Project Warlock II Review Summary

While it improves on the first with satisfying fast gunplay and varied weapons, rushed chapter 3, poor level design, and harmful weapon upgrades hold it back.

Improves upon the first game: Many players note that the game is a significant improvement over its predecessor in various aspects, including gameplay, style, and overall quality. This is a common theme across several clusters.

Large variety of weapons: Players appreciate the large arsenal of unique weapons, with each character having distinct weapon sets and upgrade branches. Most weapons are considered viable, adding to the game's variety.

Gunplay is fast and satisfying: Players consistently praise the gunplay as fast, frenetic, and satisfying, with specific mentions of shotguns, headshots, and gibbing effects. This positive feedback appears across multiple clusters.

Game is very fun: Multiple reviews describe the game as fun, enjoyable, and a blast to play. This general sentiment is repeated frequently, indicating a strong overall positive reception.

Combat is satisfying: Combat is repeatedly described as satisfying, thrilling, and fun, with solid mechanics that are endlessly replayable. This reinforces the positive reception of the core gameplay.

Chapter 3 is rushed: Many reviews state that the third chapter has very short levels, feels undercooked, and is less refined than earlier chapters. Several players note levels lasting only 2-3 minutes and a general drop in quality and interest.

Weapon upgrades harm gameplay: Players report that weapon upgrades often make weapons feel weaker or less fun, and that some upgrades are useless while others are overpowered. The inability to revert or test upgrades before choosing adds to the frustration.

Level design is poor: A significant number of reviews criticize the level design as confusing, lacking a coherent plan, and sometimes poorly constructed. This issue appears across multiple episodes, with some noting it worsens in later parts of the game.

Weapon balance is broken: Reviews highlight severe weapon imbalance, with some weapons being so powerful that they trivialize the game, while others are nearly useless. Specific examples include life steal on melee making the player immortal in Episode 2.

Lacks first game's charm: Multiple reviews state the game feels like a downgrade from the first, losing the visual charm, atmosphere, and overall appeal. The art style, animations, and general vibe are mentioned as less impressive.

Retro FPS with chapters: The game is a retro-style first-person shooter with a chapter-based campaign and large open levels. It combines classic FPS gameplay with multiple enemy types.

Character-specific weapon and spell loadouts: Each character has a distinct arsenal of guns, spells, and melee weaponsasi. The game features a combination of gunplay and magic across all campaigns.

Three playable characters: Each of the three playable characters has unique weapons, abilities, and playstyles. They are connected by story and each has a separate campaign chapter.

Upgrade and progression systems: The game includes weapon, spell, and drone upgrades with progression paths for characters. Players can customize their arsenal and abilities through skill upgrades.

Chapters feature unique characters: Each chapter of the game is associated with a different protagonist who has their own weapons and abilities. This structure provides varied gameplay across the campaign.

Performance drops during combat: Multiple clusters report frame rate dips during intense combat, especially boss fights and large enemy encounters. These range from mild stutters to single-digit frames, making combat feel less responsive.

Loading screens and freezing issues: Frequent loading screen freezes and long load times are reported, sometimes after updates or during game transitions. Some instances require computer restarts or cause softlocks, indicating serious stability bugs.

Performance varies by platform and mode: Some players report smooth performance on Steam Deck, ultrawide, or high-end PCs, while others face issues like fan noise or glitches on the same platforms. This suggests inconsistent optimization across configurations.

Optimization insufficient for low-end hardware: Performance is poorly optimized on some systems, with players unable to maintain 60 FPS at 720p on low settings even with capable GPUs. Episode 3 is specifically called out for poor optimization.

Crashes and game-breaking bugs: Several players experience crashes, including a laser gun crash from particle overload and freezes during replays or specific actions. These bugs can force restarts and hinder progress.

Recommended for retro FPS fans: Many reviewers recommend this game to fans of classic shooters like Doom, Quake, and Blood, as well as boomer shooters in general. The retro style and fast-paced action resonate well with this audience.

Not recommended in current state: Several reviewers cannot recommend the game due to bugs, performance issues, and a lack of polish at the time of writing. These issues detract from the experience and lead to negative recommendations.

Buy on sale only: A common suggestion is to wait for a sale before purchasing, given the game's current issues and incomplete state. Reviewers advise getting it at a discount to justify the trade-offs.

Play first game instead: Many reviewers recommend playing the original Project Warlock instead, considering it a better or more polished experience. They suggest this game only for those who have exhausted the original.

Highly recommended overall: Some reviewers give strong positive recommendations, praising the game as a top purchase or a standout in the genre. They find it highly enjoyable despite minor flaws.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00.

Story completion: 11.0h.

Project Warlock 2 initially overwhelms with systems and large, slow levels, but many players find the combat and variety rewarding once it clicks, typically after a few hours of play.

Friction: overwhelming systems; bizarre tutorial; boring large maps; corridor/arena pacing; secret system tedious; repetitive level design.

Unlock drivers: once the game clicks; character variety and distinct enemies; weapon upgrade system; understanding progression.

Retro FPS Purist: Aggressive, high-speed run-and-gun, often using the combo meter to maximize drops. Motivation: Nostalgic fast-paced combat evoking classic 1990s shooters. Stance: buy.

Disillusioned PW1 Fan: Cautious and comparative, often judging the sequel against the original and feeling alienated by changes. Motivation: Expecting a faithful follow-up to Project Warlock 1. Stance: no buy.

Character Replay Enthusiast: Adaptive and exploratory, enjoying multiple playthroughs with different character builds. Motivation: High replayability through distinct characters and upgrade paths. Stance: buy.

Based on a single review from the Windows <8GB VRAM cohort, the game shows notable performance problems including frame drops and severe texture errors, leading to a mixed assessment.

Windows <8GB VRAM: mixed. The only reviewed report (with 8GB VRAM) recommends the game but describes frequent frame drops, hiccups, and widespread texture misalignment, indicating significant performance issues despite a positive recommendation.

Steam Deck: The game is largely broken on Steam Deck due to severe performance issues (extreme frame drops, resolution glitches on every loading screen, iffy controller support) and a boss encounter that drops fps to single digits, forcing a restart. One positive report exists but is overwhelmed by the critical technical barriers.

Linux and Proton: Based on the sole review provided, the game runs perfectly fine on the Steam Deck, demonstrating excellent Proton compatibility without any reported friction.

Sequel compares to original: Many reviews compare Project Warlock II to its predecessor, Project Warlock 1, with mixed opinions. Some find it an improvement or evolution, while others consider it a downgrade or less focused.

Early access concerns persist: Numerous reviews note that the game was or still is in early access, with some feeling it remains unfinished or short despite leaving early access. Others appreciate the improvements made during that period.

Gameplay compared to classics: Reviewers frequently compare the game to classic first-person shooters like Doom, Quake, and Blood, often favorably, suggesting it captures a retro feel. Some also compare it to newer titles like Doom Eternal.

Value for money praised: A few reviews highlight that the game is reasonably priced and offers good value for its cost, making it an accessible purchase. This positive aspect is noted despite other critiques.

Steam Deck compatibility appreciated: Players mention enjoying the game on the Steam Deck, noting its portability for travel. This suggests the game runs well on handheld hardware.