Wargroove 2 Review (Xbox Series S)

Wargroove 2 Review, An ambitious new faction has unearthed forbidden relics capable of catastrophic consequences. But how far will they go to achieve glory? Take to the battlefield, sea, and sky with a cast of new Commanders, using your wits to wage turn-based war!

Wargroove 2 Review Pros:

  • Beautiful pixel art graphics.
  • 827MB download size.
  • 1000 Gamerscore.
  • Turn-based strategy gameplay.
  • Opening and ongoing tutorial prompts.
  • Five difficulties – story, very easy, easy, normal, and custom (damage received/income/groove charge/undo allowed). Each difficulty choice changes these values.
  • General options – language, combat animation (always/never/my turn only/commanders only), movement animation (default/always fast), automatically end turn, end turn confirmation, and skip intro sequences.
  • Accessibility options – colorblind, photosensitive mode, and vibration.
  • Advanced settings – show grid, health display, show absolute groove values.
  • The Jukebox lets you listen to the soundtrack.
  • The Codex menu is the place for info on everything in the game.
  • Create your own maps and campaigns which can be shared online.
  • Available on Game Pass with Cloud Play. (no need to download the game, just stream the game instead)
  • Asynchronous multiplayer (you don’t have to be online all the time to have your turn).
  • Browse and download other people’s Creations.
  • 2 to 4 Player local player support.
  • Online multiplayer – quick play, host, join by code, and server browser.
  • Three single-player modes – campaign, conquest, and custom.
  • Top-down view with actions such as combat being shown in a side-on view like you have seen in the Advance War games.
  • The health of your units is shown as a number on them.
  • When in combat you can see the whole unit’s health bar on both sides.
  • When selecting a unit you can see a grid of where they can move and/or attack.
  • Dealing attacks out when near your commander makes them critical hits, and does more damage.
  • Turn-based combat.
  • Before committing to any actions, you can see a percentage of both side’s damage output.
  • Satisfying strategy sim with excellent combat.
  • In-game cutscenes and storyboards.
  • Voice work is in there but not every word is spoken.
  • The end-of-combat screen shows your stats and rewards.
  • You can skip cutscenes.
  • Tile info lets you bring up a detailed breakdown of the selected unit, critical hit conditions, movement speed, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
  • Terrain plays a big part from cover/blocking attacks to damage modifiers.
  • Troops being near each other can help improve their stats or attacks.
  • Very addictive.
  • Save and exit when you want.
  • You can undo all your turns.
  • World map level select.
  • Replay levels.
  • You can capture structures and get bonuses from them like siphoning health and earning gold.
  • When quiting out of a game in progress you can save from the last checkpoint or suspend your game.
  • Conquest is a roguelike mode.

Wargroove 2 Review Cons:

  • You cannot remap the controls.
  • So much to take in.
  • The tutorials are not as in-depth as they really need to be especially for new or lapsed players.
  • You have to unlock conquest mode.
  • It can just feel like an expansion of the first game.

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Wargroove 2:

Official website.

Developer: Chucklefish Games

Publisher: Chucklefish Games

Store Links –

Xbox

  • 8/10
    Graphics - 8/10
  • 8/10
    Sound - 8/10
  • 7/10
    Accessibility - 7/10
  • 9/10
    Length - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Fun Factor - 9/10
8.2/10

Summary

Wargroove 2 impresses with its beautiful pixel art graphics and a manageable download size of 827MB. The game offers a satisfying turn-based strategy experience, complete with a 1000 Gamerscore for achievement hunters. Players are guided through the game with opening and ongoing tutorial prompts, although these tutorials may not be as comprehensive as needed for new or lapsed players. The game features five difficulty levels—story, very easy, easy, normal, and custom—each affecting various gameplay parameters like damage received, income, groove charge, and the ability to undo actions.

The game provides a range of general options, including language settings, combat and movement animations, automatic turn ending, turn end confirmation, and the ability to skip intro sequences. Accessibility options are also available, such as colorblind and photosensitive modes, and vibration settings. Advanced settings allow players to show grids, health displays, and absolute groove values. The Jukebox feature lets players enjoy the game’s soundtrack, while the Codex menu offers detailed information on all game elements.

Wargroove 2 shines in its multiplayer and customization features. Players can create and share their own maps and campaigns online, and the game is available on Game Pass with Cloud Play, eliminating the need for downloads. Asynchronous multiplayer allows players to take their turns without being online constantly, and there is support for 2 to 4 player local multiplayer. Online multiplayer options include quick play, hosting, joining by code, and a server browser. The game also offers three single-player modes: campaign, conquest, and custom.

The gameplay is presented in a top-down view, with combat actions shown in a side-on view reminiscent of Advance Wars. Unit health is displayed numerically, and players can see health bars during combat. Selecting a unit reveals a grid showing possible movements and attacks. Critical hits occur when attacking near a commander, adding a strategic layer to the turn-based combat. However, the inability to remap controls and the overwhelming amount of information can be drawbacks. Additionally, conquest mode must be unlocked, and the game can sometimes feel like an expansion of the first Wargroove.

Despite these issues, Wargroove 2 offers a satisfying strategy simulation with excellent combat mechanics. The game includes in-game cutscenes and storyboards, though not all dialogue is voiced. The end-of-combat screen displays stats and rewards, and cutscenes can be skipped if desired. Detailed tile information is available, showing unit stats, critical hit conditions, movement speed, strengths, and weaknesses. Terrain plays a significant role, affecting cover, blocking attacks, and modifying damage. Troops positioned near each other can boost their stats or attacks, adding to the game’s addictive nature.

Players can save and exit at any time, undo all turns, and select levels from a world map. Levels can be replayed, and structures can be captured for bonuses like health siphoning and gold earning. When quitting a game in progress, players can save from the last checkpoint or suspend their game. Conquest mode introduces a roguelike element, adding variety to the gameplay.

In summary, Wargroove 2 is a visually stunning and strategically deep game with a wealth of options and modes to explore. While it has some drawbacks, such as less comprehensive tutorials and the inability to remap controls, its addictive gameplay, extensive customization, and multiplayer features make it a compelling choice for strategy game enthusiasts.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!