Test – Teslagrad 2: a poetic but too light adventure

2023-05-06 12:24:08

10 years after a very successful first episode, the Norwegians from Rain Games are doing it again with Teslagrad 2. Does it live up to the first opus?

For many years now, die and retry have enjoyed unfailing success with the general public. We note in particular the Limbo, Inside and other Super Meat Boy, widely acclaimed. In 2013, the Norwegian studio Rain Games offered its version of die and retry with Teslagrad, a very nice exploration game in which you played a young man immersed in a kingdom ruled by a despotic monarch.

With Teslagrad 2, the pitch is noticeably different. A young girl that we will end up embodying sees herself ejected from her flying ship by an enemy airship which shoots at her. A beginning that sends heavy and promises for the future … without ever keeping its promises. The young girl progresses through levels and environments that are very reminiscent of the divine worlds of the Nordic gods, but we do not know to what end or who the bad guys are that she is fleeing. A kind of god constantly comes to his aid, but again we don’t know who it is or what he really wants from our heroine.

A scenario too quickly thrown into oblivion which could not have been held in any case in a title which lasts only… 2 short hours. In a straight line, we even manage to finish it in an hour and a half, that is to say. Everything seems to be rushed at high speed. Whether in terms of the scenario, but also gameplay, but we’ll talk about that later. Nearly 20 euros for a game that ends in less than an afternoon, it’s very (too) expensive to pay, and you really feel like you’ve been robbed by Rain Games.

Multiple spells diversify the gameplay. However, they are too quickly replaced by a new one and thrown into oblivion.

As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, the gameplay also seems rushed and rushed. The rhythm is very sustained and fast like a Sonic, allowing us to jump, slide and climb obstacles to avoid the many enemies and traps that stand in our way. One enemy or trap hit and it’s absolute death. On this point, it is rather traditional and quite pleasant to take in hand.

On the other hand, it is at the level of the use of powers that we have some reservations which once again demonstrate the speed at which events are linked in Teslagrad 2. You first obtain a dash, then the ability to carrying and throwing objects, the ability to use a graviotational field and then a hammer to defend yourself. As soon as you learn to use a power correctly, the developers grant you a new one and seem to have completely forgotten the previous one. It’s like that until the final boss who, like the previous ones, is very easily eliminated.

Artistically, the game is very successful.

Finally, it is on the side of its artistic and graphic touch that Teslagrad 2 stands out the most. All environments are exquisitely hand painted. Clearly, we have the impression of discovering a cartoon at each new level, with a very nicely performed heroine and animations clearly inspired by cartoons. The few sketches, although useless from the scriptwriting point of view, are also well done. The soundtrack knows how to vary according to the need and the situation: rather calm during the platforms and more rhythmic in the face of enemies.

Conclusion

Teslagrad 2 honors the first episode released 10 years ago, even if we would have preferred the formula to be somewhat reinvented, extended and above all diversified. Because you have to admit it, 20€ for a die & retry that is completed in less than two hours, it’s akin to theft. Especially since our little heroine is progressing in these snowy levels, we don’t know why or towards what goal. The gameplay, extremely easy to learn, offers a frantic pace. A little too much perhaps, since the new powers follow one another very quickly and we quickly arrive at the final boss without having been able to really combine them. Note, however, the excellent artistic direction of the title offering hand-painted environments and a very nicely composed soundtrack. Teslagrad 1 was ultimately much more successful in points than its successor, which still offers a pleasant, very poetic solo experience.

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