Guacamelee! 2 Reviews
Guacamelee 2 is a stunning, slick platformer and a more than worthy successor to one of last-generation’s finest gems.
Guacamelee! 2 is a deeply enjoyable mix of brawler and platformer on multiple levels. Drinkbox Studios has shown a clear mastery of its own iconic art style by bringing it to the next level with this strikingly beautiful game.
It's one thing for a game to embrace the mechanics of many different genres; it's another entirely to nail them all.
EB: You should play this sequel even if you missed the original thanks to its great homage to the Metroidvania genre.
Caramba! Guacamelee! 2 takes everything that was good in the first part and makes it nicer, bigger and louder - as a bonus on-top there is a local co-op mode for four players. A must for all Metroidvania fans with PS4 or PC!
Review in German | Read full review
This is a sequel that provides more of the brilliance of its predecessor, squeezing out an astonishing number of ideas from a familiar formula. A slick, challenging and tight action-platformer that further cements the series at the very height of its genre.
Without question, this is Drinkbox Studios best outing to date, and will propel them even further in the industry. With a writing style that is absolutely insane and a plethora of nods to pop culture and other video game franchises, a colorful art palette and beautiful graphics, to a soundtrack that is one of the best we’ve heard this year so far, you really owe it to yourself to play through Guacamelee 2.
Guacamelee! 2 is not only a blast to play through but also one of the most stylish and recognizable Metroidvanias to date.
Of all the platformer games in the industry, there are few games with the essence of the old games that catch the player, both for its history and gameplay.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
There’s an absolutely brilliant side quest that’s so tongue in cheek, it’s in danger of bursting through it. It’s hilarious in its deadpan, fourth wall breaking delivery that makes up for its usage of the word “dank”. I won’t spoil anymore, but it’s a testament to Drinkbox that they can take this all in stride and poke fun at themselves, the fans, the toxic community and the power of internet opinions and leave the player grinning throughout.
Guacamelee! 2 is one of the best Metroidvanias on the market. The art style is fantastic. The writing is hilarious and will leave you in stitches on a whim. The world is diverse and chock-full of culture, life, and collectibles. And the game's unique focus on combat and precision platforming sets it apart from the pack. It's the kind of game you lose track of time while playing, and when it's over you'll just want more.
Guacamelee 2 gets lost trying to be too edgy, too funny and referential, falling into the pitfalls it tries to mock. Fun combat and smooth platforming lose their energy when you don't unlock any more abilities and end up doing exactly what you did in the first game.
The game actually puts more of a central focus on combat than a lot of Metroidvanias, too, with new areas often making you stop for a Lucha battle your first time through. These little combat challenges test various skills, from basic brawling to dealing with aerial foes to turning environmental hazards to your advantage. But where things get interesting, in my mind, is when you compare this to the first game. Because, see, I really liked the first Guacamelee. I thought it was a solid little game, but its single biggest problem was that it was slight and brief, over before I was done with it and kind of too easy for most of the experience. None of that is true in the sequel. Oh no. It starts off nice and low and lets you get used to things, but even early on, you've got these little optional challenge rooms to collect heart or mask pieces(for health and stamina, respectively) that give a real solid chunk of platforming to chew on. And the very last dungeon stands out as just plain brutal at times.
Guacamelee 2 is a nifty little Metroidvania that flies by despite being packed with stuff to do. It cuts straight to the good stuff and keeps things continually moving to create an engaging, succinct playthrough. The tricky traversal and tight, purposeful level design account for some wonderful platforming that feels worthwhile regardless of how tough it gets. On the other hand, however, the story belittles itself to a nagging extent, the sights and sounds are indistinguishable from the last game, and there are more than a few more little annoyances I have with Guacamelee 2, but they’re not enough to hold it down. Any issues I have here are much easier to look past than the much more explicit successes that make Guacamelee 2 a great time.
If you played Guacamelee, get 2. If you haven't played either, get 1 and 2, and play them in order. Unless you're one of THOSE people... then just get 2, because it is the superior specimen of the two titles.
A great sequel, which captures the magic of the first game. Without taking many risks, the game manages to satisfy my five year long hunger for a sequel. The game doesn't add many new mechanics to the gameplay, but enough to not bore the series veterans.
Overall Guacamelee! 2 is a fantastic sequel to the first. Just by playing through you can see the love that DrinkBox Games have mixed into this wonderful bowl of avocado filled amazingness as you search for the keys to unlock the guac recipe that has no rival. With the amazing artstyle back once again, the epic music tracks, flying through the air as a luchadorian chicken and simply kicking the crap out of things as you search both high and low for where to go? This is one bowl that you'll want to dip your controllers into!
Guacamelee 2 is a game I didn’t know I wanted until a year ago when I saw the reveal trailer and it’s a game I didn’t know I needed until I played it. Guacamelee 2 doubles down on everything that made the first game great and improves on a few of the weaker areas as well. I don’t know where Drinkbox Studios can go with a potential Guacamelee 3 but I thought much the same thing after the first game and here we are five years later with a sequel that is a huge leap forward for the excellent original. There’s a lot of competition in the 2D platformer space this year, but you absolutely must find the time for Guacamelee 2.
Guacamelee 2 with its fast-paced gameplay and diverse combos combined with its charming Pollo mode, will entertain you until its end. Great visuals and uptempo Mexican soundtrack both offer a ideal and flawless experience. It would have been great if developers put more effort and in addition to dubbing story characters, added online multiplayer to the game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Overall it’s very difficult to find any significant fault with what DrinkBox Studios has put together here. Effectively mixing a side-scrolling brawler with Metroidvania progression, throwing in a ton of challenging but optional side rooms, and injecting it all with a consistent sense of humor (though not all of it connects)... it really aims to keep you engaged and coming back for more. Even if you’ve been feeling like the genre is a bit played out Guacamelee 2 is proof that when it’s handled right, with the pacing and degree of challenge constantly throwing new things at you, it makes for a very compelling and satisfying gameplay experience.