Info about Remnant II® - The Awakened King:

Official game description:
The One True King has awakened and is out for blood. Corrupted by the Root during his near-death slumber, the mad king sees betrayal at every turn and is on a rampage of revenge. Since his castle first arrived in a Dran coastal town, the tides are angry and the weather is chaotic, surfacing all manner of creatures from the depths and leaving many mysteries in its wake.  
\- New Archetype - The Ritualist  
\- New storyline, dungeons and area based in the world of Losomn  
\- Many items and powerful weapons that enhance gameplay  
\- New bosses, characters and fearsome creatures to encounter

Release date: Nov 14, 2023

Categories: Third-Person Shooter, Soulslike Combat, Action RPG, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Exploration

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Fair / Traditional DLC Model; summary: The reviewed feedback centers on Remnant II's paid DLC, including debates over whether the $10 price is fair, mentions of DLC Pack/Ultimate Edition access, and one pay-to-win comment that is immediately negated by the absence of PvP. There is no direct evidence of real-money gacha, loot boxes, battle passes, paid power, paid convenience, currency obfuscation, or an in-game cash shop. The only monetization discussed is traditional paid DLC, so the score stays in the fair range.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $30.00 - $50.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews show that the community values the base game and its formula, with fans considering the full or Ultimate package worthwhile. However, they are strongly sale-sensitive and repeatedly advise waiting for a discount when uncertain. This suggests a fair base-game price range that leans toward mid-tier pricing for cautious buyers while remaining acceptable to invested fans, roughly $30 to $50. Confidence is limited because the provided evidence focuses on DLC value rather than direct base-game price statements.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 7.0h
  - Story completion: 4.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote supports a roughly 4-hour first-run/story completion for the DLC. The second quote gives about 7 hours for a fuller DLC clear including side areas, so gameCompletion is set to 7. The third quote reports 6 hours of DLC content without full completion, which is consistent with a full clear around 7 hours. No quote provides a clear single-session length or a DLC-only aggregate for endgame/repeatable post-story play, so sessionLength and endgame are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Reviewers largely report that this expansion never becomes fun, citing reused areas, confusing progression, weak enemies and weapons, and a cut-content feel. A few positive comments about the Ritualist, dual-classing, a new gun, and one non-repetitive experience conflict with the dominant negative reports but do not establish a later fun anchor.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Large, convoluted, static overworld map; Tedious repeat playthroughs; Confusing area progression; Horrendous enemy designs; Disappointing weapon options; Reused Losomn areas feel copy-pasted or like cut content
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: On repeat playthroughs; If the overworld map is static and not procedurally generated; During area progression; After a few hours; By the third playthrough; Some players do not mind reused Losomn enemies
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Veteran Completionist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering the game's hardest content and earning new rewards without being forced into repetitive full-game grinds.
    - Playstyle: Repeated campaign runs, Hardcore attempts, Adventure clears, and high-difficulty build optimization.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Remnant: From the Ashes
  - Build-Crafting Status Effect Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Experimenting with new classes, equipment synergies, and status-effect builds that expand character power and options.
    - Playstyle: Theorycrafting status-effect builds, stacking equipment synergies, and optimizing for Apocalypse difficulty.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value-Conscious DLC Shopper (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting more Remnant 2 content at a fair price and with acceptable polish.
    - Playstyle: Playing the base game and considering DLC as an optional content purchase rather than an instant buy.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: big fan of Remnant 2
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Remnant Formula Loyalist (buy)
    - Motivation: Continuing the core Remnant loop and getting more of the same formula, challenge, and item variety.
    - Playstyle: Playing through the base game and DLC as a natural extension of the existing campaign and combat loop.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Remnant I


