To all brave souls who venture 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 loss.
But there is a method to this madness. I would like to walk you through some of the design decisions that Volgarr the Viking II not just a game, but a learning experience where you sharpen skills that you can hopefully apply in real life.
To accept the challenge
From the beginning, our goal was to Volgarr the Viking II was to create an experience reminiscent of classic arcade and platform games – titles that require precision, timing, and endurance. Having grown up in a military family and having served in the military myself, I believe in the value of a hard-fought victory – the kind that gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Learning through failure
One of the central design philosophies behind the Volgarr the Viking series is that failure is a stepping stone to success. Every death is a lesson, every obstacle an opportunity to hone your skills. The game’s difficulty is not intended as a punishment, but as a lesson.
By facing tough, pattern-based enemies combined with static, hand-crafted level designs, players develop a deeper understanding of game mechanics, learn to strategize, and hone their reflexes. This is a true exercise that trains mental acuity and the connection to real-world motor skills. There is a certain level of pride in overcoming challenges, feeling good, and knowing you can handle anything that comes your way.
Conscious design decisions
I wanted players to see this philosophy not only in the design, Volgarr the Viking IIbut understand it by playing it. At first glance, some of the challenges in the game might seem like they are difficult just for the sake of difficulty, but every aspect has been carefully crafted to challenge players while encouraging their development. Let me explain a few examples in more detail:
Controls: I wanted the controls to be easy to understand, but I also wanted them to feel precise, responsive, and predictable. That’s key to giving players the ability to execute actions with precision. Mastering these controls is rewarding in and of itself, but it also helps players develop skills they can apply to other action games.
Pattern recognition: Enemies and traps follow set patterns. Recognizing and memorizing these patterns sharpens your powers of observation 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 weigh risks and benefits before taking action.
No hand holding: There are no excessive tutorials or hints in Volgarr the Viking II. This allows players to learn by doing – exploring and experimenting, developing 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 to win the game is already done before they face their very first opponent. As they play, they learn to use these skills at the right time – and it’s incredibly rewarding.
Punitive but fair: I freely acknowledge that Volgarr the Viking II is hard, but I also believe it’s fair. Any challenge can be overcome with the right approach; different players may take different amounts of time to figure it out, but they will get there. I always want success to feel earned and motivating; failure is inevitable, but I never want the player to feel like the game is cheating them.
You have now recognized the common thread: Volgarr the Viking II aims to mold a more resilient and determined gamer, but also teach them skills that can help them when they don’t have a controller in their hand. The perseverance required to tackle our game can translate into greater confidence when facing challenges both in gaming and in life. The repeated cycle of trying, failing, and ultimately succeeding builds a mindset focused on 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 this in themselves as well.
A community of warriors
Finally, we designed Volgarr the Viking II in hopes of building a community of players who support and inspire each other. Sharing strategies, triumphs, and even frustrations can create a bond between players and make the journey less lonely and more rewarding. Together, you’ll form a tribe of modern Vikings and conquer not only the game, but the obstacles to your own potential.
So, to all our gamers, at the end of the day, video games are meant to be fun, and I really hope you enjoy them. Volgarr the Viking II. But know that the challenge is deliberate and designed with care. I do not hate you; on the contrary, I believe in you. Accept the difficulty, learn from it and let Volgarr the Viking II be the forge where your gaming skills are honed to perfection. Skål!
Kristofor Durrschmidt is CEO and co-founder of Crazy Viking Studios and former creative director of Digital Eclipse’s Bothell studio. In addition to the original Volgarr the Viking, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary as an indie hit, Kris has worked on over 30 games in his career for almost every major publisher including 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 series with the Volgarr the Viking I & II PackFor more information about the game, see official website.
Volgarr the Viking II
Digital Solar Eclipse
19,99 $
15,99 $
The return of the (Viking) King. More than a decade after the chaotic, challenging debut of Volgarr the Viking, the story of the barbarian king continues in an uncompromising new form. Volgarr the Viking II is a tough-as-nails 2D action-platformer where precision is everything and one wrong move can mean a brutal death. Players of the original game will feel right at home on this relentless journey, even with new power-ups, new forms of magic, new enemy types and a stirring new soundtrack. While the sequel offers the same merciless 1980s arcade difficulty as the original, Volgarr the Viking II also (thankfully but begrudgingly) offers modern quality of life options like checkpoints, save states and an undead mode. You decide how grueling your quest should be – but now anyone can be a Viking! With new and larger worlds inspired by Norse mythology, multiple endings, and a host of brutal bosses to defeat, 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 brutal Viking adventure!
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