Game: Spelunky 2
Genre: Platformer, Action
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Xbox, PS4, PS Vita and PC)
Developer|Publisher: Blitworks | Mossmouth
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Teen
Price: UK £17.99 | EU € 19,99 | USA $19.99
Release Date: August 26th, 2021
Review code provided with many thanks to Mossmouth
Round Two
After the roaring success of the first Spelunky game, it was no surprise that we would eventually see a sequel. After spending unhealthy amounts of gaming time on the first game I was quick to pick this up on PC when it was first released last year.
But for me, I always loved Spelunky in portable form. Since a Vita port is very unlikely, it’s up to the Nintendo Switch to take up the mantle. Spelunky 2 brings everything that made the original game a roguelike classic whilst adding plenty of new surprises.
Fly Me to the Moon
This time the game takes place on the moon. You play the daughter of two of the protagonists from the original game on the hunt for your parents who decided to take to the stars for more adventure. Apparently having a kid wasn’t enough for them. So you grab your dog, jump in a spaceship and head into an all-new cave system in search of adventure as well as plenty of gold.
Same Mechanics Expanded
Spelunky 2 is a 2D platformer with a harsh roguelike design. Die during the game and it’s back to the start with nothing carrying over except the lessons you learned. Every time you attempt a run, levels, items and enemy placement are randomly generated. The only themes that remain constant are the boss fights and the general placement of rare items. The game is incredibly unforgiving but this random design has always been the draw that keeps keen players like me returning over and over.
At its foundation, this is the same Spelunky experience you remember from the first game. But not long into the game you soon find it starts to build on its original design. This time levels are multilayered. Meaning you can enter individual doors to access new areas adding more exploration. This time around there are also branching paths meaning you can choose which level environments to progress to. Early on you can choose between a familiar jungle level or a sort of lava factory.
When you finish either area you return to a familiar location and the branching paths expand further with some exploration. This adds even more flexibility to an already winning formula, adding yet more random elements to the game making things feel distinctly unique every run. It doesn’t stop with the level design. The game introduces rideable mounts like turkeys that can leap higher and a dog-like creature that breathes fire. There are new items to discover and a crazy amount of new enemies. There is also a very unique fluid mechanic. If you blow up a pool of water (or lava) it will flow down across platforms which may assist or hinder your progress through the level.
New Look
The graphics have received a huge overhaul. There’s still this warm comical feel to the design of the characters. The environments feel more detailed. You will visit familiar locations like a cave system, the forest and even a familiar boss fight. But there are welcome new environments like a sort of aquatic style region presented all blue with a fishy feel.
There are a plethora of new enemies to contend with as well as a lot of new mini-bosses added to the mix. The soundtrack has also received a totally new score. Packing a more epic and addictive punch this time around. Since you’ll be seeing the first cave system a lot. It helps that the beats keep you engaged.
Controls
Controls are simple to pick up and use. The game offers another initial tutorial to re-equate you with the mechanics. Like the first game, you have your handy whip to attack and a limited amount of bombs and ropes to use. The main difference old Spelunky vets will notice is your character now sprints by default. Initially, this took a bit of getting used to as I am far too familiar with holding the trigger to sprint but you are able to switch this to your preference in the options. In fact, the options menu gives you a generous amount of customization. You can map buttons to your liking and even adjust the text sizes across the board. It’s quite rare to see this level of customization in a Switch title.
Added Features
The highlight feature this time is that you are able to play the game online. You can choose to play with friends or even risk the gamble with random folk online if you dare. When trying this the game appeared to run pretty well for the most part but this will likely vary depending on one’s internet connection. A note for online is it doesn’t appear that you can unlock new characters if you choose to go this route. That feature appears to only be present in the adventure which you can still play locally with up to 4 players.
While going alone is still terrific fun, I have to say the game comes even more alive if you can share it with a friend. If a friend does die in the game they can assist you in the playthrough as a cute ghost. You can also revive a teammate pretty regularly however they will return with no items at all. The game also features the ability to cross-save your game with other systems. Although this feature doesn’t appear to be live on PC yet. Like other versions of the game on other platformers, the Switch version doesn’t offer any exclusive features.
Conclusion – Roguelike Master
I initially didn’t warm to Spelunky 2. When I first tried this on PC I found the entry difficulty level to be a bit too harsh even for someone who sunk so much time into the first game. But this time on Switch things really started to click and I was once again into the endless replayable gaming void of the Spleunky verse.
Splelunky 2 is a brick wall of difficulty. Some days I rarely got past the first cave system but darn, was I having fun. But when I least suspected it I discovered a new mystery or level I had never seen before. Spelunky 2 is a fantastic addition to Nintendo Switch and just like the first game, it will be hard not to sneak in a quick game every time I see its icon on my Switch dashboard.
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
