The announcement ofRemnant 2at the Game Awards was a welcome surprise for fans of the Soulslike genre. Although big-hitters likeElden Ringhave dominated the discussion, recent years have seen a number of great entries to the genre. Considered by many to be a hidden gem, the originalRemnant: From the Ashescombined the Soulslike formula with third-person shooter combat set in a post-apocalyptic, demon-filled world. Its sequel looks to up the ante by leaning into the horror elements of the first game, drawing clear inspiration from the likes ofResident Evil 4with its supernatural, gothic aesthetic.
Remnant: From the Asheswas received very well by its community, who praised it for its unique approach to the Soulslike formula and co-op features that allowed players to tackle its unforgiving world together. Randomized enemy and boss spawns added to the experience and gave it an almost rogue-lite layer to its gameplay loop. However, there were still elements that could be improved withRemnant 2such as the strange difficulty balancing and overall length of the game. IfRemnant 2ends up taking the Soulslike elementsthat worked from the original and iterates upon them with the third-person horror elements ofResident Evil 4, it could end up being the next big hit for the genre.
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Remnant 2 Looks Even More Like a FromSoftware Game than its Predecessor
The description of"Dark Soulsbut with guns" is pretty accurateforRemnant: From the Ashes, and its sequel seems to further solidify this description with its obvious nods to progenitor of the Soulslike genre, FromSoftware. The aesthetic of the first game was post-apocalyptic meets dark fantasy and offered a wide range of environments for players to explore, including ruined cities, desert wastes, and mystical swamps. While a lot of these types of environments have appeared in theDark Soulsseries,Remnant 2seems to draw even more inspiration from FromSoftware’s catalog—specificallyDemon SoulsandBloodborne—with its approach to world design.
Of what was shown in its reveal trailer, nothing screamedDemon Soulsmore than tight castle corridors and twisted asylums. The scenes of the castle with the spiked, iron-masked wearing monstrosityare reminiscent of the Boletarian Palaceand the later scene of a dark asylum is comparable to the Tower of Latria.Bloodborneinspiration can also been seen in this trailer with scenes of burning city streets and a large, bearded, saw-wielding men attacking the player. It’s clear thatRemnant 2is wearing its Soulslike inspirations on its sleeve, and that’s a great sign for fans.
How Resident Evil 4 May Have Influenced Remnant 2
Aside from the comparisons to its fellow Soulslike games,Remnant 2most closely resembles Capcom’s iconicthird-person action-horror masterpieceResident Evil 4. As a game with elements of third-person shooters in its core gameplay, it’s only natural that a sequel toRemnant: From the Asheswould draw inspiration from one of gaming’s most famous third-person horror games. The most obvious comparison comes from the world’s gothic horror look, with its grotesque Victorian-era character designs that resemble the mind-controlled villagers players encounter inResident Evil 4.
The same saw-wielding menace that looks like something straight out ofBloodbornecould also have been inspired byResident Evil 4’s iconic chainsaw-wielding villager. The game in general looks far more like a horror title than its predecessor, and some of the tight camera angles seen in the trailer support this blending of genres. The combination of Soulslike and third-person horror have the potential to create an exhilarating experience for players, and with the renaissance ofResident Evilin previous years, it was only a matter of time before a cross-genre game likeRemnant 2came along.
Remnant 2is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2023.
