Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Vermintide II’s opening sequence is a heady rush to escape a subterranean prison, rescuing allies along the way, while learning of the titular villains' plans to unleash chaos demons on the mortal realm. It's an instant hook, even for players who may not have played the original Vermintide and – not to advocate violence – grabbing a giant hammer and smashing in the heads of a host of monstrous ratmen within seconds of gaining control during your jailbreak makes for one of the most cathartic tutorial sections in recent gaming history.
Away from that jawdropping jailbreak of an intro, Vermintide II’s main missions place teams of four players – with five playable characters to choose from – into a chain of increasingly desperate, and escalatingly violent, events, right at the apocalyptic end times of the old Warhammer fantasy universe. You don't need to be a Games Workshop guru or to even understand the minutia of that lore to get the most out of the game (although those who are will enjoy the attention to detail) – think of it as gothic fantasy Left 4 Dead, with an array of easily understood archetypal heroes to wade through hordes of enemies with, and more of an emphasis on melee combat.
There isn't a level in the game that doesn't make you want to stop and breathe it all in.
The eponymous – or should that be eponymouse? – Vermintide, Warhammer's Skaven race, continue to make for great enemies, but they're far from the only fiends you'll be tested against. One of this sequel's great improvements over the 2015 original is the variety of foes, with new monsters such as Chaos Warriors and boss-like Bile Trolls to test your varied skills on. Another notable upgrade is in level design, with the environments brilliantly conveying the stakes of the war that has gouged the world, and the blight the ratmen and Chaos legions have brought. There isn't a level in the game that doesn't make you want to stop and breathe it all in.
Unlike Left 4 Dead, the heroes here all have distinct abilities, rather than being essentially skins with voice packs. Hammer-loving Empire Soldier Markus, for instance, is a toughened fighter, balancing brute force with ranged arrow attacks, while pyro-mage Sienna favours elemental attacks. Hardy dwarf Baldin, Elven Waywatcher Kerillian, and – most interestingly – Witch Hunter Victor round out the cast, each offering unique skills and talents to master. They also benefit from a reworked upgrade system compared to the first game, now having power levels determined by the gear and loot you have equipped, and less reliant on grinding to get that loot.
The variety in characters understandably makes Vermintide II best suited to multiplayer – indeed, even if playing solo, your squad is populated with bots controlling the other three heroes. Although gameplay can ultimately descend into an overly simplistic hack-and-slash affair at times, the blend of abilities makes battling through each mission a satisfying challenge, while giving enough reason to return and attempt the challenge with a different character and set of skills.
Vermintide II also feels a lot more stable than its predecessor, with no real issues encountered so far with matchmaking, and no drop-outs mid-mission. Both were issues that plagued the original Vermintide at launch, but with the sequel, everything seems much smoother. Ultimately, this addresses most of the issues presented by the first game, streamlines character development and removes much of the dull grinding, and impresses with new enemies, stunning environments, and interesting player characters. If only more sequels were like this.