The Saturn and PlayStation versions met with generally positive reviews. While most critics remarked that the graphics are subpar for their generation, they praised the humorous voice clips and, while noting that the challenge level is extremely high and would be frustrating for some players, they also felt it to be entirely fair and intellectually stimulating. For instance, Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly opined that having to start levels over if even one of the Vikings dies is "unforgiving, but necessary", and his co-reviewer Crispin Boyer remarked, "The later levels are especially tough, but they're also rewarding if you can figure them out (don't be a quitter!)." Next Generation said the game had retained the original's strong puzzles: "The levels are still nicely designed and have a reasonable learning curve." GamePro was less certain, remarking that though the gameplay and puzzles are deep and fun, they could not wholly recommend the game due to its graphical mediocrity. Trent Ward of GameSpot, however, disagreed with the majority assessment of the graphics, stating that "Although it's no visual feast, Norse by NorseWest still looks pretty good for what is, at its heart, a puzzle game." Lee Nutter of Sega Saturn Magazine called the game "excellent fodder for platform/puzzle enthusiasts, with plenty of lastability."
