I’m incredibly thrilled about the release of Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon, likely more than any other DLC outside of Shadow of the Erdtree. This excitement certainly reflects the potential of the upcoming expansion. Gunfire Games has left me highly impressed, showcasing an incredible product developed within a remarkably short period.
From the very beginning, The Dark Horizon presents itself as a significantly more expansive addition compared to prior Remnant 2 DLCs. The new map not only dwarfs the original N’Erud in scale but also incorporates vertical elements that astound me.
As I explored the new facets of the DLC, I felt like a child in a candy store, brimming with anticipation. The launch of the “Horde Mode”is another exciting feature, proving to be far more comprehensive than expected. This combination of features has left me with a highly positive impression, despite only witnessing a hands-off preview.
Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon is a breathtaking and promising expansion
The Warden: A Perfect Archetype for Beginners and a Strong Alternative to the Handler
My preview commenced with an introduction to the new Warden Archetype arriving in Remnant 2 through The Dark Horizon. The session was guided by Ben Cureton, Principal Designer, and Cindy To, Principal Level Designer at Gunfire Games. Although I had a preconceived idea of the Warden Archetype’s gameplay based on the DLC’s artwork, experiencing it firsthand was unexpectedly delightful.
The developers have crafted the DLC’s Archetypes skillfully, with the Ritualist Archetype being my personal favorite. However, I was equally astonished by the capabilities of the Warden, which includes tools and features I hadn’t anticipated.
The Warden operates as a hybrid Archetype, equipped with both offensive and defensive tools. Unlike purely offensive Archetypes like the Ritualist or Invoker, the Warden boasts some potent defensive perks. This versatility is advantageous in both solo gameplay and co-op modes.
In terms of weaponry, the Warden wields the Repair Gun, which serves dual purposes. Firing this weapon at enemies deals damage while aiming it at allies—like your co-op partners or the Dog (if you’ve equipped the Handler Archetype)—heals them instead.
Additionally, the expansion introduces the Plasma Scythe, which features a unique moveset for its charged heavy attack. Ample surprises await, especially with the Warden’s remarkable capability—a Drone.
The Drone operates autonomously, providing shielding, healing, or attacking enemies while offering its own active and passive abilities. Moreover, players can have both the Drone and the Dog as companions when equipping the Handler as a secondary Archetype.
Uniquely, the Warden begins with a shield around its health bar. This protective shield depletes over time but can be replenished via the Prime Perk – Dynamic. Furthermore, if the Shield Drone skill is equipped, the Drone can repair the Warden’s shield.
This Archetype appears perfect for newcomers to Remnant 2. With its array of defensive and healing options, it’s a strong primary choice for co-op gameplay and aligns well with playstyles like Summoner or Handler, which I personally favor.
However, I have concerns that the Warden may be slightly overpowered for lower difficulty levels. While it will still require strategic play in Apocalyptic mode, I believe its passive shield regeneration and healing capabilities might give it an edge in Survivor mode.
Enhanced Verticality and a New Mode of Movement
Similar to earlier expansions, The Dark Horizon builds upon the existing location of N’Erud. Although I’ve always adored Losomn for its Gothic style reminiscent of Bloodborne, my fondness for N’Erud stems from its challenging bosses.
With The Dark Horizon, players are treated to an expansive view of N’Erud’s forgotten history. While previous expansions similarly enlarged existing locales, this one stands apart due to its emphasis on verticality.
The new area is larger in surface area than the original N’Erud and offers a much more vertical design. Think of Elden Ring’s Shadow Realm contrasted with the base game’s Lands Between. To facilitate this verticality, Gunfire Games has introduced a new Glider-drone for traversal.
Players can find designated glider posts throughout the map, allowing you to take flight across the skies freely. There are no set travel paths; once airborne, you can choose your destination and explore to your heart’s content.
Gunfire Games confirmed that utilizing the Glider will be essential for uncovering hidden locations and loot scattered throughout N’Erud. I’m eager to dive into the DLC to thoroughly search the new map for secrets, gear, and the Warden Archetype.
