2D platformer sequel Gimmick! 2 from Bitwave Games, SUNSOFT, and Clear River Games is ready to go on Nintendo Switch. Learn more about it in our Gimmick! 2 review!
2D platformer sequel Gimmick! 2 from Bitwave Games, SUNSOFT, and Clear River Games is ready to go on Nintendo Switch. Last year, I got a chance to review Yumetaro’s debut in a new and revamped Gimmick! Special Edition on Nintendo Switch, the definitive edition of SUNSOFT’s 2D classic NES platforming gem, so I was definitely up for checking out what this new hand-drawn experience would bring to the table. And yes, as you can tell from the screens and trailer in this Gimmick! 2 review, the game’s graphics really stand out. Add the soundtrack by David Wise, and this is a game that will quickly grab your attention.
It’s been more than 30 years since Gimmick! was released on Nintendo’s Famicom – that would be the Japanese version of what we got to know as the Nintendo Entertainment System (a.k.a. the NES) – and it’s definitely not usual that we get a game that is NES hard on Nintendo Switch. But worry not! As Niklas Istenes, CEO and Founder of Bitwave Games, mentioned in our Gimmick! 2 interview, things have been reworked for this sequel in order to make it more accessible so that more people can take it for a spin.
Because of this, slopes aren’t as aggressive, you’ll find more checkpoints, there are some fast-travel spots, and there are no lives to worry about. Mind you, this doesn’t mean the game is simpler since there are also optional puzzles and challenges that will allow you to get to collect hidden items and secret treasures. You can play through Gimmick! 2 either in a friendlier Assisted Mode or go all in and take on a Gimmick! Mode that is true to the challenge of the prequel so that you can have as challenging of an experience as you want it.
The first Gimmick! and its sequel uses a star that is summoned into action by Yumetaro. This particular star is important since it carries weight and momentum, which are key to the whole platforming side of things. This was wonderful and unexpected back when the game was released for the Famicom – and when it was ported to the NES in the West for a Scandinavian release – since Nintendo’s console was not something that one would think could do physics-based experiences. For part 2, the bouncing star is still very important since it can be used not only to attack enemies and to defend Yumetaro but also to activate switches or as a small moving platform for you to step on so that you can get to some hard-to-reach spots.
You’ll take control of Yumetaro with the left analog stick or the D-Pad, jumping with the B button and summoning the powerful star by using the Y button. You can now recall the star by pressing the Y button once more. Interact by pressing the X button so that you can, for example, go through a portal or activate a switch that can make some platforms disappear while it also opens a door. Press the A button to lift and drop items. And that’s it! You’ll have to time when you summon the star and when you launch it so that you can defeat enemies or jump on it to reach a higher ledge.
As you explore each level, be sure to keep an eye out for any potential false walls or hidden platforms that can help you reach a secret area or find a large treasure chest. These will allow you to collect new looks for Yumetaro, with different colored horns, hats for it to wear, new colors, and even a new look for the bouncing star it can summon. Who knows, you might end up finding a more classic look for Yumetaro and the star!
2D platformer sequel Gimmick! 2 is a must-play on Nintendo Switch. It’s been more than 30 years since Gimmick! was released on Nintendo’s Famicom – that would be the Japanese version of what we got to know as the Nintendo Entertainment System (a.k.a. the NES) – and it’s definitely not usual that we get a game that is NES hard on Nintendo Switch. But worry not, since you can play through Gimmick! 2 either in a friendlier Assisted Mode or you can go all in and take on a Gimmick! Mode that is true to the challenge of the prequel so that you can have as challenging of an experience as you want it. Gimmick! 2 is out now on Nintendo Switch with a $24.99 price tag.
Disclaimer
This Gimmick! 2 review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Bitwave Games.
