ENDLESS Legend 2 reaches 1.0 tomorrow, but after seven hours with the finished game, we’re already having trouble putting it down.
Having skipped Early Access entirely, this was my first time with the sequel. Amplitude’s fingerprints are immediately recognizable. After plenty of time with Humankind and other Endless games, much of the underlying design felt familiar, while still giving ENDLESS Legend 2 an identity of its own.
The world itself helps. Monsoons reshape the map and reveal entirely new stretches of land and enemies, making exploration feel like something that continues throughout the game. It looks and sounds fantastic while doing it.
Our aggressive neighbors also ensured there was no shortage of war. Combat felt larger and more satisfying than what I remember from Humankind, and gave us plenty to do during a seven-hour campaign that somehow never felt like seven hours.
More importantly, we’ve barely touched what ENDLESS Legend 2 has to offer. Its factions are dramatically different, with their own mechanics and stories that make starting another campaign considerably more interesting than simply choosing another set of bonuses.
When a seven-hour 4X stream ends with the desire to click End Turn just one more time, the verdict isn’t particularly difficult.
ENDLESS Legend 2 is Alive.
One more turn.
Then maybe one more. Or two.
Pronouncement: Still very much alive.