The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution Review | The Thrilling Survival and Horror Game

Virtual Reality (VR) has revolutionized the gaming industry, and in the realm of survival horror games, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and its recently released sequel, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution, offer an immersive and heart-pumping experience. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of New Orleans, players are transported to a world filled with danger, where every decision and action has consequences. The original game, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, was well received for its intense gameplay and thrilling storyline. The sequel, marketed as a continuation of the first game, is actually a standalone expansion that builds upon the foundation of its predecessor. However, players will find a series of bugs that frequently interrupt the gameplay, hindering the overall experience.

Additionally, the computational power of the Meta Quest 2 headset, which the game is designed for, has proven to be insufficient to handle the demands of the game, causing frequent glitches and jagged graphics. These technical issues, combined with the game’s already intense and frightening atmosphere, can result in an experience that is both jarring and unsettling. While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution offers an exciting addition to the series, the combination of game-breaking bugs and inadequate technology often detract from the overall experience. Nevertheless, for fans of survival horror games, it remains a must-play, offering a heart-pumping journey through the zombie-infested streets of New Orleans.

In The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution, players continue the role of the Tourist, a survivor who has established a reputation in Louisiana bayou after the events of the first game. At the start of the game, players have limited options for character customization such as choosing skin color and voice actor (masculine or feminine). While this level of character creation may not be as sophisticated as in other games, it is suitable for a first-person VR game and allows players to dive into the action quickly. After a brief and optional tutorial segment and an introductory cutscene, players are thrown into the heart of the zombie-infested world.

The action in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution has been ramped up compared to the original game, with the exception of the wave survival mode and endgame missions, which were added in the Meatgrinder and Aftershocks updates. The absence of the wave survival mode is surprising, especially with the introduction of new weapons such as the chainsaw and sawed-off shotgun, which add to the enjoyment of causing destruction. Despite the visceral satisfaction of watching walkers get torn apart, the framerate on the Quest 2 headset often drops, making for an uncomfortable experience, especially with the use of the chainsaw, which requires two hands to operate effectively.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution A Thrilling Shift from Stealth to Combat in VR Gaming

The first game in the series, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, emphasized stealth as players had to navigate a resource-starved world filled with walkers and hostile humans. In contrast, Chapter 2 focuses heavily on combat, providing players with ample weapons and resources from the start. This shift in gameplay takes away some of the nuance and progression found in the original, as weapons become less valuable and inventory management becomes less tense. However, the increased availability of loot allows players to focus less on scavenging and more on survival, which still feels frightening due to the increased number and aggression of walkers.

The higher level of action in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution is fortunate, as it continues to offer the most thrilling melee combat experience in VR gaming aside from Blade & Sorcery. With a variety of weapons that are simulated with full physics, the melee combat is satisfying to engage in and allows for creative ways to overcome danger. These weapons, such as the versatile one-handed cleaver and the stylish two-handed katana inspired by Michonne, are particularly effective for quickly dispatching walkers.

Disappointing Technological Struggles and Rehashed Content

Despite an increased number of enemies, the Quest 2’s hardware struggles to keep up with the demands of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution. As a result, the game experiences frequent crashes and glitches that detract from the overall experience. In one particularly frustrating instance, the game crashed multiple times in a row, resulting in the loss of 20 minutes of progress each time, until clearing out items in the home camp seemed to alleviate the issue. However, it is uncertain if this was the actual solution. The frequent crashes and glitches were a source of frustration throughout that section of the campaign.

ALSO READ: Hunt the Night: A Gothic Tale of Dark Magic and Medieval Monsters

In Chapter 2 of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, familiar zones from the original game still dominate the content, with only a few new areas and weapons added. This over-reliance on old territory, including The Shallows, Bywater, The Ward, and Rampart, among others, makes the experience feel stale. Some of these locations even lack a significant role in the story and seem pointless to visit. However, newcomers to the game should be aware that Chapter 2 offers little explanation of the overarching events and could leave them feeling lost without prior knowledge.

The second chapter of the game fails to live up to its potential as a new and innovative installment in the franchise. Instead, it feels like a rehash of the original game, with familiar zones and characters making a return. The new characters, though present, lack the depth and impact that made Casey such a standout in the first campaign.

New Orleans and dissatisfied moments

The quests in the second chapter feel forced and predetermined, lacking the freedom and agency that the player had in the original game. This can be seen in the railroaded nature of the missions, where players are forced to follow a specific conclusion no matter what choices they make. On top of that, the game experiences technical issues like glitches and crashes, which can take away from the overall experience.

