When Serkhan Bakar released the original Beholgar for Steam back in 2022, I did find a certain admiration for it. After all, it reflects on a history of old-school hack and slashers, with a medieval Metroidvania touch. That said, however, the brutal difficulty was a bit much for some to bear, especially when it came to the loss of gold. Fortunately, the recent sequel, Beholgar 2, offers much more balance – though it’s still a tough cookie. Or Fig Newton, I suppose.
The mighty Djinn King is a real jerk, threatening to take over the world. Beholgar can’t have this, so he grabs a sword and unleashes bloody hell on his adversaries. You know the drill. What follows is good hack-and-slash action that nostalgic fans will no doubt indulge in, along with plenty of room to explore.
As I’ve mentioned, the game is still tough. There are times that elements will be stacked against you. But it has been toned down from the original, thankfully, so it’s far more approachable. Not to mention the presentation really captures that golden era of Conan-style adventures. My biggest complaint is that it comes to an end all too soon. I actually wanted more Beholgar.
But for those of you seeking a solid hack-and-slasher with good linear elements and lots of blood (like buckets), Beholgar 2 is worth the addition to your library.
Beholgar 2 Doesn’t Hold Back On the Carnage
Like the original, Beholgar 2 knows its place. It’s a tribute to hack-and-slashers from the 90s, as you guide a solitary sword-wielding hero against a madman king and his army. You’ll do so across a series of linear stages, discovering secrets and switches while hacking away at anything that tries to kill you.
The sword, of course, does a great job, even if the aerial strikes are literally hit-and-miss. But the secondary weapons are cool as well, allowing you to strike from afar to avoid a grisly end on a field of spikes. (Hey, protection first, kids.) I did find the action to be quite bloody, and satisfying, for fans of this sort of thing.
On top of that, the difficulty is nicely balanced. Again, the game is tough and will eat you alive if you’re foolish enough to let it. But work with some concentration and you’ll find it’s way more fair than the original Beholgar. Just remember to keep on your toes, and don’t be afraid to hit that attack button should the situation call for it.
The game has exploratory themes that are pretty good, along with a story that keeps moving forward and that “retro touch” we’ll talk more about in the presentation. But the big negative here is that it comes to an end all too soon. It took me about nine hours to get through it all, even though I still go back to chop away at enemies here and there. This is a game that could’ve used a little more endgame in its package.
But I digress. Improvement is improvement, and Beholgar 2 is a nice step forward over the original game. But fans of the first title and those that love a good hacker should step into Beholgar’s boots. If they can fit, mind you.
How Does Beholgar 2’s Presentation Hold?
I’ll tell you what, if you like old-school presentation, Beholgar 2 will feel right at home to you.
The game’s visuals definitely take a step up over the original, with nice animations and, again, lots of red stuff to fill the room. I especially like the dark tone of each level, as well as the linear touch. There’s a ton to find and hack away at here, even with the game’s short length. Serkan did very well here.
Likewise, the music is epic. It’s right up there with some of the best adventure themes we’ve heard, with a dark, moody soundtrack to go along with the action. The sound effects are good too, though Beholgar’s death scream can be a bit much. Hey, that’s a warrior for you.
In short, the game looks top notch. Not to mention it’s a banger on Steam Deck as well (based on the PC version we reviewed). You can get it for consoles too, as you should.
Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholgar
I was pleased with the progress that’s been made with Beholgar 2. The original, as I mentioned, didn’t “grab” me as it should have. But the second has, to the point that I was shoved to the floor with goodness. Hack and slash fans will feel right at home with the balanced difficulty and (mostly) thrilling action. And the presentation shines, too.
It’s not the best of the bunch in the genre, but Beholgar 2 has no trouble elbowing its way to the table. Give this guy an epic third chapter already. We’ll wait.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Serkhan Bakar for the review code! Beholgar 2 is available now for Steam/PC/Steam Deck, Xbox,PlayStation and Nintendo Switch!
Need more hack and slash in your life? We highly recommend Abathor!