Moreover, the Glider offers a strategic gameplay element. While you can choose your path while soaring, you remain vulnerable throughout the flight. It’s not a “get-out-of-jail-free”mechanism, necessitating prudence during traversals in enemy-populated areas.
During my preview session, I also discovered a new guiding system implemented by Gunfire Games to assist players in reaching their objectives. It doesn’t utilize conventional maps or markers but instead employs a beacon system visible at all times, requiring exploration and puzzle-solving to utilize effectively. This system intriguingly connects to the DLC’s narrative.
Exciting Boss Rush Mode and Enhanced Prisms
Lastly, I received a glimpse of the forthcoming Boss Rush mode, which is set to be a free update for all Remnant 2 players. I felt genuine excitement upon hearing about the introduction of Boss Rush. As a fan of Darksiders 2 and 3’s Crucible mode, I’ve always envisioned something similar for Remnant.
Accessing the Boss Rush mode will be familiar, initiated via the World Stone in Ward 13. However, unlike the main story regions, Boss Rush will be accessible from the outset, regardless of your progress in the story. This approach is commendable.
Allowing instant access to Boss Rush provides experienced players an opportunity to start fresh and challenge themselves against bosses without any enhancements. It also enables newcomers to experiment with their builds against bosses they’ll face in the narrative later on.
The Boss Rush includes three tiers: Triple Threat (a three-boss run), Trial by Fire (a seven-boss run), and The Gauntlet (a nineteen-boss run). Successful completion rewards players with exclusive loot. Additionally, the Boss Rush serves as an excellent alternative for min-max players to gather missed gear during regular playthroughs.
Ben and Cindy shared that the Boss Rush is structured to reward players with gear (such as Rings and upgrade materials) they may have overlooked, eliminating the need for multiple playthroughs merely to obtain a single item.
There’s also a rogue-like aspect to the Boss Rush mode that allows players to discover unique “power-ups”after defeating a boss or an Aberration. The mode is reminiscent of the “Horde Mode”from Doom Eternal, albeit with more bosses and less filler.
Upon choosing a Boss Rush mode, you will face off against mobs that vary according to the chosen locale. If you have downloaded the DLCs, enemies and bosses from those expansions will appear in the Boss Rush pool as well. After defeating the mob, players will encounter an Aberration and finally, face off against a boss.
Lastly, a revamped Prisms system will debut with the Boss Rush update, substantially altering the Fragments system in the game. The new Prism system will replace Relic Fragments, a traditionally underutilized feature in Remnant 2.
Gunfire Games has taken significant strides to rework Relic Fragments into something more useful for build crafting. Rather than tying them to Relics, they’ll now have their own menu alongside Prisms. Players will obtain Prisms to collect more Relic Fragments, leveling them up with experience points increases Fragment slots and generates random Fragments for players to manage. Furthermore, each Prism can be upgraded to +10.
Gunfire Games has effectively transformed one of the more mundane aspects of Remnant 2’s progression into a productive system. I’m genuinely impressed by the thoughtful redesigning of the entire Relic Fragments system, which is accessible to all players regardless of owning DLCs.
In Summary
Remnant 2 already qualifies as an outstanding action RPG. While the previous two expansions were also enjoyable, Gunfire Games has distilled their creativity into this final expansion. They’re delivering what could be the most exceptional map in Remnant 2, accompanied by a new Archetype set to become a fan-favorite.
From my impressions, The Dark Horizon signifies a true evolution of N’Erud and the overall design of Remnant 2. Its focus on verticality and the fresh map, along with the Warden Archetype, is anticipated to engage both newcomers and veterans.
To top it off, Gunfire Games has outdone themselves with the Boss Rush mode, enhancing the experience beyond a simple boss gauntlet by incorporating exclusive rewards and creating a more engaging system. Furthermore, the reworked Prism system not only addresses one of the lesser strengths of Remnant 2’s build crafting—Relic Fragments—but amplifies it significantly.
Overall, I am greatly impressed with what Gunfire Games showcased regarding the forthcoming Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon and the free update for Boss Rush. I genuinely cannot wait to dive into the new N’Erud map and conquer the challenges presented in the Boss Rush mode.
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