Spelunky 2

1. marel410

   Feb 4, 2021

   10

   The game is much harder than both Spelunky Classic and Spelunky HD but this is why its such a good run off game from both of these. BTW I willThe game is much harder than both Spelunky Classic and Spelunky HD but this is why its such a good run off game from both of these. BTW I will be going into small spoilers in this game but not large enough to mark as spoiler
   
   I have played all games in order and fallen in love with classic and HD. This is mostly likely why I, unlike other reviewers are fine with the scale in difficulty as I have done everything in both games and enjoy the new challenge of Spelunky 2.
   
   Movement/enemies/items:
   The movement translates perfectly from HD to 2 as I went back to HD recently and it felt great. The enemies move the same as last game and any new monsters fit in perfectly amongst everything else even if they can be very annoying from time to time. Some items such as the cape, climbing gloves and jetpack had changes from the original games which was for the best. The inclusion of every new item was executed perfectly and they all fit in perfectly.
   
   Shops:
   The main part of shops are the keepers and these were balanced out nicely. Shop keeper movement is slower and more predictable but they can now climb ladders which adds another dimension of shop keeper combat through out the game. This new AI applies to every NPC in the game so strategies are transferable. The explosive items in shops force the play to plan their attack instead of just mindless murder of shop keepers in the previous games. The varying layouts of basements and attics in shops are a nice addition.
   
   Background levels:
   The addition of the background levels was very well executed as many secrets and bonus items are behind the main level. This adds more options for the player to get items that were more scarce in Spelunky HD. These items are mainly bombs and the change is very noticeable as I have never, in my 1000+ runs of Spelunky 2, run out of bombs when trying to get to the black market or back ground levels in general. This change is very nice as many of my HD runs have been cut short due to lack of bombs.
   
   Branching Paths/Multiple Endings:
   The Branching levels add nice alternatives if you are sick of one side and also add a tactical choice when going into world 2 and 4. Examples would be if you are lacking in bombs, the black market would be a good choice, if you didn't have movement, Vlad's cape is a good choice in Volcania. This is better than HD and Classic with only one path but HD has 2 bosses unlike Classic. Others can be said about the Temple or the Tide Pools. The multiple endings allow for newer players to set goals and slowly make their way to the large endings. Getting a shortcut, learning how to fight certain areas or bosses(Wont talk about as they are major spoilers) are all carry over from HD but well implemented into Spelunky 2.
   
   Overall this game is a full 10/10 and a great improvement of HD and Classic. The reason why I'm talking about Spelunky Classic so much is because I recommend you play the games in order starting from Classic. Spelunky Classic is the easiest game and a good starting block to get into the other games. Both HD and Classic get you used to the perma death mechanic but being fully dedicated to the games you need some dedication. Overall you need some dedication to play this game but its well worth as winning is very satisfying.… Expand

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful
2. shamusboy10

   Dec 12, 2020

   10

   If you're a fan of spelunky 1, you'll likely be a fan of spelunky 2. Same concise design, same imaginative artstyle, a fine (if slightlyIf you're a fan of spelunky 1, you'll likely be a fan of spelunky 2. Same concise design, same imaginative artstyle, a fine (if slightly bland) soundtrack and moderate difficulty will encourage replays in true roguelite fashion. Minor difficulty inconsistencies at launch have been corrected, and as it stands it has set the bar for games of it's type, much like it's predecessor.… Expand

   • 1 of 3 users found this helpful
4. Gothic_Brother

   Nov 27, 2020

   10

   I'm a huge fan of the original game as well as HD version. Spelunky 2 is better in every possible way. I might even say that it is myI'm a huge fan of the original game as well as HD version. Spelunky 2 is better in every possible way. I might even say that it is my absolutely favorite game of all time (and my gaming experience started early 90's). I just can't stand all the people who give this absolute masterpiece a score of 0 because of difficulty. Guys, WTF? This game is supposed to be difficult and punishing. It's the core of Spelunky's game design. But because of this fact it's also extremely rewarding. Please, be sensible and don't blame the game if you don't have enough persistency to gain skill required to beat it. Give it another chance, watch some streams and tips and Spelunky will open to you.… Expand

