Guacamelee! 2 by DrinkBox Studios is now finally available on Nintendo Switch! Learn more about this most excellent sequel in our Guacamelee! 2 review!
As its name suggests, Guacamelee! 2 is the sequel to the highly praised Guacamelee! Which came out a few years ago, a game made popular thanks to its unique style, solid narrative and true to the formula yet innovative take on the Metroidvania genre. Back when the first game came out, this genre wasn’t as packed of indie releases as it is today, which allowed it backed then to stand out from the crowd. But now that the years have passed and the market is packed to the brim with Metroidvanias, has DrinkBox Studios managed to deliver a worthy sequel? I’m happy to report that they certainly have!
Guacamelee! 2 is a Metroidvania to the T, with all the fun, enjoyment and challenge of a Metroidvania game and a dash of old-school spiciness, yet none of the frustration, grinding or unfairness you might run into when playing an old-school game. You will be gripping your controller from the excitement at every moment. The start might feel a bit on the slow side of things for those of you that have played the previous entry in the series, but this is in place to welcome those that might have missed the prequel, or who are in need of a refresher course. But once you’re past that, its 8 to 12 hours full of pure fun and entertainment.
The game continues the story from the first game, setting everything seven years in the future, but with a twists: now there are multiverses (called the Mexiverse in the game), and you must help save everyone from the Darkest Timeline, in which the events of the last game didn’t happen the way they did in yours, so you must once again become the Luchador that fights off the evil. All the mechanics from the last game have been refined, and there are a few new ones that make the game even more fun, opening the possibility to amazing combos and strategies.
This time around, in order for you to improve your skills repertoire you will need to find trainers that will, as you can imagine, train you in the new ways of movement combat fighting ability using… things. You’ll be learning some new tricks, some of which will be great for defeating the horde of enemies you will face, while others will also work great at adding some extra motion to your groove, as was the case for the skills from the prequel. Oh, and if you liked the chicken from Guacamelee!
The style and ambiance is a core key point for the game, as it is rooted deeply in Mexican folklore. From the enemies to the music, the animations and scenes speak loudly and clearly about what it draws its inspiration from. And the best part is that the team does that without falling into stereotypes or alienating those who call the Mexican culture their own. Guacamelee! 2 funds finds a good balance to sets the mood for an action-packed game and a great eye candy experience that you are going to remember long after you beat the game.
Overall, Guacamelee! 2 is everything we could want and then some. It’s a solid experience with tight gameplay mechanics, a gorgeous art style, and an improved experience when compared to its prequel. It is one of the best modern Metroidvania releases out there, equally a great option for veterans of the genre who want a refined experience as well as for those who are new to the Metroidvania scene. Being able to go at it on your own or with up to four players in local co-op is alsgo a great thing. You don’t need to play the first one to get a kick out of Guacamelee! 2, but it certainly doesn’t hurt since it’s also a gem of a Metroidvania.
Disclaimer
This Guacamelee 2! review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Drinkbox Studio.
