So, yeah, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm borrows a bit from Legend of Zelda. It’s evident with the jumping and the combat and the design and the vibe as a whole.
When the game initially released on Nintendo Switch last year, many were wondering what the point was. But, hey, when Sonic the Hedgehog came out for Sega Genesis, it had its fair share of clones, right? And part of them weren’t bad, despite not being as legendary as Sega’s mascot.
But now we’re starting to see where Oceanhorn 2 can truly benefit players, as it’s available for Xbox, PlayStation and PC – platforms, mind you, that don’t have a Zelda game to call their own. So, yeah, it definitely fills that void, and does so wonderfully thanks to its splendid design, its sprawling world and its fun gameplay.
For some, that’s definitely enough.
Blast the Horn
Instead of a sequel to Oceanhorn, this serves as a prequel, taking place a thousand years beforehand. You portray a young Knight who finds himself going up against Warlock Mesmeroth as he attempts to take over the land with a dark army. But you’re not alone, as you have Trin, a mysterious robot with a samurai weapon, lending a hand to save the day. Between the two, you’ve got a pretty worthwhile adventure ahead of you.
While the storytelling isn’t as compelling as, well, that other series, there is a good deal of entertainment here. Some of the characters offer some sage advice; and the new areas you explore around the world of Gaia are fascinating, with new challenges around every turn. Not to mention the puzzles and boss fights that pop up will keep you on your toes.
The combat may not be as smooth as that other series, but they still work well, with combat coming across with ease, and new items – like fire ammunition for your gun – coming in handy against tougher enemies. I think the only real downside here is that there’s no lock-on camera, so if you get surrounded by your enemies, you may want to consider rolling out of harm’s way.
But otherwise, there’s hardly any complaints to how the game plays. It’s definitely an improvement over the first Oceanhorn, and players of all ages will find something to enjoy here. Plus the vehicle usage and side quests add to the replay value, meaning you’ll be a while to get through this adventure.
A Swell Looking Oceanhorn
The original Switch version of Oceanhorn 2 didn’t look that bad, even though it didn’t compare to the vastness of Nintendo’s adventures. But on the PlayStation, PC and Xbox, it’s really given a chance to shine.
With a better performance and frame rate, Gaia looks better than ever, though it can be easy to miss out on secrets at times if you aren’t looking. Fortunately, this is made up for with some beautifully detailed environments, along with great animations (especially on the boss enemies) and very small loading times. Sometimes the camera can be a pain (again, no dedicated lock-on), but overall it looks great.
As for the sound, the music isn’t amazing by any means, but it is warm and pleasant, and welcomes you into each new area you explore. The voiceovers are also well done for an indie effort; and the sound effects are pretty good, too.
Can’t Get Zelda? Oceanhorn Is a Great Alternative
For a mere $30 – a small fraction of what Tears of the Kingdom goes for – Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm makes for an ideal purchase. Sure, it takes quite a bit from Zelda, but it’s a very well done adventure with smooth combat (save for that lack of lock-on), a spruced-up presentation and a good amount of replay value.
If you have a Switch, well, you probably have your adventuring plans all figured out. But if you have a PlayStation, PC or Xbox, consider adding this Knight and Trin to your collection. They’ll take you on quite a journey.
GAMERHUB RATING: FOUR (OUT OF FIVE) JOYSTICKS
(Thanks to FDG Entertainment for the review code!)
