Spirit of the North 2 [Review]

Spirit of the North 2 continues the journey of an isolated fox guiding the deceased to peace. While the first game featured linear exploration, this sequel offers a significantly more open world, encouraging self-exploration. It introduces deeper gameplay mechanics such as a skill tree, rune upgrades, and a comprehensive map system with waypoints and fast travel, marking a substantial improvement over its predecessor. Beyond an enhanced menu and map, the game places a greater emphasis on platforming and puzzles. The platforming mechanism allows the fox to "lock on" to specific points, ensuring accurate jumps. Although an upgrade from the first game, this system can be a bit awkward, sometimes requiring slow movement or camera adjustments to properly lock on. While the game's relaxed pace accommodates this, it can occasionally become frustrating.

The new environments are a highlight. Unlike the first game's predominantly snowy and linear settings, this installment boasts diverse and open scenery. While areas can feel somewhat empty, destructible pots provide currency for unlocking fast travel points. Red smoke trails in the sky serve as helpful guides for navigation, leading to unexplored areas. The narrative unfolds around a malevolent spirit's attack on the fox sanctuary. With the aid of a raven, the fox embarks on a quest to locate guardians and free their spirits. Collectibles scattered throughout the game offer additional story context and lore, gradually revealing the ancient history of warring animal tribes and the events leading to the sanctuary's destruction. Overall, Spirit of the North 2 is an impressive sequel, adding considerable depth to the series' gameplay and story. It's a calm and accessible experience that I rate 7/10. Spirit of the North 2 is available on PC, Xbox X|S, and PS5.