you’ll take on a longer run through one of five campaigns, each with different environments and bosses. The tight turn-based, positional combat returns as well, but the overall structure of the game has been completely redone. You’re still sending parties of four adventurers to face all types of cultists, creatures and eldritch abominations as you try to cleanse the lands of ancient evil.

These are the ups and downs you can expect playing Darkest Dungeon II, Red Hook Studio’s followup to their breakout hit.įor those familiar with the 2016 original, you will find comfort in the similarities. There’s a tense moment as her resolve is tested before she becomes resolute, an unexpected boon that turns the tides of battle. The Librarian hurls a flaming book at her, putting her at death’s door and maxing out her stress. The Plague Doctor, my only character with healing skills, is low on health and high on stress, a bad combination for a challenging encounter.

I’ve scraped through two fights in the Great Library, destroying mad cultists and immolators, and now am faced with the sinister Librarian.

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