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- New enemies and bosses (weight 0.92): The DLC adds several new enemy types, including elites and basic mobs, as well as multiple new bosses. Players find these additions enjoyable and well-designed.
- Weapons and equipment additions (weight 0.84): The DLC introduces a variety of new weapons, armor sets, rings, amulets, and mutators. Players enjoy the new gear, especially those that synergize with status effects and enable new builds.
- New archetype Ritualist (weight 0.78): The new Ritualist archetype focuses on status effects and crowd control, offering fun and powerful gameplay. Many players praise its synergy with other archetypes and its effectiveness in combat.
- High-quality DLC overall (weight 0.76): Players consistently praise the DLC for its high quality, fun factor, and value for money. Many consider it a must-buy for fans of Remnant 2.
- Excellent level design (weight 0.76): The new maps and dungeons feature improved design, with creative layouts, verticality, and attention to detail. Players appreciate the fresh environments and the departure from base game repetition.
- Replayability and content (weight 0.72): The DLC offers significant replay value through alternate endings, choices, and randomized content. Players find there is plenty to explore and unlock, extending playtime.
- Losomn story expansion (weight 0.61): The DLC expands the lore of Losomn with a new storyline that offers a different perspective. The story is engaging and adds depth to the world, with players enjoying the narrative and its integration.
- Great atmosphere and art (weight 0.28): The DLC's environments, soundtrack, and voice acting receive high praise. The Bloodborne-inspired aesthetics and detailed world-building enhance immersion.
- Story and lore additions (weight 0.25): The DLC enriches the game's lore with new NPCs, quests, and story elements. Players appreciate the deeper narrative and connections to the base game.

Common complaints:
- New enemies are frustrating and unbalanced (weight 0.85): Several new enemies, such as the toad monster, green explosive enemies, and spitball enemies, are considered overpowered, annoying, and poorly designed. They often have excessive HP, high damage, and unfair mechanics that lead to frustrating combat experiences.
- Poor optimization and performance issues (weight 0.59): The DLC suffers from significant performance problems, including low FPS, stuttering, and crashes, which are often worse than the base game. These issues persist even months after release and affect overall playability.
- Excessive asset reuse and copy-paste content (weight 0.52): Many reviews criticize the DLC for reusing over half of its assets from the base game's Losomn region, including enemies, environments, and dungeons. This leads to a strong sense of déjà vu and makes the expansion feel like cut content rather than a fresh experience.
- Secrets and puzzles are overly obscure (weight 0.51): The DLC's secrets and puzzles are often criticized for being too obscure, requiring external guides or wikis to solve. This includes hidden items behind complex steps and misleading clues, which detracts from the sense of discovery.
- Lack of meaningful new content (weight 0.46): Overall, the DLC is criticized for adding very little new content beyond a few new items, one archetype, and a small map. Many feel it is not worth the price and does not expand the game in a significant way.
- Overpriced and short content (weight 0.44): Many reviewers feel the DLC is overpriced for the amount of content provided, which is often described as short and lacking depth. The ultimate edition's promises also leave some players feeling unfulfilled.
- Final boss too easy and underwhelming (weight 0.44): The One True King, the final boss, is widely criticized for being too easy, with simple attack patterns and low difficulty even on higher settings. Its design lacks the impact expected for a major lore boss.
- Boss fights are reused elites (weight 0.37): Most boss encounters in the DLC are simply repurposed elite enemies with increased health and minor new attacks, leading to repetitive and uninteresting fights. This lack of unique boss design is a common complaint.
- New archetype and items underwhelming (weight 0.35): The new Ritualist archetype and many new items are considered mediocre or not powerful enough, especially compared to existing options. Some players find the new weapons and gear disappointing, with few new guns and primarily melee additions.
- Map design confusing and linear (weight 0.35): The new maps, such as the Forlorn Coast and castle, are often described as confusing to navigate, overly linear, and lacking thoughtful design. Some areas feel small despite attempts to appear larger, and progression can be unclear.
- Disappointment over lack of new world (weight 0.32): Players expected a brand-new world to explore, but the DLC instead adds another section to Losomn. This unmet expectation is a major source of frustration, as many feel it doesn't address the base game's environmental variety issues.
- Weapon balance and scaling broken (weight 0.22): The DLC introduces severe balance issues, including enemy scaling that makes players deal less damage and take more, and weapons that require multiple magazines to kill basic enemies. This breaks the combat experience.
- Crashing and technical bugs (weight 0.22): Players report frequent crashes, especially in specific areas, as well as other technical bugs like damage anomalies and quest-breaking issues. These problems further detract from the experience.
- Translation and localization issues (weight 0.22): The DLC suffers from poor translation quality, with untranslated text, incorrect descriptions, and inconsistent localization. This makes it difficult for some players to enjoy the story and understand game mechanics.
- No impact on main story (weight 0.13): Many reviewers note that the DLC has no consequences on the main storyline, and NPCs from the base game have nothing to say about it. This disconnect makes the expansion feel isolated and less meaningful.
- Marketing and expectations mismatch (weight 0.12): The marketing for the DLC was unclear, leading players to expect a new world rather than another Losomn variant. This mismatch between expectations and reality is a common theme in negative reviews.
- Co-op and multiplayer issues (weight 0.12): Some reviewers mention problems with multiplayer, such as server disconnections in quickplay, lack of chat functionality, and inability to exchange crafting items. These issues hinder the co-op experience.
- Review bombing and irrelevant complaints (weight 0.06): Some negative reviews stem from players complaining about unrelated or trivial issues, such as wanting more worlds or disliking the game's direction. These reviews may not reflect actual gameplay problems.
- Dislike for horizontal level design (weight 0.05): A few players specifically criticize the horizontal layout of some areas, finding it less enjoyable than more vertical designs. This is a minor but noted point of contention.

