By Alay Polanco

Going into Reus 2, I didn’t expect much. I thought the game would be just another god simulation. To me, that meant plain, boring, and monotonous. But Reus 2 was intriguing, and it offered a unique experience that set it apart from other similar strategy games.

One of the most upfront aspects of Reus 2 is its lack of guidelines. You’re thrown in blindfolded, experimenting and learning through trial and error. This makes every new discovery feel rewarding, as you learn more while governing and shaping the world. The game doesn’t hold your hand. Instead, it encourages creativity and problem-solving, making you feel like a multifaceted god rather than just an omnipotent being completing objectives. 

Each run presents a boundless amount of possibilities, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same. Players can control six colossal giants, each embodying an aspect of nature: Ocean, Forest, Savannah, Swamp, Frost, and Rock. These giants act as the world’s gods, shaping the planet according to their abilities. 

However, despite its formal nature, every decision carries weight, creating meaningful and impactful experiences. You’re presented with a planet, ready to be designed according to their vision. Using the awesome abilities of the giants, you sculpt the environment, making diverse biomes that determine the planet’s ecosystem and resources. As nature takes its course, humanity arises, settling within the world shaped by your seemingly divine hand. Personally, I loved to meddle with humanity to see how they’d recover by using the Rock Giant to create earthquakes. I marveled at how humans rebuilt their community. There’s something truly fascinating about watching civilizations rise and fall, either thriving or collapsing due to greed. 

The art is truly beautiful. It’s a 2.5D art style that adds depth to the characters and creates distinct biomes look even more transfixing than if it were 3D. The game’s movement is a version of side-scrolling, but it flows naturally, with the world spinning flawlessly as you rotate it. This design choice gives the impression of a living planet rather than just a static game environment. The way the lighting, colors, and biomes shift as you turn the world enhances the feeling of scale, making every transition between biomes feel immersive and fascinating.

Each has its own ambient sounds, from rustling of forest leaves to the crashing of ocean waves, making the world feel alive. The giants’ abilities are accompanied by resonant audio cues that emphasize their immense power, making their power flourish even more. Subtle musical shifts reflect the evolution of civilizations, growing in complexity as settlements expand. The soundtrack blends perfectly with the natural soundscape, which allows for an engaging experience that keeps players immersed in the world they shape.

In Reus 2, humanity exists entirely at the mercy of the player. Humans can either prosper or crumble based on how you interact with them. You shape the land, providing resources, biomes, and the foundations for civilization with the god’s power. The forest god is able to create flora or life such as foxes and rabbits that humanity is able to tame or eat. However, their gifts can lead to issues; prosperity may breed greed and conflict, and too much growth can lead to ruin. The leader of humanity was “The Goddess” in my playthrough and her actions were very self-righteous. This characteristic made her worried about her reputation and her legacy rather than the improvements of society which could have created a more functional path for humans. While the gods hold immense sway, human nature remains unpredictable. Civilization’s fate is a delicate balance between the player’s commands and free will, making all decisions impactful. In the end, humanity’s survival is not guaranteed. It is just a privilege granted, reminding humanity that they’re at your mercy.

Reus 2 is the near-perfect balance between creativity and chaos and I was able to use my will to shape any reality. It is simply a sandbox that provides the tools to give me my own desired experience and let imagination thrive. I have complete ownership over everything, it seems. I was never deprived of their sovereignty, never stripped of my power. With its complex systems and endless possibilities, I never felt I was doing something repetitive, which allows for an experience that evolves with each playthrough. Even though it’s not my preferred genre, Reus 2 opened my eyes to a kind of world-building experiment that I’ve never experienced before.

Intern Alay Polanco attends the TapCo School in the Bronx.

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