If you read my review of Darkest Dungeon II, you know I gave the game high praise. Specifically, I applauded Red Hook for their steps to separate the game from its predecessor, choosing to make an experience that truly stands alone rather than simply rereleasing Darkest Dungeon with some improvements and changes. Each title is different enough from the other that comparing the two really isn’t fair, but I can still safely say that I prefer the sequel over the original.
Despite my high praises, I haven’t returned to Darkest Dungeon II much after my initial playthrough, but when I was given an early key for Darkest Dungeon II’s DLC, The Binding Blade, I knew it was time to jump back into this nihilistic hellscape for one more grueling trip up the mountain.
What I found in Darkest Dungeon II – The Binding Blade was a great mix of the old and the new. A little bit of Darkest Dungeon comes back to Darkest Dungeon II, but it is introduced in a way that’s new, unexpected, and ceremonial, in keeping with the game’s fresh identity
The ‘something new’ in The Binding Blade is The Duelist, a fearless fencer who joins the cast of playable heroes.
The Duelist, better known in-game as Saharr is a brand new hero never before seen in the Darkest Dungeon series. She joins the cast alongside the sequel’s other new heroes and is available to join your party as soon as you install the DLC.
The Duelist brings her own unique mechanics and playstyle into your abhorrent road trip. Like all other heroes, she also has a unique backstory to discover at Shrines of Reflection, one which I found particularly interesting and won’t do you the disservice of spoiling here.
Admittedly, it took me a while to figure out what the Duelist was all about. I put a lot of emphasis on using the wrong skills, thinking they would be powerful, and I couldn’t quite figure out what her niche on the team was supposed to be. Darkest Dungeon II’s lack of tutorials in this area is certainly a large part of the game’s difficulty curve. Players will benefit from community-made guides to the Duelist by the time this review comes out.
Eventually, I figured her out, and it probably should have been more obvious to me from the beginning. The Duelist makes use of the Riposte status effect, striking enemies and then punishing them for striking back. Each of her unique stances gives her a different bonus on Riposte attacks and allows her to move up and down the line. Switching from her aggressive to her defensive stance and back and striking hard with ripostes are the bread and butter of this new hero’s kit.
While the Duelist quickly became a new favorite of mine, she was hardly the heroic addition to Darkest Dungeon II I was excited for.
The little bit of the old I mentioned is the returning Crusader, a fan favorite from the first Darkest Dungeon who did not join the original cast in the sequel. I remember there being some serious disappointment and speculation about this character when fans heard he wasn’t returning for the second game, especially given his relationship with the Highwayman Dismass.
Fans can rejoice about the Crusader’s return, but getting him into your party won’t nearly be as easy as collecting the Duelist. Since the Crusader is such an important character to the fandom, the developers at Red Hook seem to have decided that his return to the series should come with a bit of fanfare by means of an epic collect-a-thon quest DLC owners have to complete to unlock him.
Darkest Dungeon II – The Binding Blade’s quest to restore the crusader begins at the Inn, where you collect and mount the helmet of the fabled last crusader to your stagecoach. Doing so allows you to experience encounters specifically tailored to The Lost Crusade quest during your run. The aforementioned quest will see you fighting invading armies and collecting the gear of the fabled soldier before you can bring him into your party.
Some people might be disappointed by the choice to gate-keep the Crusader behind a quest that, admittedly, will take you some time and luck to complete. Personally, I love this decision. It gives this popular character’s return a feeling of epic importance. A feeling of real pride and accomplishment really comes from working for something, and the fact that something is one of my favorite characters from Darkest Dungeon is all the better.
It’s hard to underestimate the building anticipation for his arrival as you slowly collect important pieces of the quest. I only wish there was a more direct way to navigate towards The Lost Crusade objectives, which, as far as I can tell, are divided amongst the game’s other random encounters.
In addition to the two new heroes, there is a new mini-boss that can be encountered randomly on your runs. This intimidating beast is called The Warlord and has me continuing to applaud the game’s incredibly cool yet often frustrating bosses. This one, in particular, has a big, intimidating Roman Centurian vibe, and it’s left unclear whether it is a man or some other twisted monster between you and the mountain.
The inclusion of this mini-boss alongside two characters and the wealth of content that comes with them makes this a huge DLC in Darkest Dungeon terms. For fans of the game, I’d say The Binding Blade is a must-buy, as it features both The Duelist and The Crusader, along with the epic quest to acquire him, and these are fantastic additions to the game. After getting my hands on this DLC, the idea of a Darkest Dungeon II without it feels hollow and incomplete.
The Final Word
Darkest Dungeon II: The Binding Blade is a phenomenal expansion to an already great game and one that feels like a fundamental, must-have addition to your Darkest Dungeon II experience. With two new heroes, a fantastic quest, and a mini-boss, this DLC breathes new and exciting life into the grimdark adventure that is Darkest Dungeon II.
10
Try Hard Guides was provided with a PC review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website! Darkest Dungeon II: The Binding Blade is available on Steam and Epic Games.