   • 4 of 6 users found this helpful
5. Loganscuba

   Jul 30, 2022

   9

   I bought this game twice. First on PC and then later switch.
   Kicks my ass constantly but I go back for more pretty frequently. I am by noI bought this game twice. First on PC and then later switch.
   Kicks my ass constantly but I go back for more pretty frequently. I am by no means an expert and will probably never experience the ultimate endings. However, going for the basic route again and again by myself and with new players is always a treat, no matter how disastrously it ends.
   
   Only gripe is that I wish there was an option to listen to more than one song in each area like in HD as I prefer that to the same song over and over again with adaptive twists.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. Crisener

   Jan 25, 2021

   8

   If you liked the first Spelunky, you will most likely find yourself liking this one too. I plays just like the old one, but better. With QOLIf you liked the first Spelunky, you will most likely find yourself liking this one too. I plays just like the old one, but better. With QOL improvements, smoothened graphics and some new ideas.
   Two downsides:
   - it's, unfortunately, an epitome of the old saying: "if life gives you lemons, it really doesn't matter, as you will get blasted from the other side of the room with no way of predicting that". Some say it's just high and demanding difficulty level, some say it's what makes this game compelling, others that this is just unfair design choice. One thing is sure, some more visibility on the hazards would be nice, the game's still challenging without it.
   - The Olmec fight. It's definitely too long for the pace that this game has. I don't see any reason not to change it completely.
   Nevertheless, it's a fun game to come back to once in a while to see if you can get lucky this time around, but be prepared for getting tilted, as for the ways in which you can die, Derek Yu came up with plenty.… Expand

   • 0 of 1 users found this helpful
7. Ganerumo

   Oct 11, 2020

   4

   Inferior to the first game in every way. Unless you've played a thousand hours of the first title and have seen all that it has to offer andInferior to the first game in every way. Unless you've played a thousand hours of the first title and have seen all that it has to offer and somehow don't want to delve into modding, Spelunky 2 has nothing to offer that will please a new or old player. Its design overall is less fine-tuned, feels more amateurish and far less coherent. The game is much harder than the first yet forces you to retread areas of the first game, which combined with the difficulty means that 90% of your Spelunky 2 runs will feel like Spelunky 1, with very little else that's changed besides worse level generation.… Expand

   • 8 of 12 users found this helpful
8. AnonymousPower

   Jan 2, 2021

   0

   This game isn't designed to be fair, it's designed to be punishing and tedious. For example, NPCs have more permissive rules for being able toThis game isn't designed to be fair, it's designed to be punishing and tedious. For example, NPCs have more permissive rules for being able to damage the player than vice versa; they can damage you while you are stunned and can hit you rapidly, which means you will often get stun locked and just have to watch in dismay as your 20 lives turn into 0. On top of the number of one shots you can walk into, things just hit too often and too hard.
   
   With lots of luck and hours of grinding annoying deaths, you will get shortcuts to new stages. These make the game barely tolerable. However, using the shortcuts locks you out of being able to acquire certain items, and starting from the beginning to set up the conditions required to acquire those items over and over is an insane challenge of patience. This means that runs feel contrived rather than emergent. And at a certain point, to unlock the next shortcut you have to drag a friendly AI and a holdable item through several stages of **** that was the point I had enough.
   
   The game feels tight, and has the pieces of a rogue-lite, but those pieces are brought together in a way that feels frustrating rather than satisfying and rewarding. The game tries your patience with every run, and eventually it becomes too much to bear. It is inherently flawed and undeserving of its cult-like status, as there are so many games out there that balance these pieces better.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

See all 53 User Reviews