The dagger is a small yet nimble blade that works nicely as a fast-flinging projectile. The broadsword is a heavier but stronger weapon with a vertical slice to deal with a dive-kicking opponent. The most notable gameplay change in Nidhogg 2 is that you now have a selection of weapons to choose from outside the classic rapier. It’s a simple formula that’s incredibly easy to learn and awakens that desperate drive to do anything to become victorious. A single match can last for ages if both competitors maintain their skill and wit to stand their ground. It has the sting and bragging rights of slapsies, the anticipation and reads of rock, paper, scissors and the agonising stubborn endurance of a staring competition. Think of it as a collection of timeless playground games. You can jump, dive-kick, knock your adversary into pits or stamp them into a pulp in order to activate that all-important arrow marker to signify that you now have the upper hand. Just like in the original, you can parry a weapon swung from the hand of your opponent, throw your weapon to nail a ranged kill and even reclaim any weapons dropped by either you or your enemy. Victory awaits once you have sprinted all the way to the finish line where a giant worm is waiting to gobble you up. If your opponent strikes you first, they have the priority to run. The idea is to strike your opponent down with your weapon and make a run for it towards the goal at the enemy’s side of the level. Both combatants face off smack, bang in the centre of a sprawling stage made up from a collection of screens. Thankfully, developer Messhof has eventually come to their senses and now we can finally stick our enemies with the pointy end anytime and anywhere.įor those that have never heard of Nidhogg before, the rules are very simple. This well-deserved sequel in the form of Nidhogg 2 originally struck PlayStation 4 and Steam in August last year – with no mention of a Nintendo Switch version in the works. It is also one of my absolute go-to games when inviting friends over for a good old knees-up. A back-and-forth explosion of tag fused with the skillful art of fencing, the original Nidhogg was like acting out a fight scene from the Count of Monte Cristo while being warped into the retro dimensions of the Atari 2600. If there was one game that I have always seen as an absolute necessity for the Nintendo Switch, it would have to be Nidhogg.