Despite having been announced in late 2019, details regarding the upcoming indie Metroidvania title Axiom Verge 2 have been scant. The most recent Axiom Verge revelations have been regarding its delay, as well as its release as an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC. Yet it seems developer Tom Happ saw an opportunity in Thursday's Future Games Show. Today, Happ shared an extended introduction to Axiom Verge 2, which may be much different than what fans expected.

To be clear, the new Axiom Verge 2 showcase does feature gameplay but is not so much a gameplay trailer. Rather, the video features Tom Happ going over what Axiom Verge 2, how it relates to the original Axiom Verge, and how players should manage their expectations for the sequel. To start, Happ made clear that while Axiom Verge 2 takes place in the same universe as Axiom Verge, it's a standalone complementary experience that largely takes place before the events of its predecessor.

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Happ says that while he created Axiom Verge, he decided that the full story of the universe should be broken into multiple parts told through multiple perspectives. Each of these parts would be its own game, full releases rather than episodic. Happ doesn't say that Axiom Verge 2 is entirely separate from Axiom Verge, but he also says he won't get into spoilers. As such, the implication is that there are ties between the two games that players will have to discover for themselves.

One notable difference between the two games is that Happ says Axiom Verge 2 will play much differently than the first game. He decides not to share how they'll be different but does offer a clue. He says the first Axiom Verge is based on games like Metroid, Blaster Master, Contra, and others. In other words, Axiom Verge 2 likely takes inspiration from other classic games that Happ wants to pay tribute to. The brief gameplay shown does show Metroidvania style exploration but combined with a Ninja Gaiden-esque melee combat and the option to freeze combat to use an ability.

While Happ doesn't offer any further clues, he does say that Axiom Verge 2 will also have many secret areas to discover just like the first game. He believes that Axiom Verge 2 is going to be a great game for those who like uncovering "deeply hidden secrets."

Based on Happ's comments, it's certainly understandable why there hasn't been more media shared for Axiom Verge 2. It also means that there likely won't be much more shared between now and Axiom Verge 2's delayed launch. Luckily, that launch doesn't sound far away, as Axiom Verge 2 remains planned for release in spring 2021.

Axiom Verge 2 releases spring 2021 on PC and Switch.

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