Gameplay feedback:
- DLC expands Losomn story (weight 0.4): The DLC adds a new campaign and storyline set in the Losomn world from the main game. It continues the narrative of Losomn with new areas and content.
- New areas, NPCs, and rewards (weight 0.22): The DLC introduces new areas to explore, new NPCs to interact with, and new rewards to earn. It also includes unlockables and new items.
- Co-op and oneshot mode (weight 0.16): The DLC supports co-op play with a friend and can be played in oneshot adventure mode. It is integrated into adventure mode rather than the main campaign.
- Randomly generated dungeons (weight 0.09): Dungeons in the DLC are randomly generated, with a chance to include old dungeons from Losomn. This adds replayability to the new content.
- Apocalypse difficulty available (weight 0.09): The DLC includes an Apocalypse difficulty setting for players seeking a greater challenge. This difficulty exists in the expansion.

Performance notes:
- DLC optimization worse than base (weight 0.14): Multiple reviews report that the DLC's optimization is significantly worse than the base game, with poor performance and non-existent optimization. Some describe it as the worst-performing area compared to any in the base game.
- FPS drops in specific areas (weight 0.14): Performance degrades in certain locations, such as rainy areas, huge locations that load entirely, and especially Forsaken Coast. Low frame rates and large fluctuations occur on all maps.
- Crashes and server disconnections (weight 0.14): The game crashes during gameplay, and there are server disconnections in quickplay. Some crashes are tied to a specific perk that destroys many objects at once.
- Stuttering during combat and freezes (weight 0.1): Players experience stuttering when enemies appear, during combat start and end, and freezing that can last almost a second. These issues disrupt gameplay flow.
- Performance worsened after patches (weight 0.1): Updates have caused crashes and FPS drops, and optimization seems to have reverted from past months. The new area's performance is rough and undermines previous improvements.
- Fundamental optimization problems persist (weight 0.1): Fundamental optimization issues leave the game in a bad state, affecting overall performance. This is a core concern beyond isolated incidents.
- Poor initial optimization at location start (weight 0.09): Optimization is notably poor at the beginning of the location, with performance issues that may improve later. This initial impression affects player experience.
- Average FPS 50-60 (weight 0.05): One report indicates an average frame rate of 50-60 FPS, suggesting moderate performance. However, this may not reflect the experience of all players.
- Runs at 1080p 60FPS (weight 0.05): A single review states the game runs at 1080p resolution and 60FPS, indicating acceptable performance for some. This contrasts with widespread complaints.

