Skip to main content

I tried 3 of Remnant 2’s classes and already have a clear favorite

When starting a new Soulslike game, I’m always faced with a make-or-break decision immediately: my class selection. There’s nothing worse than getting 20 hours into something like Elden Ring and realizing that the class I’ve chosen just doesn’t match my playstyle at all. So I’m glad that I’ve already sorted that out with Remnant 2, the upcoming sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes.

I went hands-on with the shooter at this year’s Game Developers Conference, trying out three classes as I attempted to gun down an ultra-tough boss. While I initially struggled to make a dent in my playthrough with my first two characters, I’d eventually wipe the floor with my enemies when I tried out the sequel’s new Handler class. Though, maybe that’s a little inaccurate: My cute, deadly dog companion did most of the heavy lifting. That experience has me much more intrigued by the Soulslike shooter, as a major overhaul to the original’s class system is already clicking with me.

New archetypes

Like its predecessor, Remnant 2 is a third-person shooter that draws inspiration from the Soulslike genre. You’ve got your high-difficulty, bonfire-like checkpoints, evasion rolls, and enormous bosses on the other side of foggy doors. The difference, though, is that the focus is on gunplay rather than close-ranged melee combat. Remnant 2 continues all of that, but the big change this time is in how it’s handling character classes. While each archetype is still built around a specific set of weapons, they come loaded with more skills and perks that are gradually unlocked through a progression system.

I saw that first-hand when I began my demo as the more balanced Gunslinger class. Naturally, this had me focused mostly on accurate handgun shots as I popped flying enemies out of midair. I’d get an introduction to some of the game’s new systems when trying out my Gunslinger’s special ability, a multi-shot “fan the hammer” type move similar to Overwatch’s Cassidy. There’s a little nuance to that too. Pressing the left bumper would target it toward nearby enemies, but I could also do some button-holding to aim the shot myself before letting loose.

Three characters shoot at a boss in Remnant 2.

Gunslinger acted as a great introduction to the basics, highlighting how strong the shooting feels here. There’s a lot of power and weight to my shots, which feel like they absolutely obliterate enemies on kill. Though of course, that didn’t mean my demo was a cakewalk. I found myself surrounded by enemies quickly, taking massive damage as I tried to pick them off with pinpoint accuracy and avoid their attacks with slow evasive rolls.

After locking down the flow of combat, I successfully made it to the demo’s boss: an ugly floating head at the center of a circular stone arena. I’d have to dodge its tentacle strikes, move around acid pits, and leap off of platforms as it knocked them down one by one — all while avoiding the additional enemies it spawned and nailing the weak spot in its mouth. It looks and feels like something out of Doom Eternal.

After a few failures, I decided to change things up and move to a beefier close-ranged archetype (one that reminded me of Destiny’s Titans). I had a little more success this time, using his automatic shotgun to unload rapid-fire shots in its face. His passive perk helped me stay alive too, allowing me to revive from near death once with half-health. His close-up slam ability didn’t quite suit my needs though considering that I was dealing with flying enemies.

That’s when I found my new best friend.

Man’s best friend

The Handler is more of a support class that can be especially useful in cooperative play. His primary weapon kit revolves around a burst-shot pistol and rapid-fire machine gun, but it’s his furry companion that makes all the difference. The Handler is flanked by a dog and, of course, you can pet it.

Remnant 2 will feature a Handler class, which comes equipped with a pettable dog companionhttps://t.co/Y8mt4FdIQh pic.twitter.com/iZe9MBPz9Q

— Can You Pet the Dog? (@CanYouPetTheDog) March 15, 2023

My canine pal would entirely change my playstyle. For one, I could press the left bumper to sic it on enemies. That would allow me to better manage encounters, as it could take on some enemies for me. I could also command it to howl, drawing enemies to it and giving me a breather. While it can go down in battle, my pup never died during my demo so it seems like it has a fairly sizable health bar. As a final touch, my dog could revive me if I went down by bringing me one of my health-restoring Dragon Hearts. What can’t this little buddy do?

I’d get to put all those skills together when I returned to the boss that had kicked my butt a dozen times already. With a better way to manage smaller enemies, I could focus my fire on the big nasty at the center and get back up if it managed to swat me. It’s a more forgiving playstyle and one that suited me: I bested the beast on my first try with the Handler.

The revamped class system feels like the right direction for the sequel, making that initial choice feel more impactful. It isn’t just about what guns you get, but how all the perks synergize with your strategy. It feels more like a hero shooter, bringing a bit of Outriders to the Remnant formula. That makes me feel more confident that I could actually rise to its challenge once the full game releases. My dog and I will be an unstoppable tornado of carnage and we’re going to look adorable while doing it.

Remnant 2 is scheduled to launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime this year.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
Soul Hackers 2 could have been the perfect Game Pass RPG
Soul Hackers 2 cast

Atlus created quite a bit of fanfare earlier this year when it announced that the Persona series would arrive on Xbox in October. But that isn’t the only JRPG the publisher had in store for Xbox owners this year. Soul Hackers 2 was a big get for Microsoft, bringing the Shin Megami Tensei style of gameplay to its systems with a fresh release. It launched at the end of August without nearly as much excitement as Persona — Persona 5’s Xbox release date announcement seemed to overshadow Soul Hackers 2’s entire existence.

