Mortal Shell II Review
If you came to Mortal Shell II expecting to spend hours slowly methodically moving through the world with a shield up, then you will be surprised. This second installment takes all of the slowness out of the first installment and puts the pedal to the metal. Over the last several days I have put 40 hours into this game and the change in tempo is truly an adrenaline rush.
The combat system in Mortal Shell II is the best part of the game. You can no longer sit back and wait for a safe opportunity to attack an enemy. The combat in this game forces you to move quickly and take advantage of aggressive gap closers and lightning quick dodges. The perfect parry is probably the most rewarding element of the combat system. Although it requires precise timing, the rewards are well worth the effort. The follow up attacks after you successfully parry an enemy's attack are brutal and satisfying. These attacks make every boss battle feel like a intense, high-risk dance between you and your opponent. The fast pace of the combat system works perfectly with the return of the "shells" mechanic.
Unlike previous installments that forced you to select a basic class from a menu and then assign your stats, Mortal Shell II allows you to inhabit the bodies of fallen warriors. Each shell has its own unique history, movement characteristics, and special abilities. When you find a new shell in Mortal Shell II, it is similar to finding a hidden treasure in an older adventure game - it completely changes how you approach the combat systems within the game. It makes transitioning between different combat situations feel more natural and tied to the world around you instead of simply swapping out your weapon loadout.
In terms of visuals, the art direction in Mortal Shell II is carrying the weight of the dark atmosphere on its shoulders. The developers did an excellent job creating a beautiful, yet oppressive gothic horror setting. I was not stuck looking at gray dungeon walls for forty hours; I traveled from frost bitten mountain towns and decaying medieval ruins into literal hellscapes. If there is one area that falls short, it is the overall narrative structure.
The main story line is sufficient enough, however it does not break new ground in terms of narrative structure. However, while it does not provide an engaging cinematic story line, it provides an amazing amount of world building. There is a lot of lore available throughout the game via hidden notes that kept me searching for answers. Additionally, there were many fantastic spoiler-heavy moments later on in the game that totally surprised me.
Technically speaking, Mortal Shell II runs extremely smoothly. Occasionally, I noticed small glitches where a boss animation would freeze during some of the more chaotic combat sequences. However, these glitches were never cheap or game-breaking enough to pull me away from my immersion in the game.
