Introduction

Volgarr the Viking II arrives on PS4 like a horned-helmeted postcard from the 1980s, except it has Bluetooth and a refund policy that does not involve throwing your controller into the nearest fjord. The sequel to Crazy Viking Studios' love letter to brutal, old-school platformers keeps the DNA of its predecessor intact: tight controls, punishing encounters, and that particular satisfaction you only get after finally clearing a section that previously reduced you to vibrational rage. Published by Digital Eclipse and released August 6, 2024, Volgarr II doesn't attempt to reinvent the wheel. Instead it polishes the spikes on the wheel and gives them a motivational speech.

Gameplay

If you played the original Volgarr, you know how this story goes: Odin taps you on the shoulder, probably with a bony finger, and asks you to go do something heroic and fatality-prone, like slaying a dragon. You start with the essentials: a sword, a spear, and a wooden shield - which, let's be honest, is the medieval equivalent of a starter pack. The spear behaves as both a ranged weapon and a makeshift platform, which opens up some clever level design opportunities; launch your spear, hop onto it, curse under your breath, and then try not to fall into lava. The sequel keeps these core items, because when something works, you don't mess with it. You just add more spikes and charge admission. Treasure chests remain literal game-changers. They bribe you with power-ups that increase survivability and expand your moveset, meaning the difference between a one-hit wonder and a semi-respectable Viking is a few well-timed pickups and a lot of stubbornness. Health progression is handled in a familiar, satisfying way: in your base state you can absorb a single unblocked hit at the expense of your shield, and a second hit sends you back to the last checkpoint. Luckily, checkpoints are sensibly placed - usually - and the game grants infinite attempts, which is a merciful modern concession to an otherwise merciless design philosophy. Volgarr II doubles down on the original's coin-and-jewel economy. Enemies cough up loot like dragonflies cough up trouble, and collecting those coins matters. Drop dead mid-level and you lose a chunk of your haul, though what you finish the level with is yours to keep. That risk-reward loop encourages cautious greed: do you try to milk the level for extra coins at the risk of losing them all, or do you sprint to safety with your modest fortune intact? Both choices are valid, both choices will probably lead to you swearing at a cupboard. Replayability is stitched into the game's DNA. Faster completion times and loot accumulation are tracked and rewarded, and there's a neat challenge baked in for completionists: clear a level without losing a life to collect special keys that unlock bonus levels. These bonus paths lead to the best possible ending, but be warned - what the game asks for is the platforming equivalent of a perfect score on an exam while balancing a flaming porridge bowl on your head. Critics of the original noted that the endgame essentially demands a near-1CC run to unlock the true finale, and Volgarr II keeps that high bar. If you like the idea of being tested in patience, precision, and the art of not touching enemies, this is your arena. The challenge feels fair, not arbitrary. Enemies behave consistently, traps are telegraphed in ways that reward observation, and death is almost always your fault rather than the game's. That design philosophy keeps frustration from tipping into bitterness; you die, you learn, you come back with a new strategy - and most importantly, a new nickname for the controller. Where Volgarr II shakes things up is in how it layers these systems across levels: there are more environmental interactions built around the spear platforming, denser enemy placements that require smarter crowd control, and pockets of optional content that give you cool toys if you're willing to suffer for them. The pace is deliberate, with plenty of moments where patience is the real power-up.

Graphics

Graphically, Volgarr II wears its retro inspirations like a proud, pixelated beard. The game leans into the aesthetic of 80s side-scrollers - chunky sprites, bold palette choices, and backgrounds that look like they could be printed on a vintage arcade marquee. On PS4, that retro gloss gets a modern polish: animations are crisp, parallax scrolling is handled smoothly, and the clarity of visual cues helps reduce those cheap deaths offenders usually blame on screen fuzz. The environments feel lovingly crafted, with each biome introducing new hazards and visual jokes. Enemies are distinct enough that you don't have to consult a grim rune tablet to figure out what's going to maul you next. It's nostalgia that doesn't feel lazy; it feels curated, like someone cleaned the classics, added new knobs, and said, 'Now play this until your thumbs ache.'

Conclusion

Volgarr the Viking II is a sequel that knows its audience: people who like their platformers with a side of old-school masochism, fair-but-firm design, and the occasional triumphant howl when a long string of retries finally breaks in your favor. If you loved the original's blend of Rastan and Ghosts 'n Goblins homage, you'll appreciate how the sequel refines those ideas without softening them. Digital Eclipse's involvement as publisher brings the right kind of polish to the PS4 release, and Crazy Viking Studios' design ethos remains unapologetically demanding. This isn't a game for casual 'I'll just try one level' players unless by 'try' you mean 'suffer gloriously for three hours and tell all your friends about it.' For perfectionists, speedrunners, and anyone who secretly enjoys being berated by pixelated consequences, Volgarr II delivers. The best ending still requires near-flawless play - prepare to become intimately familiar with checkpoints and the art of quiet rage. In short: put on your horned helmet, practice your Viking scowl in the mirror, and get ready to die a lot - and laugh about it on the way back to the start. That's the point, and it's glorious.

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