Hammerwatch II: The Chronicles Edition

The game itself is amazing and im a huge fan of the previous ones. The UI is just....****. It doesnt need to be this bad. If they ever clean this up ill gladly update my rating.

I don't know how you can make such an awful interface for a console game without actively trying to hinder the players experience. There's no way anyone tested this. I've seen some terrible interaces when PC games come to console, but this is by far the worst. If you can get used to the weird interface, the game is quite good, and a massive leap in scope from the first game and Heroes of Hammerwatch.

***Update December 29, 2025: My original review from May of 2025 still stands, with zero updates to the game addressing any of the previous issues that I had.*** The game's interface is 100% not developed for a game controller. Trying to navigate the game and menus feels like it was jerry-rigged for it. The UI is also terrible, not being able to adjust it, and some bars of information cover up other information on screen. There is a very fun game here, but developer choices with how you interact with it leaves a lot to be desired.

This game is held back by weird menu ui navigation (L-stick controls cursor AND scrolling at the same time? Gross.) and it's missing core mechanic tutorials. How do you use a potion? Hit buttons and figure it out! Binding skills and/or items? Again, you're on your own to figure that out. Otherwise, this games pixel art is stellar. The RPG elements are much deeper than the first game's and Heroes'. It's just.. the user experience blows

I was enjoying the game 21 hours in, and then I entered a cave north of Scalem which was pitch black and couldn't exit out of. Game also autosaves upon entering. Completely stuck. A known bug on prior ports apparently. No multiple saves. Progress permanently deleted. Will change score if fixed.