







Drinkbox Studio’s follow up to the fantastic indie hit Guacamelee is a joyous romp through a multi-dimensional, day of the dead inspired puzzle platformer. It’s essentially more of the same, and whilst this does mean the novelty has worn off somewhat, its a great expansion to the foundation laid down by the original game.





You play as returning character Juan who is called back into action once again when the Mexiverse comes under threat from a dimension hopping luchador called Salvador. The story here feels less essential than it did in the first game and that’s a shame, returning characters that I loved from the first game such as Flame Face are present but many feel like token additions and don’t have significant contributions. New bad guy, Salvador does have an interesting enough backstory which is revealed in the later part of the game but the threat never feels as fully realised and explained as it could be.





"it is up to you to visualise your route to success and then successfully execute the correct moves, in sequence and with the correct timing to reach your goal"





It’s lucky then that the gameplay, art style, audio and level design are absolutely fantastic throughout. The aesthetic is deeply rooted in the sugar skulls and festivities of Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos and it is this that makes Guacamelee recognisable a mile away. The cut out animation style is rich with vibrant colours, cheerful decorations and delightful flourishes which come together as a real visual treat.





Every single part of the game has separate designs for the two dimensions which you can flip between on the fly and each one is intricate and delightful in its own right. This is all backed up with a soundtrack that punctuates the experience perfectly. The combination of audio and animation makes platforming and fighting feel like a well choreographed dance, and that is resonated more through the nuance of its gameplay.





You are going to die a lot in Guacamelee 2, probably more than in the first game. Things quickly become complex and punishing especially in terms of platforming rather than combat itself which never feels overwhelming. You spend the first few hours of gameplay unlocking the abilities that Juan carries over from the first game and then some new enhancements notably for your chicken form that are exclusive to the sequel. Every special move has more than one purpose here, the super uppercut for example will make you jump a little higher, or the pollo slide that allows you to break orange blocks also allows you to traverse gaps with a low ceiling.









The game is broken up by a healthy amount of checkpoints occurring before fights in which you are physically locked into arenas, or before complex platforming sections. Whichever of these scenarios you find yourself in it is up to you to visualise your route to success and then successfully execute the right moves, in sequence and with the correct timing to reach your goal. Every section of this game is a miniature puzzle which may take you several. or in some places dozens, of tries to pass. The standard metroidvania formula dictates that the player will find new abilities or items that allow you to unlock previously inaccessible areas. In Guacamelee 2 you may have gained access to these areas, but you will need the intuition and dexterity to execute the exact string of moves needed to get you through.





This gameplay strategy is incredibly empowering. The game does not just inform you that you have a new ability or a new key, it gives you the tools to demonstrate this yourself. It is a marked improvement on the formula, and whilst the original game did this, Guacamelee 2 takes it much, much further. There are a few points in the game where this may become frustrating, luckily though the majority of these are saved for optional bonus chests or challenge areas.





Verdict:

As a newcomer watching someone play the later parts of Guacamelee 2 would likely be enough to put you off trying for yourself. However, after a few hours gameplay you will be jumping, dashing and hook-shooting your way around beautifully designed levels all whilst flipping between dimensions and changing forms between a Mexican wrestler or a super powered chicken. In fact, you will be stringing these together with such incredible performance that you will often smile at your own achievements and abilities as you push on towards the conclusion.





Empowering, beautiful, engaging and occasionally frustrating Guacamelee 2 is a funny and self aware tale of honour. It has a few genuinely poignant moments and whilst it only made me laugh a handful of times, it made me smile constantly. If you have never played Guacamelee then that is the place to start, if you loved the first game and are ready for some more you won’t be disappointed with what’s on offer here.











