Monster Train 2 Review - Heaven and Hell Join Forces On the Switch 2
A few years ago, a little deckbuilding roguelike came out of nowhere to capture the world by storm. An addictive gameplay loop, easily understood yet deep tactics, and a wicked sense of humour made it a breakout hit. That game was Monster Train, and it went on to consume many, many hours of my precious time. Just when I thought I was over my addiction, along comes the sequel, and do you know what? It is even better than the first time around.
Monster Train 2 has arrived on every platform known to man, but I am reviewing it here on the Switch 2 (If you want to know how I feel about the PC version, you can check out my preview here:) Due to the very nature of a cardbattler, you would think that this is the perfect title for an on-the-go gaming system like the Switch 2 and you would be right except for one thing. It is so addictive that you may just miss your train/bus/tram stop because the battle for heaven and hell has consumed your entire consciousness. When it comes to roguelikes, one of the key things that many people talk about is the almost undefinable quality of the “just one more turn”. Let me tell you, Monster Train 2 has that in spades.
First things first, the story this time around is much more important. It still isn’t a large part of proceedings, but it certainly plays a more central role. After Hell fought off Heaven’s invasion in the first game, some of the angels realised that it wasn’t Hell that was the problem, but their lead angel, Seriph. Seriph has turned to the Titans for more power to finally conquer hell, but Heaven’s soldiers, who have recognised Seriph’s lust for power, have formed a covenant with Hell’s minions to see off this threat and stop Seriph once and for all. In all, it is a pretty simple story, but it is one that is told with a verve and humour that make finding all the little story tidbits well worthwhile.
As for gameplay additions. Much of the core game is the same. The train (the playing surface) is broken into four levels. Three card playing levels and one level for the train’s power source. Players must use unit, magic and boost cards on the three playing levels to prevent enemies from reaching the power source. At the end of each turn, any undefeated enemies go up a level until they reach the power source and destroy it. Each round includes a boss battle against a high-powered unit, and once that unit is defeated, the train can move onto a new area to collect unit/spell/weapon upgrades, random boosts and various merchants before starting the next battle. At the beginning of each run, players get to choose 2 of 6 factions, one to be the primary and one to be the support, each of which offers a huge variety of spells, tactics and units, giving the game a huge amount of replayability.
The new additions to the formula arrive in the form of room (level) and weapon cards. These two new introductions add quite a range of tactics to proceedings. Room cards add a bonus or boost to a single level of the train, and weapon cards significantly boost any unit you apply them to. They seem like simple additions, but each one has been well thought-out by the developers and adds a surprising amount of depth to the tactical process. The new factions are all wonderful and feel a lot more varied than the previous game. I love the way that you can mix and match these factions, creating new strategies and playstyles on the go. It lets players really take charge of each and every run, finding something new almost every turn.
On the tech side of things, the game runs well on the Switch 2, but it isn’t quite as smooth as the PC version. There is some noticeable jerkiness to the animations on Switch 2, which is something that is just not there on PC. Some of the graphics also have a slightly pixellated appearance, especially in handheld mode. These issues could easily be fixed in an upcoming patch, and neither of them inhibits the enjoyment of the game. In fact, unless you are like me and have Monster Train 2 on two systems, you probably won’t even notice the issues.
As far as deckbuilders go, in my mind, Monster Train 2 is the cream of the crop. Sure, the Switch 2 version may have a few very slight issues when you compare it to other systems, but they never get in the way of enjoying the game. The tactics, humour and gameplay all combine to create one of the more addictive experiences of recent times, and quite frankly, it should be on everyone’s wishlist at the very least. If you are looking for something to add to your Switch 2 launch collection, Monster Train 2 is the perfect addition. Don’t miss it.
Monster Train 2 was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2 with code kindly supplied by the publisher.
