Written by Lauren Alexander
The Warhammer Franchise and I have a very simple relationship: They make quality products based on Sci Fi or Fantasy settings and I spend all of my money for them. When Vermintide 2 was announced, I knew I was going to purchase the game and would enjoy it enough to not regret my purchase. The original Vermintide was a solid game all around but had enough flaws to not make it appealing to the general public, at least not for long. I believe a problem was the exclusivity of Skaven, rat humanoids who have overrun the countryside when so many other terrifying foes reside in the Warhammer lore.
Then Vermintide 2 launched.
Vermintide is back – darker, bloodier and more intense than ever!
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Vermintide. The time has arrived to revisit the fierce first-person co-op slaughter-fest featuring visceral and ground breaking melee action, set in the apocalyptic End Times of the war-ravaged Warhammer Fantasy Battles world .
Our 5 heroes have returned to take on an even greater threat – the combined forces of a malevolent and destructive Chaos army and the swarming Skaven horde. Prepare to be challenged like never before as you and your team desperately try to survive the never-ending onslaught. Choose between 15 different careers, climb the talent trees, customize your arsenal to fit your unique play style, fight your way through a myriad of stunning levels, and challenge yourself in our new Heroic Deeds System. The only thing standing between utter defeat and victory is you and your allies. If you fall – so will the Empire. – Steam
While it does remain true to the original concept of the original Vermintide by having five heroes fighting a horde of fiends while accomplishing various tasks, it comes with a whole list of new features! If you aren’t familiar with the original Vermintide, but have played one of the Left 4 Dead games, you can expect a somewhat similar theme: up to 4 player co-op, hordes of enemies, limited ammo, and specific tasks to knock out. It is a great time with friends, and because of the randomization of enemies it holds a lot replay value.
I actually do not personally enjoy Left 4 Dead much save for the witty banter between characters. I know it is one of the most beloved franchises in the gaming world, but the lack of permanence or customization just dulled the fun for me. After the 50th time doing the same mission, I just grew bored because we either died or lived depending on our weapon availability. When Vermintide 2 came out, I feared it would be the same situation but I have never been so glad to be wrong!
In Vermintide 2 you have access to five heroes, and each hero has three distinct fighting styles. Each hero is able to use unique weapons that has an effect on both offense and defense. While playing you’ll gain experience from your efforts, and loot boxes that contain items that will help you. Each item has a rarity level with random properties and if you don’t need some gear, you can disenchant them for supplies to enhance the gear you do want.
At the time of writing this article I have logged 10 hours, I can say with confidence that I have had so much fun that I know this game will only continue to improve with future DLCs and patches. It is a blast to play with friends regardless of skill level or gear difference, and offers challenging modes for hardcore gamers. Even if you’re not a huge fan of Warhammer, this is a solid game and great fun with friends. It’s currently available on PC for $29.99 on Steam, and expected to launch on Playstation 4 and Xbox One later in the year!
