An Amazing Mash-Up of Platforming's Greatest Hits
Guacamelee! 2 flew right under my radar. The first one was a pleasant surprise and one of the best platformers in recent years. With it's absurd tone, gorgeous visuals, and satisfying mechanics, it hit all the right notes without overstaying its welcome. I had no idea that a sequel was even in the works but I downloaded it as soon as it appeared on PSN. Guacamelee! 2 is more of the same and it came at just the right time.
The story continues exactly where the first one left off but there is no need to know the background to enjoy the sequel. It follows Juan and his quest to defeat a villain who wants to do something. While the game is certainly charming and the light-hearted tone sets it apart, the story is not going to win any awards and is almost a non-factor.
The real reason you're here is for the white-knuckle platforming and the addictive Metroidvania properties. Traversing a gorgeous overworld will lead you to new areas and new abilities. Anyone familiar with Symphony of the Night knows exactly where this is headed. As Juan goes from temple to temple, there will inevitably be areas that are impossible to reach. As you progress, the abilities you learn will allow to progress these areas that were once unreachable. The world map and dungeons are expertly crafted and the addicting nature of the combat only pushed me to explore everything. The real meat of the game lies in the platforming, which is on the level of Mario and Super Meat Boy. Each room is designed to test your reflexes and force you to use every ability at your disposal. Some challenges may require dozens of attempts but when you execute it perfectly, the result is immensely satisfying.
A glut of memes and references to other games are littered throughout Guacamelee, and some caused genuine laughter. Some players may find the references to be distracting, and maybe even annoying, but I found them to be quite charming. Thankfully, most of the references are in the dialogue that can be skipped if you so desire.
For fans of platformers and Metroidvania titles, there is no reason you should pass up Guacamelee! 2. With new moves and new content, it surpasses its predecessor in nearly every aspect. The decent length and the budget price tag, cement the package as one of the year's best games.