According to Famitsu, Soul Hackers 2 sold an estimated 51,861 physical copies in Japan during its launch week across both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. While this doesn’t include digital download numbers, this is still well below Shin Megami Tensei V’s launch week numbers of 143,247 physical copies sold in Japan.

Read more
Bayonetta 3’s outrageous action has already cast a spell on me
Bayonetta smirks while falling through the sky below a massive fish-monster in Bayonetta 3.

Game previews should be taken with some skepticism. When you see one, you are looking at a single slice of the game, carefully curated to accentuate the best parts of the gameplay and presentation, while minimizing any potential shortcomings. When I had the chance to play 15 minutes of Bayonetta 3 behind closed doors at PAX West, I applied every bit of healthy cynicism I could muster, and came away with one conclusion.

I think the Switch exclusive could be in the running for game of the year. It's that good.
A demon-infused spectacle
Bayonetta 3 looks to continue the story of its titular witch heroine. Like the previous entries in the saga, it’s a fast-paced action game in the vein of Devil May Cry (which is no surprise, as Hideki Kamiya created both series). The eponymous Bayonetta hacks and slashes enemies with a mix of guns, melee weapons, powers, and demon summons. The series has always been a visual treat, but this newest entry looks like it may be an absolute feast. 

Read more
I don’t need Starfield because I have The Outer Worlds
The spacer looks out over a vast horizon in The Outer Worlds 2 key art.

Starfield will be one of the biggest games of 2023, but I'm not that excited to play it yet.
While  Starfield's spotlight at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase this year highlighted some impressive features, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd already gotten everything I'd want from a traditional sci-fi RPG like this from another game: The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment. Ironically developed by another Microsoft-owned studio, The Outer Worlds showed that bloating up a sci-fi game with thousands of planets isn't necessary when a "less is more" mentality can still result in an expertly designed sci-fi RPG. 
Although The Outer Worlds might not be as nearly as grand as Starfield in scope, it still leaves an impression every time I revisit it. It's a focused, replayable, and hilarious adventure without much bloat, which is what I want from my RPGs. It does this while emulating Bethesda's classic The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games too, beating Starfield to the punch.
Starfield could impress me when it launches, but what I've seen of it hasn't got me that eager to play it when I'm so content with replaying The Outer Worlds while avidly waiting for its sequel.
Starfield: Official Gameplay Reveal
Fewer worlds, more fun
From the moment your escape pod accidentally lands on a bounty hunter that's supposed to help you, it's clear that The Outer Worlds is a tongue-in-cheek, satirical take on capitalism, colonization, and the sci-fi genre as a whole. While Bethesda Game Studios' narratives have their fair share of humor, much of its writing tends to be more serious and dryly written. We haven't seen enough of Starfield's dialogue or narrative to get a sense of its thematic identity yet.
Starfield's narrative could be more playful than we've seen so far, but the game's massive scope is what really worries me. During the Microsoft showcase, Todd Howard boasted that there are over 1,000 planets to explore. Because Starfield is so huge, I worry that it risks feeling unfocused. Will I get bored on planets that aren't very handcrafted and don't have as much to do? It's the same potential issue that infamously plagued No Man's Sky at launch.
Meanwhile, The Outer Worlds and its upcoming sequel are intentionally designed to avoid those bloat issues, according to former Obsidian Entertainment Narrative Designer Nitai Poddar in a 2019 Game Informer interview. "There is a lot of value in having an open-ended game that is still structured around individual discreet levels," he said. "It also tends to be easier to develop, and I'm always a fan of making the most of a budget that you have."

The Outer Worlds' developers didn't have a huge budget, and kept the game small but very tightly designed as a result. You might not be able to explore entire planets or fly between them, but you'll definitely remember what you did on every single one you visited. This smaller scope allowed the studio to make the world more reactive to each dialogue choice and player decision.
Playing a combat-focused build in The Outer Worlds gives you an entirely different experience than a dialogue-driven playthrough. You can also murder or scorn everyone you meet in The Outer Worlds, and the game accounts for it in tangible, narrative ways. This makes The Outer Worlds a great sci-fi roleplaying experience, and I'm hopeful its sequel will be too. I'm not as hungry for a sci-fi RPG on such a potentially problematic large scale anymore when The Outer Worlds and its handcrafted worlds and narratives are so enjoyable moment-to-moment, just like classic Bethesda games. 
Where both games will boldly go
As far as sci-fi experiences go, Starfield can stand out from The Outer Worlds with its combat, base-building and shipbuilding, and space combat. But when it comes to the core tenets of Bethesda's best RPGs -- compelling characters, well-written narratives, and lots of reactive and choice-driven moments -- The Outer Worlds beat Starfield to the punch without any additional fat. I already have the Bethesda-like sci-fi experience I always wanted.

Read more