Recommendations:
- Positive for Remnant 2 fans (weight 0.36): Many reviewers state that if you enjoyed Remnant 2, you will also enjoy this DLC. This is the most frequent sentiment across clusters 1, 3, and 18.
- Fair $10 price (weight 0.32): Numerous reviewers find the $10 price tag to be fair or worth it. Clusters 2, 4, 33, and 50 highlight this value proposition.
- More of the same (weight 0.26): The DLC is often described as providing more content in the same formula as the base game. This is a common theme across several clusters.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.2): Several reviewers recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing. Clusters 6, 32, 35, and 40 mention this.
- Positive but with caveats (weight 0.18): Some reviewers give positive ratings but have qualms or do not recommend design choices. Clusters 21, 34, 44, 48, and 49 reflect this.
- Focused on Losomn (weight 0.16): The DLC is heavily tied to the Losomn area, with some noting it's more Losomn content. Clusters 9, 12, 13, and 14 discuss this.
- Not recommended (weight 0.16): Several clusters express negative recommendations or cannot recommend. Clusters 19, 27, 29, and 47 mention this.
- Mixed on enemy design (weight 0.12): Some reviewers have issues with enemy design or difficulty. Clusters 42, 46, and 54 mention this.
- Good for new players (weight 0.09): A few clusters suggest the DLC is suitable for new players or veterans. Clusters 22 and 38 note this.
- Grind and issues (weight 0.09): Some reviewers mention grind or issues that affect enjoyment. Clusters 28 and 30 discuss this.
- Ultimate edition value (weight 0.08): Clusters 10 and 53 mention the Ultimate edition includes the DLC and is worth it for fans.
- Recommend Awakened King (weight 0.05): Cluster 23 recommends Awakened King over Forgotten Kingdom if choosing only one.
- Wait for patch (weight 0.05): Cluster 54 recommends waiting for a patch due to needed fine tuning.
- Not needed for some (weight 0.05): Cluster 25 states that those who played via Game Pass or finished the main game don't need the DLC.
- Good encounter design (weight 0.04): Cluster 31 praises the encounter designs and map structure as better than the base game.
- Atmosphere appeal (weight 0.04): Cluster 16 notes that those who like Bloodborne-ish atmosphere will love this DLC.
- Town-based content (weight 0.04): Cluster 15 highly recommends if you like town-based content.
- Guide recommended (weight 0.04): Cluster 20 suggests using a guide or wiki to determine DLC-related content and save time.
- Avoid DLC sewer (weight 0.04): Cluster 41 advises avoiding the DLC sewer for the best game experience.
- Add chat feature (weight 0.04): Cluster 26 suggests adding a chat feature as an improvement.

Other player notes:
- DLC priced around $10 (weight 0.38): The Awakened King DLC costs about $10 or equivalent, which most reviewers consider cheap or acceptable. Several note it offers roughly 4 hours of content, making the price reasonable for the amount of gameplay.
- Quality and content depth praised (weight 0.35): Many reviewers describe the DLC as a solid, high-quality addition that adds longevity and a nice amount of content. Some consider it better than any area in the base game and worth more than the asking price.
- Part of three-DLC plan (weight 0.27): The Awakened King is the first of three planned DLCs for Remnant 2, with two more upcoming packs expected before the one-year anniversary. Future DLCs may visit Yaesha and N'Erud, and a return to Reisum is desired by some.
- Variable completion time reported (weight 0.26): Reviewers report a wide range of playtimes, from as little as 2-3 hours to as much as 10 hours, depending on how much side content they explore. This variability may affect perceived value for money.
- Adds new equipment and Ritualist (weight 0.26): The DLC introduces a new class called the Ritualist, along with dozens of new equipment items including weapons, rings, amulets, armor sets, mutators, and a new trait. This adds significant build variety for players.
- One-shot mode structures content (weight 0.25): The DLC introduces a curated 'One-Shot' adventure that guides players through most of the new content in one run. After completing it, additional items and areas can be accessed through random campaign or adventure mode rolls.
- Included in Ultimate Edition (weight 0.22): The Ultimate Edition of the base game includes the DLC at no extra cost, though some players report it was not clearly advertised. This can cause confusion for owners who are unsure whether they need to purchase it separately.
- Favorable value versus other games (weight 0.22): Reviewers compare the DLC favorably to monetization in other games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Fortnite, noting it offers more substantial content for a lower price. It is also seen as better value than the first game's Corsus DLC.
- Reuses existing assets and areas (weight 0.2): The DLC heavily reuses existing assets, dungeons, and events from the base game's Losomn region rather than adding entirely new environments. This is a common criticism, though some argue it expands existing content well.
- Lore enriches Losomn and factions (weight 0.19): The DLC expands the lore of Losomn, the Fae, and the Dran through scattered stories, including a fable and a story about corruption, betrayal, and regicide. It offers a different perspective from the main story.
- Suggestions for future DLC (weight 0.17): Reviewers suggest that future DLCs could return to old worlds from Remnant 1 or be a major expansion with a brand new world alluding to Remnant 3. Some also propose bundling the three small DLCs into one larger expansion.
- Integration into campaign mode (weight 0.15): The DLC can be encountered during a first playthrough when visiting Losomn, but outside of the One-Shot adventure, players may need to reroll campaign or adventure mode to access the new content. This integration ensures the DLC feels like part of the base experience.
- Developer communication criticized (weight 0.14): The marketing team was not clear about the DLC content when it was announced, leading to some confusion and unmet expectations. Despite this, the developer has applied community feedback to gameplay and quality-of-life improvements.
- Grind and accessibility issues (weight 0.14): Months after release, the grind to obtain new weapons makes them inaccessible for long-time players, and some weapons are nearly impossible to find without a wiki. The DLC would have been better received at launch when weapons could be obtained passively.
- Adds bosses and enemy variety (weight 0.13): The DLC includes three new boss fights, with one major boss that has multiple attacks, and introduces new enemy types and mutators. Some players feel the boss count and arena design are lacking compared to the base game.
- Mixed reception on platform (weight 0.13): The DLC holds a Mixed review score on Steam, but many reviewers believe it is better than that rating suggests. Some attribute the mixed reception to players getting unlucky with their first roll or encountering reused content.
- Limited multiplayer features (weight 0.12): The game lacks in-game chat for parties and item trading between players, which some reviewers find limiting. Players without the DLC can join DLC maps but cannot keep any loot they find.
- Bloodborne comparisons and homages (weight 0.11): Reviewers compare the DLC's atmosphere and boss fights to Bloodborne, noting a homage but criticizing one boss fight (Huntress) for poor arena design compared to Gascoigne. The overall atmosphere is praised.
- Additional notes and fixes (weight 0.11): The DLC includes a new area based in Losomn, features the King of Bögenhafen, and adds about half the enemy and boss content that base Losomn had. Players may need to verify game cache or DLC ownership to access it.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Players expected new worlds and substantial content, but the DLC reuses assets, offers small town-based maps, and features a weak final boss. Additionally, performance issues, poor translation, and the DLC's lack of impact on the main story contribute to a sense of laziness and missed potential.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Frustration stems from poor optimization causing crashes and stuttering, unbalanced enemies with overwhelming abilities, and confusing map design. Equipment changes that cripple builds, lack of communication features, and grindy unlock requirements further exacerbate the experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the new weapons, armor, and archetype, along with engaging boss battles and dungeons. The expanded story, improved map design, and new NPCs and rewards provide a fun and satisfying experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Satisfaction comes from the DLC offering good value for the price, with well-made bosses, puzzles, and new items. The Ritualist class and expanded Losomn story, along with increased challenge, make it a solid addition for fans.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is driven by returning to the castle, continuing the main story, and trying the cool new archetype and weapons. The new campaign and Cthulhu-themed atmosphere motivate replaying with friends.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players love the DLC for its phenomenal quality, Bloodborne-inspired atmosphere, and engaging storyline. The new class and witch enemy fights are particular highlights.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation centers on the labyrinth idea, music, and the 'ahaby' vibe of the setting. The abundance of new rings, mutators, amulets, and weapons, along with the developer's community engagement, are highly valued.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.03): Dissatisfaction arises because the DLC doesn't feel essential for base game fans, secrets are too obscure, and the ending lacks impact. Poor optimization and performance issues also detract from the experience.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is caused by poor enemy design, translation errors, and badly designed high difficulty with unfair enemy placement and boss fights. Playing the DLC with friends all night may have exacerbated these issues.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance stems from people complaining about the DLC despite its value, and from new gremlin blob monsters and mutant enemies that are horrible to fight due to balance scaling and one-shot mechanics.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom results from reused coin collection dungeons requiring many runs, repetitive runs with fixed map order, and copy-paste areas in Losomn.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is due to the DLC strategy of adding another section to Losomn instead of a new world, and initially being in the same areas as the main game.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises because areas look like base Losomn and are mistaken for base game dungeons, and from people complaining about the amount of content for the price.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun is had from playing the DLC and completing side areas, as well as enjoying the unlockables, bosses, maps, archetype, armor, and weapons.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement is felt due to the DLC's story expansion, final boss, and new content, along with the mind-blowing environment art.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment comes from wishing for more depth in the DLC and dungeons, and expecting more environment variants for the price.
- Liking (weight 0.01): Liking is driven by the expansion of the Losomn story, complex bosses, a very cool class, and new weapons. Love for damage-over-time mechanics in RPGs also contributes.
- Defensiveness (weight 0.01): Defensiveness arises from mixed reviews from players who expected something different.
- Crush (weight 0.01): Crush is on the new NPC with an a-hole exterior but kind insides.
- Underwhelmed (weight 0.01): Underwhelmed because many enemies are the same as the base game and the ritualist archetype seems mediocre.}