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To all the brave souls who have ventured into the world of Volgarr the Viking: I swear, I don’t hate you! In fact, I love you! I know the game is challenging, and I understand the frustration that comes with each defeat.
However, there’s a method to this madness. I want to take you through some of the design choices that make Volgarr the Viking II not just a game, but a learning experience that hones skills that I hope will be applicable in your real life.
Embracing the Challenge
From the outset, our goal with Volgarr the Viking II was to create an experience reminiscent of classic arcade and platform games – titles that demanded precision, timing, and perseverance. Growing up in a military family and serving in the military myself, I believe in the value of a hard-earned victory – the kind that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.
Learning Through Failure
One of the core design philosophies behind the Volgarr the Viking series is that failure is a stepping stone to success. Each death is a lesson, each obstacle an opportunity to refine your skills. The game’s difficulty is not meant to punish, but to teach.
By facing tough, pattern-based enemies combined with static handcrafted level designs, players develop a deeper understanding of game mechanics, learn to strategize, and improve their reflexes. This is an actual exercise that trains mental acuity and connection to real-world motor skills. There is a certain amount of pride that comes from overcoming challenges, feeling good and knowing you can take whatever is thrown at you.
Deliberate Design Choices
I really wanted players to not just see this philosophy in the design of Volgarr the Viking II, but understand it by playing it. At first glance, some of the challenges in the game might feel like they’re difficult for difficulty’s sake, but every aspect has been meticulously crafted to challenge players while fostering their growth. Let me drill down on some examples:
Controls: I wanted to make the controls simple to understand, but they also had to feel tight, responsive, and predictable. That’s the key to giving players the ability to execute actions with precision. Mastering these controls is rewarding in its own right, but also helps develop skills that players can apply to other action games as well.
Pattern Recognition: Enemies and traps follow set patterns. Recognizing and memorizing these patterns hones your observational skills and enhances your ability to anticipate and react. That’s not just a good skill for gaming – that’s a great skill for life.
Limited Resources: Health and lives are limited; weapons, armor, and power-ups can be lost. By encouraging careful planning and resource management, I want to teach players to be strategic, weighing risks and benefits before acting.
No Hand-holding: There are no excessive tutorials or hints in Volgarr the Viking II. That’s so players will learn by doing – exploring and experimenting, fostering a sense of curiosity and independence. It’s about trusting the player’s intelligence and ability to learn through experience. Everything a player needs to know about how to beat the game is accomplished before they encounter their very first enemy. As they play, they will learn how to use these skills at the right times – and that’s incredibly rewarding.
Punishing but Fair: I freely acknowledge that Volgarr the Viking II is tough, but I also believe that it’s fair. Every challenge can be overcome with the right approach; different players may take a different amount of time to discover it, but they will get there. I always want success to feel deserved and motivating; failures are inevitable, but I never want the player to feel that the game is cheating them.
You’ve spotted the common thread by now: Volgarr the Viking II aims to build a more resilient and determined gamer, but also give them skills that can help them when there’s not a controller in their hands. The perseverance required to tackle our game can translate to a greater sense of confidence in facing challenges both in gaming and in life. The repeated cycle of trying, failing, and eventually succeeding builds a mindset geared towards continuous improvement and resilience – and that can be applied to anything. I have found this to be true in my life and, through my games, I hope to inspire others to discover that in themselves, too.
A Community of Warriors
Lastly, we designed Volgarr the Viking II with the hope of fostering a community of players who support and inspire each other. Sharing strategies, triumphs, and even frustrations can create a bond among players, making the journey less lonely and more rewarding. Together, you form a tribe of modern-day Vikings, conquering not just the game, but the barriers to your own potential.
So, to all our players: At the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun, and I greatly hope you find enjoyment in Volgarr the Viking II. But also know that the challenge is intentional and crafted with care. I do not hate you; on the contrary, I believe in you. Embrace the difficulty, learn from it, and let Volgarr the Viking II be the forge in which your gaming skills are sharpened to perfection. Skål!
Kristofor Durrschmidt is the CEO and co-founder of Crazy Viking Studios, as well as the former creative director of Digital Eclipse’s Bothell studio. In addition to the original Volgarr the Viking, which is celebrating ten years as an indie hit, Kris has worked on over 30games in his career for nearly every major publisher such as Activision-Blizzard , Sega, Nintendo, THQ, Disney, Konami, Capcom, SNK, and more.
Volgarr the Viking II is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Get both games in the franchise with the Volgarr the Viking I & II Bundle. For more information on the game, check out the official website.
Volgarr the Viking II
Digital Eclipse
$19.99
$15.99
The Return of the (Vi)king
More than a decade after Volgarr the Viking’s chaotic, challenging debut, the barbarian king’s story continues in an uncompromising new form.
Volgarr the Viking II is a hardcore, 2D action-platformer where precision is everything and one false move can spell a brutal death. Players of the original game will feel right at home on this relentless voyage, even with the addition of new power-ups, new forms of magic, new enemy types, and a chest-thumping new soundtrack.
While the sequel delivers the same unforgiving 1980s-arcade level of difficulty as the original, Volgarr the Viking II also (mercifully, begrudgingly) offers modern quality-of-life options such as checkpoints, save states, and an undead mode. You decide how punishing your quest should be – but now anyone can be a viking!
With new and larger worlds inspired by Norse mythology, multiple endings, and a variety of ruthless bosses to conquer, Volgarr the Viking II expands and improves on the original in every way. Draw your sword, don your helmet, and chop your way through this violent viking adventure!