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Spelunky 2

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Spelunky 2
The Spelunky 2 logo written in front of the moonlight
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Mossmouth
Designer(s)Derek Yu
Programmer(s)Miguel Pascual
Artist(s)Derek Yu
Composer(s)Eirik Suhrke
Platform(s)
Release
  • PlayStation 4
  • September 15, 2020
  • Microsoft Windows
  • September 29, 2020
  • Nintendo Switch
  • August 26, 2021
  • Xbox One, Series X/S
  • January 13, 2022
Genre(s)Platform, roguelike
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Spelunky 2 is a 2020 platform video game developed by Mossmouth and BlitWorks. It is the sequel to Spelunky (2008) and was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows in September 2020, for Nintendo Switch in August 2021, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022. The game received critical acclaim upon release.

Gameplay

Like its predecessor, Spelunky 2 is a 2D platform game. In the game, the player assumes control of Ana, the daughter of the explorer from the first game, who visits the Moon in order to find her missing parents.[1] Ana must navigate deadly caves filled with hostile enemies and traps to collect treasures. When Ana dies, she will have to start from the beginning of the game unless the player unlocked tunnels (shortcuts) and lose all of her items, and the game is rearranged through procedural generation to present new challenges and paths. There are also many other characters that the player can unlock, from wooden coffin-shaped boxes found in each area. Each level also features several layers which can be explored by the player.[2] New areas, such as the lava-themed Volcana, are introduced. The game features a new liquid physics system, in which fluid will flow naturally throughout a level. In addition, the game introduces new monsters, traps, and ridable mounts.[3] The game also supports four-player online multiplayer, with the introduction of both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.[4][5]

Plot

The game's story concerns Ana Spelunky, the daughter of previous Spelunky protagonist Guy Spelunky, as she ventures to the Moon to find her missing parents. Like the first game, the story and aesthetics draw inspiration from several ancient cultures, featuring mythological figures like Olmec, Kali, Osiris, Lamassu, Tiamat, and Hundun.

Development

Derek Yu, the creator of the first game, returned to develop the sequel. He partnered with BlitWorks, the developer of the PlayStation ports of the first game, for the game's programming. Yu needed to outsource the game's development to BlitWorks because of the sequel's larger scope. Yu intentionally ensured that the game would not be radically different from the first Spelunky as he felt that sequels should be "extensions of the previous games", and that fans of the first game would feel like they are playing a "continuation". New features were added to the game, while the original gameplay loop was refined and remixed.[6] Yu strived to create a game world that feels like a "living, breathing place" in order to keep new players engaged. To achieve this, he added a lot of lore and backstory for the world and the characters. The story, which focuses on the themes of family and kinship, is mostly delivered through journal articles in the game's world and the Base Camp where Ana can interact with the characters she has encountered during her adventure.[7][8]

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the game at Paris Games Week in October 2017.[9] Initially set to be released in 2019,[10] the game was released for PlayStation 4[4] and Windows in September 2020.[11] The game was also released for Nintendo Switch[12] on August 26, 2021, along with the first Spelunky game.[13] A version for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S was released on January 13, 2022, and also available as part of Xbox Game Pass.[14]

Reception

The game received generally favorable reviews when it was released, according to review aggregator Metacritic, with an average score of 87.[15] The PC version received universal acclaim, with an average score of 91.[16] Writing for The A.V. Club, William Hughes praised how the game embraced the success of the original game and seamlessly incorporated new features such as the turkey mounting system.[32] Chris Plante, in his review for Polygon, praised the game as an improvement on its predecessor and said "everything is just a little different, another stroke that proves perfection is imperfect".[33] Mitchell Saltzman of IGN called the game "a masterpiece that improves upon its predecessor in ways I never even would have imagined".[34]

It was nominated for Best Indie at The Game Awards 2020.[35]

References

  1. ^ Saltzman, Mitchell (September 14, 2020). "Spelunky 2 review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  2. ^ Meija, Oozie (March 18, 2019). "Spelunky 2: Hands-on preview from GDC 2019". Shacknews. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Wales, Matt (August 29, 2018). "Here's a first look at Spelunky 2's expanded subterranean gameplay". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Van Allen, Eric (August 6, 2020). "Spelunky 2 Is Out in September With Online Multiplayer". USgamer. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Minotti, Mike (August 6, 2020). "Spelunky 2 launches on September 15". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Shuman, Sid (August 28, 2019). "First Look: Spelunky 2 Gameplay, Mossmouth Interview". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  7. ^ Avard, Alex (September 12, 2020). "Spelunky 2 is so ambitious that even Derek Yu doesn't know what you'll find in its darkest depths". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Morten, Lauren (August 14, 2020). "Spelunky 2 aiming for PC release in October". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Donlan, Christian (October 30, 2017). "Sony just announced Spelunky 2". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Meija, Ozzie (August 14, 2019). "Spelunky 2 steps on a trap, delayed to 2020". Shacknews. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Dayus, Oscar (September 4, 2020). "Spelunky 2's Steam release date has been revealed". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Ramée, Jordan (December 15, 2020). "Spelunky And Spelunky 2 Release On Switch Next Year". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Romano, Sal (2021-08-12). "Spelunky and Spelunky 2 for Switch launch August 26". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  14. ^ Romano, Sal (January 4, 2022). "Xbox Game Pass adds The Pedestrian, Outer Wilds, Spelunky 2, and more in early January". Gematsu. Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Spelunky 2 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Spelunky 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "Spelunky 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  18. ^ Saltzman, Mitchell (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  19. ^ Prescott, Shaun (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  20. ^ Vogel, Mitch (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  21. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  22. ^ Donlan, Christian (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  23. ^ Bramwell, Tom (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 review – run, jump and die hilariously". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  24. ^ King, Andrew (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review – Snakes On A 2D Plane". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  25. ^ Olson, Matthew (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review: Whip it Good". USgamer. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  26. ^ Tailby, Stephen (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review (PS4)". Push Square. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  27. ^ Carter, Chris (12 September 2021). "Review: Spelunky 2". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  28. ^ Harris, Ian (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 PC review – more of a good thing". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  29. ^ Mejia, Ozzie (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 review: More dangerous than ever to go alone". Shacknews. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  30. ^ Shea, Brian (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 Review – Enthralling Entropy". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  31. ^ Goroff, Michael (12 September 2021). "Spelunky 2 review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  32. ^ Hughes, William (September 18, 2020). "Spelunky 2 Has the Courage Not to Mess with Perfection". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  33. ^ Plante, Chris (14 September 2020). "Spelunky 2 review: perfection". Polygon. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  34. ^ Saltzman, Mitchell (14 September 2020). "Spelunky 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  35. ^ Tassi, Paul (December 11, 2020). "Here's The Game Awards 2020 Winners List With A Near-Total 'Last Of Us' Sweep". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
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