Furthermore, the lack of polish in the second chapter is a major disappointment when compared to the original game, which was more refined and had a more consistent pace. The story is also not as well-explained, leaving players who are new to the franchise feeling lost and confused.The second chapter fails to deliver the creative and unique experience that players expect from a new installment in the franchise.

In the world of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Chapter 2 introduces the players to a secondary antagonist who is heavily-armored and wields a menacing Axe. This character casts a shadow over the player’s journey through New Orleans and builds tension as the story progresses. However, the story fails to sustain the build-up and the villain ultimately disappears, only to reappear in a lackluster and forgettable boss fight towards the end. Despite this disappointment, the final showdown against the Tower, an authoritarian entity that has been a looming presence throughout the series, provides a satisfying conclusion. Though, the Quest 2’s hardware struggles to keep up with the action, leading to frequent crashes and glitches that detract from the climax. Nevertheless, the set-up for the final confrontation is well executed and creates a memorable experience for the players.

When the Same Walkers Wear New Masks

If you’re a fan of the intense survival gameplay from the original, Chapter 2 won’t disappoint. At its core, it’s the same game, flaws and all. However, it’s disheartening to see that the AI remains unchanged, and that human enemies are still some of the most dim-witted in any virtual reality game. They become a greater threat in the later stages when you’re faced with groups of armored enemies armed with rifles and shotguns, but their aim is as shaky as a stormtrooper’s and they rarely outnumber you in the same way walkers can. It’s a shame that the only new type of walker you’ll encounter is a heavily armored variant that doesn’t behave any differently from the ones you’ve faced countless times before. This new type doesn’t even have that much extra health, and can easily be defeated by any old cleaver. In the end, all walkers die in the same way, but it would have been nice to encounter some new creatures with unique abilities.

ALSO READ: The Legends of Dwarf Fortress: A Game for Eternity

Chapter 2 Brings Fresh Features to The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Despite the monotony of facing the same enemies, Chapter 2 shines with the introduction of two new upgradeable crafting stations, bringing the total to five. This expands the options for progression and loadout customization as players gather loot and turn it into valuable resources at their base camp. The relationship between these systems is a hallmark of the original game and Chapter 2 greatly benefits from the addition of new tools, such as the flare. This handy tool, when thrown, ignites and effectively draws a herd of walkers to a designated location, allowing players to make a quick escape.

It’s a positive addition that Chapter 2 introduces the ability to venture into zones at nighttime, offering a fresh perspective on familiar missions. The nocturnal environment significantly changes the landscape and NPC actions, adding a new layer of challenge and excitement to the game. While playing at night, players can also take on special missions for a faction known as the Exile Trade Network, exchanging their completion for valuable loot. However, after extensively playing the game for over 15 hours, these missions may feel repetitive and the rewards rather underwhelming, making them an optional side activity for players.

Surviving the Night: Exploring the Dark Zones in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution

Exploring the zones at night comes with its own set of challenges and thrills. The darkness enhances the danger as walkers become more abundant and relentless, moving faster and hunting you down relentlessly. With limited stamina and the need to reload weapons, you’ll have to rely on your cunning and resourcefulness to survive. Stealth and melee weapons, like broken bottles and screwdrivers, become critical tools in the face of overwhelming numbers. The good news is, there are always multiple paths to safety, and you can use other humans as distractions to clear a path. Nighttime missions, offered by the Exile Trade Network, offer a chance to test your skills and earn valuable loot, but they can also be skipped if they feel like a repetitive chore.

ALSO READ: Horizon Forbidden West – Burning Shores Review | A Thrilling Adventure

With limited time available each day and resources dwindling, the challenge of survival remains at the forefront of the game. As each in-game day passes, walkers multiply and become more abundant, making scavenging a dangerous task. However, the bright side is that you can progress the main story missions more quickly by completing them at night, where valuable loot is more readily available. The new UV mode of your flashlight enables you to quickly locate special materials, like biomass and phosphorous, which can be used to craft upgrades, such as laser pointers for weapons or nutritious mil-spec rations. And while the number of walkers may be higher at night, they also become more vulnerable as they stumble upon backpacks filled with supplies left behind by previous survivors.

Verdict

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Chapter 2 Retribution may not bring much new to the table for fans of the original, but it still delivers a solid zombie gaming experience for both fans and newcomers alike. The combat and survival horror elements remain just as strong, and the new additions like night mode and improved weapons only enhance the gameplay. However, the mediocre missions and lackluster conclusion to the story from the first chapter detract from the overall experience. Unfortunately, the presence of bugs, frame drops, and crashes also give the impression that this sequel was created without much effort, much like a mindless walker searching for its next meal.

FAQs