Darkest Dungeon II: Binding Blade DLC on PC
With regards to expansions, the Darkest Dungeon collection is held in pretty excessive regard because of its distinctive expansions for the primary sport. Given this, it’s little shock followers have been eagerly anticipating the Binding Blade DLC for Darkest Dungeon II.
Providing two new characters to select from and an prolonged in-game quest that impacts runs, the brand new content material held the potential to present gamers loads of new content material that builds on the bottom sport’s stable basis. Or no less than, it did in idea. In follow, it may lavatory down the expertise with but extra mechanics and options to juggle, additional growing the issue of an already punishing sport.
Fortunately, I can safely report that Darkest Dungeon II: Binding Falls within the former camp. It not solely builds on what got here earlier than it, however does so in ways in which elevate the expertise considerably.
![Party Asking About Reynauld in Darkest Dungeon II Binding Blade DLC](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Darkest-Dungeon-II-Binding-Blade-Party-Asking-About-Reynauld.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
How the Binding Blade DLC does that is attention-grabbing too. Consistent with the sport’s roguelike design, it really works its new options and mechanics straight into runs through an elective quest gamers can undertake. Whereas lively, mentioned quest duties them with monitoring down the Crusader Reynauld by accepting a trophy tied to him and monitoring down key objects scattered all through areas and throughout a number of runs.
Stated runs are additionally stuffed with highly effective new enemies. Overcoming them requires each cautious selections and actual ways in addition to the power to weigh sacrifices, making it the proper problem for individuals who have overcome the bottom sport’s hardest foes.
It’s in no way a simple feat, and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it wasn’t slightly irritating that I needed to struggle by a number of runs to finish what was in any other case a easy quest quest. Likewise, the standard RNG components may hamper my progress as effectively, with sadly timed crits on my characters stopping me from claiming a vital quest merchandise on the final minute.
Nevertheless, the sport does minimize the participant some breaks relating to finishing the DLC storyline. Particularly, key objects which can be collected aren’t completely misplaced upon a run’s completion, and could be retrieved on the Inn discovered initially of every run. It’s a small kindness, but it surely makes an enormous distinction and retains the content material from feeling insurmountable.
At worst, gamers may have to cycle by a number of runs till they get some good RNG by way of their early areas to make sure they’ll get far sufficient in a run to make tangible progress within the DLC.
![](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Darkest-Dungeon-II-Binding-Blade-Duelist-Killing-Enemy-With-Ripost.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Its additionally value noting that the DLC’s different new character, Sahar the Duelist, makes mentioned runs significantly simpler. Accessible from the get-go, she acts extra as a maneuverable attacker able to excessive harm hit and run ways. Her talents show helpful not solely in fights tied to the DLC, however in commonplace battles as effectively, particularly given she synergizes so effectively with nearly the entire sport’s different characters and celebration formations.
And naturally, as soon as they’ve gotten far sufficient to recruit Reynauld, gamers can have yet one more highly effective fighter of their device equipment. Filling a selected area of interest through a tank-ier construct and the power to self-heal repeatedly, he can fill loads of tough roles inside one’s crew that make clearing even high-level runs that a lot simpler.
To prime all of it off, the DLC managed to do extra than simply provide some enjoyable new content material to dig into — it made the bottom sport extra enjoyable to play as effectively. Even effectively after clearing the core quest of the enlargement, I used to be keen to maintain doing runs to see how the Duelist synergized with a given character or how effectively the Crusader may deal with a sure space.
It was the shot within the arm the sport wanted to develop into thrilling once more, and gamers who misplaced curiosity after the sport’s preliminary launch ought to discover precisely what they should fall in love with the sport another time.
Minor gripes apart, Darkest Dungeon II: Binding Blade is an exemplary enlargement to the already spectacular base sport. Those that have been taking part in the sport since its launch earlier this yr will discover lots to sink their tooth into through the brand new characters and content material, whereas newcomers can have a number of extra nice causes to present the sport an opportunity.
Execs
DLC Quest Adjustments the Sport in Noticeable Methods
Duelist and Crusader Characters Are a Blast to Use
New Characters Reinvigorate the Base Sport
Cons
Can Be Tedious to Do A number of Runs to Unlock all DLC Content material
Launch Date
Dec. 11, 2023
Developer
Purple Hook Studios
Writer
Purple Hook Studios
Copy supplied by Writer