Queen’s Wish 2: The Tormentor Preview – A Classic Retro RPG
Queen’s Wish 2: The Tormentor by Spiderweb Software
Queen’s Wish 2: The Tormentor is the latest classic RPG installment from Spiderweb Software, the creators of the Avernum, Avadon, and Geneforge games, among others. Known for their traditional and graphically minimalist approach to game design, Spiderweb has been making RPGs for decades, and they have earned a lot of respect for the craftsmanship they bring to the table. Queen’s Wish 2 is a sequel, expanding the world of its precursor while offering an entertaining entry point for new players.
Queen’s Wish 2’s narrative is built around the child of the Queen of a powerful empire called Haven. This protagonist is customizable and can be male or female, with their older sibling playing a key role in the plot, too. The story opens with a punch, as the character, sent to an occupied and dangerous land, is the target of a raid and assassination attempt. With the raiders repelled, the protagonist is escorted north to the safety of a fort.
It’s Party Time
It’s here that the game really opens up with a plethora of options becoming available. A party of fully customizable characters can be hired at the fort; as many as needed can be made, but only four – including the protagonist – can go adventuring together. I was impressed with the options here. It took me back to Icewind Dale, another game that provided for a lot of fun when it comes to party creation.
I made a rather traditional team, forging my main character into an offense-oriented warrior and backing her up with a durable support fighter, a combat mage, and a healer. I found this configuration unsurprisingly effective, but it was fun to experiment with alternatives, including switching the mage over to more of a summoner and support role. Any build that slows or delays enemy attacks or provides a buffer between them and your party seems to be very effective, so I ended up using fear spells, stuns, and summons extensively. All very enjoyable!
In addition to its engaging narrative and RPG elements, Queen’s Wish 2 also has a robust base management system. The fort can be upgraded with various buildings such as blacksmiths, barracks, and breweries that all offer unique boons or shops from which to acquire goods. Moreover, additional forts can be captured and expanded in the same fashion. It’s also possible to purchase various decorative elements to personalize each location. This is a wonderful addition to the CRPG formula and provides a strong motivation for exploring and conquering new territories.
Classic and Classy
The design style of Queen’s Wish is rooted in the aesthetics of traditional RPGs with a top-down view and simple 2D sprites making up the bulk of the game. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t have some pleasing and engrossing touches, though; ambient sound effects are used with great success with everything from rumbling storms to creaking floorboards, bringing a lot of atmosphere. The prose is also typically excellent- I found the scene descriptions and dialogue effortlessly drew me into the world of Queen’s Wish 2.
Queen’s Wish 2 is another strong entry for Spiderweb Software that once again shows off their mastery of storytelling using the classic RPG format. Packing a great story coupled with a variety of engaging systems that provide plenty of motivation to explore and build, Queen’s Wish 2: The Tormentor boasts 50+ hours of role-playing fun for anyone seeking a retro adventure.
Queens Wish 2: The Tormentor will be available via Steam.
Watch the trailer for Queen’s Wish 2: The Tormentor below:
