When comparing The Banner Saga 2 vs Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, the Slant community recommends Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes for most people. In the question“What are the best PC RPGs?” Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is ranked 50th while The Banner Saga 2 is ranked 55th. The most important reason people chose Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is:
Players are in a traditional RPG world and do level up characters as they would in an RPG but the main gameplay mechanic is match three where players line up their troops against an opposing team doing the same. There is also defensive aspects to the field, so it is a bit more involved than a traditional match 3 game.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Helps you to learn the gameplay thoroughly
Tactical RPGs can be really intimidating, especially if you're just starting out. The tutorials often blaze forward, causing you to miss important mechanics. Luckily, Banner Saga 2 tries to alleviate this by adding a trainer NPC who will give you challenges. These involve performing various combat exercises, helping you to solidify your understanding of the game and even learn something new.
Pro Solid tactical combat
Even though Banner Saga 2’s turn-based combat system is fairly straightforward. You and your opponent take turns in moving and attacking with units on a tactical grid. Each unit has its strengths, weaknesses, and set of unique abilities that you need to consider.
For example, archers can attack from far away but they have low armor, so you can’t leave them out in the open. Another example are the Varl, very durable and strong melee units that occupy 4 tiles as opposed to 1. This makes it trickier to position them since more enemies can stand next to them and attack them.
This creates combat that is not too simple but still has enough variety and strategy involved to feel rewarding.
Pro Great hand drawn graphics
Banner Saga 2 environments, characters, and animations are all hand-drawn. This includes your caravan as it marches over a snowy hill, passing trees and houses in the distance. The various viking-esque soldiers, centaurs and other mythological creatures, swinging axes and thrusting spears on a worn out bridge. Even the very detailed character sprites as they discuss matters with extremely serious expressions. Everything just feels like you’re watching an animated movie, which is something almost never encountered in a game.
Pro Interesting mix of match three and RPG
Players are in a traditional RPG world and do level up characters as they would in an RPG but the main gameplay mechanic is match three where players line up their troops against an opposing team doing the same. There is also defensive aspects to the field, so it is a bit more involved than a traditional match 3 game.
Pro Lengthy campaign
M&M Clash of Heroes has a lengthy campaign that will last around 24 hours of play, which for a puzzle focused game is pretty good.
Pro Beautiful graphics
The graphics have been upgraded for the PC version and they look great. All pixel art now in HD with bright colors and fantastic character designs.
Pro Local and online mutiplayer
New to the PC and console editions (as apposed to the DS title) there is now 4 player multiplayer that can be played locally and online.
Cons
Con HP damage based attacks cause one-dimensional tactics
A unit's current number of hit points equals the damage it will deal to an enemy. Because of this, the best strategy is always to hit all enemy units in a sequence, so they inflict as little damage as possible. Any other strategy is too risky and can backfire way too easily, limiting your creativity.
Con Incomplete story
To get a full and satisfying story, you’ll have to play the entire Banner Saga trilogy. Banner Saga 2 on its own feels like you’ve suddenly started reading a book from the middle. There are a lot of characters you know very little about, making it hard to understand their motivations. The on-going events are not explained fully. Even the ending is not a satisfying conclusion but just a setup for the next arc.
Con Writing comes off as a bit childish
While the original target of the game may have been young adults or children due to its release on the DS (a mainstay of gaming for kids) the writing shows its roots and may come off as a bit childish.