Monster Train 2 Review: All Aboard For A Masterful Sequel

In many aspects, Monster Train 2 seems very much like its predecessor, but it offers more to engage with, making this highly anticipated sequel feel triumphant in a way. However, who could possibly object? The initial release of Monster Train happened in 2020, and it presented a formidable challenge to the reign of Slay the Spire. The developer Shiny Shoe decided to skip Early Access, instead extending a competitive gesture towards Slay‘s undisputed rule over the deckbuilding roguelite genre. Since then, it has built a dedicated fanbase, secured a new publisher in Big Fan Games (under Devolver Digital), and achieved more than one million sales with its innovative approach to card-based combat.

A significant allure of the game Monster Train lies in how swiftly decks and strategies adapt as gameplay progresses. In contrast, games like Slay and similar deckbuilders offer new cards and upgrades in a more systematic and strictly paced manner. Although occasional rewards or larger treasures can be significant, they usually equate to one small advantage per round, resulting in a gradual evolution of the deck that largely depends on the acquisition of key cards to truly animate it.

The Monster Train games deviate from the usual tradition in a noticeable way. Everything within it is expanded, whether it’s the play space, the size of the characters (sprites), or the number of upgrades obtained. After each successful battle, you are rewarded with a small area filled with goodies such as new cards, card enhancements, relics, healing stations, or random encounters that can influence the course of a run, potentially leading it astray. Therefore, Monster Train feels more rapid, lively, and less incremental and methodically paced compared to similar games. Moreover, Monster Train 2 enhances almost every cherished aspect of the original and saturates it with additional content.

Trainspotting Through Hell (And Back?)

Familiar Monster Train Fundamentals, With Much More Narrative in The Sequel

In an unexpected twist, players of Monster Train 2 might be seeking narrative, yet the sequel emphasizes its storyline and intensifies character development. You can breeze through it all if you wish, but I found it enriched the overall experience by introducing more depth to the events, developing a band of resilient heroes inspired by the game’s card artwork and dialogue reminiscent of visual novels.

In the updated version of Monster Train, not only is the story captivating, but the ensemble of characters from the original game – some friends, some foes – adds an extra layer of intrigue. Each character has evolved since then, with figures like Fel the Wings of Light and Talos the Architect now forming part of the Banished faction, and many more familiar faces on both sides of the conflict, appearing in battles, dialogues, and even on the cards themselves.

In Monster Train 2, the adventure begins by traveling on the train from the southern part of the map towards the north. This journey, coupled with the ongoing narrative, should offer some clues about the storyline. From the get-go, everything seems brand new and invigorating, as you encounter novel factions and a multitude of cards to discover, enhance, and exhaust in every train battle.

Monster Train Basics – How This Deckbuilder Works

The Essential Structure of Monster Train 2 Is Virtually Unchanged

For beginners, Monster Train is a game where characters engage in several battles. Each battle consists of various stages, and for each stage, you are given a hand of cards to play. Characters are placed on the three levels of the train using cards that require ember energy, and the enemies that appear are usually unpredictable. The game includes spells that perform immediate actions, card units that summon creatures, and brand-new equipment and room card types that can enhance stats and abilities. Even if you haven’t defeated the enemy mobs, bosses will always make their scheduled appearance.

Adversaries board the train from the lowest level and move upward following each battle round. At the top, beyond the third tier, lies the train’s valuable pyro engine, serving as a powerful final attack point that enemy units aim for. This layout generally gives the advantage to the adversary; the player’s objective is to vanquish enemies swiftly to halt their ascension on the train, but the enemy merely needs to endure to have an opportunity to destroy the pyro engine.

Generally, a run ends when the fire goes out, and a display shows how far you advanced as well as any newly acquired cards or relics. In the immersive world of Monster Train 2, you’re then transported back to the Covenant Outpost, where you can consult your logbook, prepare for your next journey, and eventually unlock additional features over time.

Quality of Life Improvements Abound in Monster Train 2

Undo Mode, Battle Reset, Better Tooltips, and Other Helpful New Add-Ons

In Shiny Shoe’s watchful eye, the nuances of player behaviors have been carefully noted. Monster Train 2 boasts numerous fresh additions, enhancing the game’s overall sheen and user-friendly aspects compared to the original version. One such addition I appreciate is the new undo trigger, a hold-to-activate button conveniently located in the lower right corner of the screen. This feature allows you to reverse an entire player turn, proving invaluable when you accidentally play the wrong card or encounter unanticipated synergies or reactions. However, remember that you can’t revert beyond a single turn at once, but it serves as an excellent learning tool for refining your strategies.

Additionally, there’s a reset function that effectively erases an entire battle and takes both players back to the starting phase of deployment. This function was technically present in the original game, but could be activated by simply exiting and re-entering the game. However, having a more streamlined way to restart is still beneficial. Notably, every choice made during a battle and all map selections are now automatically saved, so when you reload a game, you’ll return exactly where you left off – with all your previous mistakes included.

Apart from the improvements, tooltips have been enlarged for clarity and practicality, card text and units are bigger and more comprehensive, and most elements of the original’s sleek interface remain or have been enhanced. As a result, the game now appears sharper, tidier, and more consistent overall, providing a visual refresh that makes Monster Train 2 an even more attractive choice for Steam Deck play.

Equipment and Abilities in Monster Train 2

On-The-Fly Actions and Unit Upgrades Potentiate Each Battle

In Monster Train 2, equipment cards serve as potent tools similar to new champion abilities. These cards can be affixed to units, forming strong synergies, and a fresh random shop offers them alongside other items providing room enhancements. Utilizing equipment boosts the card for that particular journey, offering multiplied attacks, healing capabilities, or even active skills. The active abilities are unique in that they employ cooldowns which can be influenced by specific cards and status effects.

In the sequel, character movement has been given more importance, allowing me as a gamer to climb up towards creatures that need assistance on a higher tier, or descend to the main event at the bottom. This enhancement provides more strategic options, reducing the usual frustration of investing in a strong defense setup only to find it wasted due to space constraints or poor card draws on higher levels.

Furthermore, such mechanics amplify the game’s ability to cascade events like falling dominos. For example, there’s a unit that grants valor (a status effect that boosts attack and sometimes armor each turn) whenever an ally equips any item. The Fel champion can potentially accumulate a permanent stack of valor every time a unit gains valor. This means a buff to the gear equip, followed by a valor buff, then a persistent valor buff, and that’s on each turn. Units can only wield one equipment piece at a time, but the new Lazarus League faction includes special summons who discard temporary equipment cards upon death, leaving you with numerous playthings to manage.

In Monster Train 2, the new factions interact in a harmonious way, offering multiple possibilities. Since every game requires you to pick two factions – one primary that determines your main hero champion, and one secondary that sets your starting spells – the game encourages you to figure out which card types complement each other well, and which ones work exceptionally well together.

Monster Train 2 Is An Augmented Version Of the Original

It’s Even A Good Entry Point

At certain stages during your Monster Train 2 journey, you’ll encounter engaging and substantial content additions, but we’re keeping those specifics under wraps for now (and they might get spoiled upon release). On top of that, you’ll find an array of Dimensional Challenges, similar to the Providence Trials in Risk of Rain Returns, which offer a rich gameplay experience as you progress and unlock unique endgame content.

In certain games, increasing the level or rank of a covenant can make the game more challenging, similar to how ascension mechanics work in other deckbuilders. However, it’s perfectly okay for you to stick with the basics at lower covenant levels and explore the full range of the game that way if you prefer.

In some respects, Monster Train 2 seems like a typical sequel, but given how exceptional the first one was, it’s challenging to imagine it abandoning its strong foundation. However, Shiny Shoe has polished what they could find that wasn’t already shining brightly, and then built upon this with an abundance of fresh content. This new material feels just as thoroughly battle-tested as much of the original.

If you’re a fan of Monster Train, you’ll undoubtedly adore Monster Train 2 even more. But if it doesn’t win you over initially, nothing in Monster Train 2 is likely to change your mind. These games are cornerstones of modern deckbuilders, offering an intriguing blend of accessibility and complexity. They’re inviting yet challenging, easy to pick up but hard to master. Monster Train 2 is immense, intimidatingly powerful, razor-sharp in its mechanics, and smoother than ever before. Hop aboard the train!

2025-05-21 17:32