ThereвЂ™s a fine line between the minimalism of the first Nidhogg and its retro-repulsive visuals in the sequel that harkens back to an age of blast-processing and a penis measuring contest of who had the most bits in the house at any given time. TheyвЂ™re charming, ghastly and having the chance to stomp GeoffвЂ™s digital skull into a gooey mix of pink pixels never got old. I couldnвЂ™t get enough of these visuals in Nidhogg 2. It does wonders for the speed and attitude of Nidhogg 2вЂ™s gameplay, giving eagle-eyed players that extra edge in understanding their opponents and reacting to the minutiae of their spacing on any given stage and how theyвЂ™ll attack you. Here is a world that unfolds like a clown car crash, as you find yourself giggling at the grotesque carnage that unfolds around you. Every sequel worth its salt throws a few visual upgrades into the mix, a standard feature thatвЂ™s taken for granted but is an intrinsic feature that complements Nidhogg 2вЂ™s minimalistic gameplay. More violence, set against some of the most hideously beautiful art ever rendered. ItвЂ™s a sequel that offers more of the same, a feature that would be dismissed in any other game but does wonders for Nidhogg 2. The end result? A Nidhogg sequel that plays better and looks wonderfully grotesque thanks to a quirky new art style that creates a tangible benefit for the product. Nidhgg 2 doesnвЂ™t stray too far from that ethos, instead offering enhancements to the core formula while keeping any superfluous content out of the final package. It was part of the charm, a game which at first glance didnвЂ™t look exactly complex but had a deep world worth exploring.

NidhoggвЂ™s simple design hid a devious layer of depth though, one where players jockeyed for optimal spacing between the thrusts of their sword and the perfect timing to switch between a quick parry and a pinpoint strike to the head. Sort of like rugby then, but with rapiers instead. The concept was simple enough: A player would control an elegant and minimalistic collection of pixels that resembled a pixel, and theyвЂ™d fence their way to victory by killing the foe across multiple screens until they finally reached the finish line. Simplicity breeds strength, something that 2014вЂ™s Nidhogg had plenty of when it first launched. Sometimes the simplest organism in nature is the strongest.

2022.03

Nidhogg spine swords