The original HOF was an intriguing game that was incredibly fun at its core despite the fact that it had some issues. Defiant Development now brings us a sequel in which they try to improve on the positives and adjust the negatives. The result is Hand of Fate 2, the familiar mix or tabletop card game and RPG with a couple of fresh twists.
Fast Forward an Entire Century
The sequel is set an entire century after the original. The central storyline is not different, however. The Dealer will face another opponent, and the stakes on the table are once again life and death. I would like to avoid spoilers, but I have to mention that the ending of the original is explained and fits perfectly with the story in the HOF2.
Anyway, in the beginning, you can create your avatar now. The gender and other details won’t affect the plot, but it is a nice touch and makes you feel closer to the events unfolding while you are playing. There are over 20 missions available, which is enough for more than 20 hours of gaming. During that time, you will answer a lot of questions, including what’s the dealer’s fate and why you are his opponent.
Is It Enough to Kill the Boss?
The answer is no. While you need to move through the dungeon and kill its keeper, that might not be enough to claim the token required to complete the challenge. Instead, you will have particular objectives you need to fulfill, which adds to the dynamics of the game. Also, be ready for different rules depending on the mission you select. The core rules will remain the same, but the modifications will require you to adjust and build your deck in a different way.
At the beginning of a mission, you construct a deck for equipment and battles. The game offers an incredible amount of cards, but you can use filters to search through them and find those that you need for a particular task.
Choose Your Companion
You will also select a companion before every mission. This is a new feature in the Hand of Fate 2. You can choose between four of them with each having a unique skill set to help you complete the challenge in question. The developers tried to be original, and you might expect the companions to talk during combat and they really feel like a part of the in-game world.
If you want to play HOF 2, you can’t be afraid of combat. The battles remind of Batman Arkham as you have dodge and parry moves available. Whenever you are hit, the screen will shake, and when you are about to land a blow, you will do that in slow-motion. The camera adds to the overall feeling of the battle and its used excellently. The enemies vary, as well as the equipment and weapons that you can carry into the combat.
