Developed by Gunfire Games and published by Arc Games, Remnant 2 released its DLC titled The Forgotten Kingdom for $9.99 which is a steal. This DLC should be the standard bar of all DLCs for the price and what you get. Amidst the eerie remnants of Yaesha’s once majestic ziggurats, now haunted by the echoes of untold stories and revenge, players will follow intricately designed murals, uncover secrets and clues, and watch the pieces slowly come together. You’ll navigate the paths where Sentient Stones prowl in search of fresh victims in a beautifully crafted land that’s perilous in every way.
From the rich history submerged in the fragmented ruins, hidden rooms, secret tunnels, and more. Gunfire Games has elevated this game in crafting a world, by expanding the already rich lore waiting to be uncovered. As I dwelled into the story, from exploring the surrounding areas, the story slowly but effectively revealed pivotal characters and happenings that led to the events of the long-lost civilization. With the addition of new NPCs, it felt like a complete chapter of a new book was laid out for me. I kept being lured farther down the rabbit hole with each discovery.
In The Forgotten Kingdom, it didn’t take me very long to notice that there were more dangers in the world, and the world became a challenge to traverse. It was a challenge for me so if you’re a first-time player of this game, do not lose heart. Just keep at it and the payoff will almost be worth it. I say that only because I found the ending less than whelming for me. I do not mean that in a negative on the game. I was expecting something more.
Gunfire games seemed to focus more on exploration and storytelling in this DLC. From the intricately designed Ziggurats to scaling the broken structures, weaving through the interconnected forest paths, and even spelunking through the old tunnels. This game gave so much for my inner explorer to come out, and it did. I was frustrated, but the best part was getting lost while exploring especially the overworld. This was not because of its size, but because of its tricky design.
I was enthralled by the amount of exploration I took on, but also by uncovering numerous secrets and lore from hidden chests, hanging platforms, and even hidden ancient rooms which often contain valuable treasures. Oh, and there are a lot of puzzles to solve in The Forgotten Kingdom. These puzzles are not your typical simple and easy puzzles these take time and thought to solve. It felt like I was playing a completely different game compared to the previous DLC. This felt more like Tomb Raider or Uncharted with the uncovering secrets, avoiding traps, and solving puzzles.
Just like any other DLC, you have to have new enemies. The guardians of the Lost Tribe is where it is at. There were new bosses to fight, and each of them offered different combat mechanics that players would have to learn if they wanted to survive. Most of the boss fights feel gimmicky and mechanics-focused compared to skill-based bosses where dodging and counters are enough to carry you through even if you do not know the mechanics. I will say some of them are dull, but not all of them. Of course, as a gamer, I like variety, so it was not a turn-off kind of moment. Just know that on Apocalypse Difficulty, the bosses can still one-shot you.
The Forgotten Kingdom comes with a plethora of new gear to collect and customize. With each puzzle solved, or boss killed, hell even a random chest I kept getting new mutators, materials, weapons, and more. The variety of new weapons and gear ensures that every player will find something to suit their preferred playstyle. Rather it is to upgrade their current build, or create a brand new one, thanks to these newly available items.
Now the real reason everyone is looking to The Forgotten Kingdom is the new Archetype: Invoker. I will not give away anything but you will need to unlock the archetype before you can play as one, I will say, YOU WANT TO PLAY AS ONE!
Graphically, they have made no improvements that have been applied in this latest expansion, I felt Gunfire Games focused heavily on presentation this time around, instead of solely focusing on combat, which I greatly appreciated. Incorporating intricately composed musical scores that are perfect to set the mood, Gunfire Games managed to make exploration more engaging and really ramp up the tension during key moments of the DLC.
4 hours and 21 minutes completed my first walkthrough as a Gunfighter, I explored 100% of the map and I looked good doing it. So of course, I restarted and ran through as an Invoker. The two experiences were different and enjoyable. Did I mention you need to play as an Invoker? Now if you are a completionist or achievement junkie like me, then expect to have at least six to eight playthroughs.
The Forgotten Kingdom focuses more on exploration and story than both the base game and the previous DLC, with many puzzles and mysteries. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, I recommend The Forgotten Kingdom. With its solid lore, engaging gameplay, new items to collect, and low price of 9.99 USD, it stands as a shining example of what DLC should strive to be in modern gaming.
This review was written based on a PC review code for Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom provided by Gunfire Games.
