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 every defeat.
However, there is a method to this madness. I want to show you some of the design decisions that make this… Volgarr the Viking II It's not just a game, but a learning experience that hones skills that I hope are applicable in your real life.
Accepting the challenge
From the beginning, our goal with Volgarr the Viking II The goal was to create an experience reminiscent of classic arcade and platform games, titles that demanded precision, timing, and perseverance. Having grown up in a military family and having served in the military myself, I believe in the value of a hard-earned victory, the kind of victory that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.
Learning through failure
One of the fundamental design philosophies behind the Volgarr the Viking The series is all about failure being a stepping stone to success. Every death is a lesson, every obstacle an opportunity to hone your skills. The game's difficulty isn't meant to punish, but to teach.
By facing tough, pattern-based enemies combined with static, hand-crafted level designs, players develop a deeper understanding of the game's mechanics, learn to strategize, and improve their reflexes. This is a real workout that trains mental acuity and connection to real-world motor skills. There's a certain amount of pride that comes from overcoming challenges, feeling good, and knowing you can handle anything that comes your way.
Deliberate design decisions
I really wanted players to not only see this philosophy in the design of Volgarr the Viking IIbut you understand it by playing it. At first glance, some of the game's challenges may seem difficult for the sake of it, but every aspect has been meticulously crafted to challenge players while simultaneously fostering their growth. Let me run through a few examples:
Control S: I wanted the controls to be easy to understand, but they also had to be precise, responsive, and predictable. That's the key to giving players the ability to execute actions with precision. Mastering these controls is rewarding in and of itself, but it 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 observation skills and improves your ability to anticipate and react. This isn't just a good skill for gaming, it'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 and to weigh the risks and rewards before acting.
Without holding hands: There are no excessive tutorials or suggestions in Volgarr the Viking IIIn this way, players will learn by doing, exploring and experimenting, fostering a sense of curiosity and independence. It's all about trusting the player's intelligence and ability to learn through experience. Everything a player needs to know about how to win the game is accomplished before they encounter their first enemy. As you play, you'll learn to use these skills at the right moments, and that's incredibly rewarding.
Punishing but fair: I freely acknowledge that Volgarr the Viking II It's tough, but I also think it's fair. Every challenge can be overcome with the right approach; it may take different players a different amount of time to figure it out, but they will get there. I always want success to feel earned and motivating; failures are inevitable, but I never want the player to feel like the game is cheating them.
You will have already detected the common thread: Volgarr the Viking II The goal is to build more resilient and determined players, but also to give them skills that can help them when they don’t have a controller in their hands. The perseverance needed to tackle our game can translate into a greater sense of confidence to face challenges both in games and in life. The repeated cycle of trying, failing, and ultimately succeeding creates a mindset geared toward continuous improvement and resilience, and that can be applied to anything. I’ve found this to be true in my life, and through my games I hope to inspire others to discover that in themselves as well.
A community of warriors
Finally, we designed Volgarr the Viking II in the hopes of fostering a community of players who support and inspire each other. Sharing strategies, triumphs, and even frustrations can create a bond between players, making the journey less lonely and more rewarding. Together, they form a tribe of modern-day Vikings, conquering not only the game, but also the barriers to their own potential.
So to all our gamers: at the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun, and I hope you enjoy them. Volgarr the Viking II. But you should also know that the challenge is intentional and carefully crafted. I don't hate you; on the contrary, I believe in you. Embrace the difficulty, learn from it, and let it Volgarr the Viking II Be the forge where your gaming skills will be honed. 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 its 10th anniversary as an indie hit, Kris has worked on over 30 games throughout his career for nearly every major publisher including Activision-Blizzard, Sega, Nintendo, THQ, Disney, Konami, Capcom, SNK, and more.
Volgarr the Viking II Yos available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Get both games in the franchise with the Volgarr the Viking I and II BundleFor more information about the game, please see the official website.
Volgarr the Viking II
Digital Eclipse
$19.99
$15.99
The (V)ike King Returns More than a decade after Volgarr the Viking’s chaotic and challenging debut, the barbarian king’s story continues in uncompromising new form. Volgarr the Viking II is a hardcore 2D action-platformer where precision is everything and one wrong move can mean brutal death. Players of the original game will feel right at home on this relentless journey, even with the addition of new power-ups, new forms of magic, new enemy types, and a chest-thumping new soundtrack. While the sequel offers the same unforgiving 80s arcade difficulty level as the original, Volgarr the Viking II also offers (thankfully, begrudgingly) modern quality-of-life options like checkpoints, save states, and an undead mode. How punishing your quest should be is up to you – but now anyone can be a Viking! Featuring new, 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, put on your helmet, and blast your way through this violent Viking adventure!
