Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hard, bloody fantasy RPG encourages strategic thinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Blackguards 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
With a new protagonist (and some returning side characters), BLACKGUARDS 2 tells the story of an innocent woman who one day wakes up in a dank dungeon. Her imprisonment is never explained, and she spends years trying to escape, frequently being bitten by poisonous spiders that warp her mind. When she finally gets out she's consumed with revenge and wants only to seize control of the kingdom. To that end, she enlists a ragtag band of thieves and misfits, making them wild promises of wealth and infamy. Turn-based tactical action plays out on gridded maps with specific objectives, such as killing all enemies or reaching map exits. Dedicated players can expect around 25 hours of fresh play, perhaps more depending on skill.
Is It Any Good?
Blackguards 2 delivers a series of modest but smart upgrades to the strategic action introduced by its predecessor. Combat is less frustrating, thanks to improved hit rates (which means you'll need to restart fewer missions due to bad luck). Character customization also is less of a chore thanks to tweaks that streamline (if only a little) the process of picking or growing talents and abilities. Perhaps best of all, the story is more compelling thanks to a darker plot and better voice acting.
But it's not without issue. Although the acting is a step up, parts of the story are a little off; it feels like the narrative is missing key scenes to connect important events. Plus, it'd be nice to be able to skip enemy movements, since there are times when you may have to wait for a dozen or more foes to carry out actions before your characters' turns come around again. That said, it's a solid, complex, and challenging game of turn-based tactics. Fantasy and strategy lovers ought to feel right at home.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in media. Try discussing the real-world consequences of violent behavior with your kids. In what, if any, situation is violence justified?
Discuss the concept of antiheroes. Why are people sometimes sympathetic toward villains when their motives are explained (even if, in the end, their actions cannot be justified)?
Game Details
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