Slay the Spire 2 is a bit too familiar for its own good

"Do you remember the joyful satisfaction you felt when you really started to understand Slay the Spire? If you're reading this piece about Slay the Spire 2-published roughly a week into what promises to be a lengthy Early Access period-I have to assume you've put in dozens, if not hundreds (or thousands?) of hours with the original Slay the Spire. At this point, the game probably feels less like a game and more like a comfortable old pair of sneakers."

"But think back, if you can, to when Slay the Spire was an exciting new challenge. Remember those first few runs, when you were still deep in the trial-and-error phase of your Slay the Spire journey. You still had to read each new card carefully as it appeared, developing potential strategies on the fly and weighing key deckbuilding and power-building decisions for minutes at a time to maximize your chance of survival."

"After years of waiting, I was hoping Slay the Spire 2 could bring back some of that sense of discovery, helping me look at a thoroughly saturated game genre from a new angle. After a week kicking the Early Access tires, though, it's hard to shake the feeling that, despite all the changes and additions, Slay the Spire 2 is just a"

Slay the Spire 2 enters Early Access with new characters and additions, yet struggles to recapture the sense of discovery that defined the original game. Veterans who have invested hundreds or thousands of hours in the first Slay the Spire have mastered its systems, developed favorite strategies, and become comfortable with its mechanics. While randomization creates variation between runs, experienced players recognize recurring patterns and familiar decision-making processes. The sequel's new content and changes fail to substantially alter the fundamental gameplay loop, leaving long-time players with a sense of déjà vu despite the additions.

Read at Ars Technica