Wizard of Legend 2 is an action game with roguelike mechanics where spell combos are the key to success. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the early access version, and more.
Everything We Know About Wizard of Legend 2
Wizard of Legend 2 Plot
Wizard of Legend 2 continues the thrilling journey from the first game, where wizards from all over the world gather to compete in a grueling set of trials, vying for the title of the fabled Wizard of Legend 2. Now set in the awe-inspiring Floating Islands, these new trials are more formidable than ever, crafted to test and eliminate all but the most powerful mages. With the chaotic, shifting forces of Arcana at your command, do you have what it takes to rise above the rest and claim the title? Only time—and magic—will tell.
Wizard of Legend 2 Gameplay
Wizard of Legend 2 builds on the core gameplay of its predecessor, delivering fast-paced, combo-based arcane combat as players fight their way through increasingly difficult floating dungeons teeming with enemies, NPCs, magical items, spells, and treasures. Now remade in stunning 2.5D, akin to Supergiant’s Hades, the game introduces brand-new spells, passives, items, and combo opportunities for those ready to tackle the Legend 2ary trials.
Wizard of Legend 2 Release Date
Wizard of Legend 2’s early access build was released for the PC via Steam on October 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EDT / 7:00 a.m. PDT.
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| $24.99 |
Wizard of Legend 2 Review [Early Access]
Not Legendary Quite Yet
While I haven’t played the original Wizard of Legend, I’d heard (and mostly read) plenty of good things about it leading up to the early access release of its sequel. Naturally, I was pretty hyped to jump into Wizard of Legend 2, especially since I tend to cave in to FOMO, and I figured it was too late to get into the first one.
Unfortunately, that hype took a sharp nosedive once I actually started playing.
Now, I’m not a hardcore roguelike fan. I’m just really into the idea of experimenting with different builds, which is one of the biggest appeals of the genre. There’s just something super satisfying about finding loadouts that either wins me the game with impunity or causes me psychological damage for even trying. That’s the fun, right?
But I didn’t feel much of that in Wizard of Legend 2, even after hours of grinding and trying out as many kit combinations as I could with the limited tools the game provides. Most of the blame lies with the relics, which are functionally the game’s upgrades and make up half of its core roguelike system. They lack variety, impact, and aren’t easy to come by. In fact, they’re so forgettable that after a few runs, you might not even notice they exist.
The real driver of how each run is experienced is the spells you carry. You start with three: a basic, a signature, and a standard spell. You can get up to two more standard spells for a total of three as you progress, but you’re locked into one basic and one signature spell at a time. Yes, you can also replace them, by the way.
Sounds solid, right? And it is—mostly. The spells are the heart of Wizard of Legend 2’s roguelike experience. Even small changes in your loadout can completely alter your playstyle between runs. Standard roguelike stuff. Minor issue, though; you have to carry three spells with you as you enter the dungeon. Hence, you can end up being forced into a playstyle that fits whatever spells you start with repeatedly.
That’s not a huge deal by itself, though; other roguelikes do something similar, where you pick a character with a specific playstyle and build around that. But in Wizard of Legend 2, the real fun kicks in when you’ve unlocked enough spells to start experimenting with combos. Picking the right combination of spells can lead to some seriously gratifying gameplay. Otherwise, you’re stuck with a patchwork build that falls apart when harsh words are thrown in your direction.
As for the difficulty, it’s pretty so-so. There’s a noticeable power spike between regular mobs and bosses, and the shock alone might catch you off guard and get you a game over screen on the first run. On the other hand, while bosses hit hard, they also go down quickly, so after a few runs, it’s not something you’ll struggle with.
On the other hand, the mob area is quite disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, though. The mobs themselves are fine. The issue is in the map they have the unfortunate honor of calling as their home. You’ve got treasure chests that look better than the junk they hold and shops that pop up occasionally, but that’s about it. The long stretches of empty halls drag down the pace, which is pretty frustrating for a game that should feel fast and fun.
At this point, I don’t think the game is quite ready, even for early access. There’s just not enough content, not enough gameplay variety, and it’s riddled with bugs that should’ve been easy to catch. Like, how do you miss treasure chests spawning outside the map or teleportation circles that only work when you try them a second time? And sometimes you even get stuck in the terrain.
That said, Wizard of Legend 2 has a ton of potential. It could really live up to its name—legendary—but only if they add more flavor to this multi-layered sandwich of a game. Until then, it’s still reaching for the greatness its title promises.
Great Characterizations
A lot of things work in favor of Wizard of Legend 2’s characters. From the amazing voice work, to their constant bickering and side comments as you run through trials, to the little animations they do when you engage with them; more than just the dialogue, these details really help flesh out each character’s personality and make them feel more complete to us as third-party viewers.
Heck, even their artworks ooze personality.
Run Distinction Needs Force
In my opinion, this is Wizard of Legend 2’s biggest problem. Despite being a roguelike, the game itself doesn’t make an effort to double down on the genre. Every run feels almost the same, even when you pick different relics or equipment along the way. The only way to truly switch things up is by completely changing your starting spells.
The main culprit here is Wizard of Legend 2’s relics, which are meant to be the game’s upgrades and, in many ways, one half of its roguelike backbone. Long story short, they’re just not interesting or striking enough to change how you approach a run, except for the cursed ones, which you get by willingly getting abducted into another dimension. But at the end of the day, even those don’t make a huge impact.
The other half would be the spells, which you pick up as you beat enemies and smash through people’s homes by breaking their vases. Thankfully, the spells are much better at shaping your runs; however, they still fall short if you don’t entirely shake up your starting loadout. Otherwise, you’ll end up having to tweak your spell selection to fit whatever you began with anyway and end up going with something similar to a previous build.
Maps Feel Empty
There’s a reason why roguelikes like Realm of Ink, Chrono Ark, and Crypt of the NecroDancer work so well, even with their relatively small maps. It’s because running (or vibing, in NecroDancer’s case) through their corridors never feels like a waste of time. The same can’t be said for Wizard of Legend 2, though. Its halls are just that—halls. There’s basically nothing to look forward to, aside from the occasional treasure icon on the minimap or a randomly misplaced enemy that’s more of a minor annoyance than a real threat.
None of its points of interest feel as anxiety-inducing as Chrono Ark’s, where a bad encounter can straight-up kill you (or worse). And the overall journey isn’t as engaging as Crypt of the NecroDancer’s rhythm-based, well, everything.
Now that I think about it, I can’t recall any recent roguelike with a more non-threatening map than Wizard of Legend 2’s. Maybe it’s because all the dangerous enemies are right near the end of each stage, so the fights before that just feel like a chore. Or maybe it’s because the only real danger early on is accidentally falling into a pit—which, let’s be real, does more emotional damage than anything else.
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Wizard of Legend 2 Product Information
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| Title | WIZARD OF LEGEND 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 03, 2024 |
| Developer | Dead Mage |
| Publisher | Humble Games |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | RPG, Action, Roguelite |
| Number of Players | 1-4 (Online Co-op Multiplayer) |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Wizard of Legend 2 Website |
