Guacamelee! 2

Last updated

Guacamelee! 2
Guacamelee 2 logo.jpg
Developer(s) DrinkBox Studios
Publisher(s) DrinkBox Studios
Series Guacamelee!
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 4, Windows
August 21, 2018
Nintendo Switch
December 10, 2018
Xbox One
January 18, 2019
Genre(s) Metroidvania, platformer
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Guacamelee! 2 is a Metroidvania platform video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios. A sequel to Guacamelee! , the game was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows in August 2018 while the Nintendo Switch version was released on December 10. The Xbox One version was released on January 18, 2019. The game received generally positive reviews upon release.

Contents

Gameplay

Guacamelee! 2 is a Metroidvania platform game. The player controls Juan Aguacate, a luchador who fights with punches, kicks, and wrestling grapples. Over the course of the game, Juan re-acquires many of his powers from the previous game, many of which have both combat and movement applications - for example the Rooster Uppercut, which grants vertical mobility while also attacking enemies overhead and breaking like-coloured obstacles. Each special move is associated with a color, which surrounds Juan whenever he uses them. For example, the Rooster Uppercut is associated with red. Whenever Juan uses it, his outline turns red. He also learns new tricks from completing challenges set by trainers found throughout the world, such as more damaging attacks or additional health. The most drastic change is the chicken transformation - while in the previous game it was only for traversing small corridors, it now has an entire fighting moveset of its own with unique special moves. [1] There are also challenge rooms for players to explore. [2] The game can be played solo or cooperatively with three other players. The game features more enemy types, abilities and larger maps when compared with its predecessor. [3]

Story

The game begins with a simplified version of the first game's final confrontation with the world-rending Calaca, leading into the true ending where the luchador Juan successfully saves the life of El Presidente's Daughter, Lupita. Seven years later, the two are married and live with two children, with Juan having grown out of shape. Black clouds begin to appear in the village, followed by Juan's mentor Uay Chivo appearing to tell him the entire "Mexiverse" is in danger. He brings Juan through a portal to "The Darkest Timeline", where the source of the trouble is. In this timeline, Juan and Lupita were killed by Calaca, who was defeated by another luchador called Salvador. In the seven years since, Salvador has become corrupted by the power of his mask, and now wishes to collect three relics alongside Salvador’s assistants: sociopathic musician and playwright El Muneco, the murderous, cruel anthropomorphic and sentient dog-skeleton Uay Pek, and a hyper intelligent vulture and cactus named Zope and Cactuardo. Salvador plots to access the Sacred Guacamole in the realm of El Otromundo and become all-powerful. However, by beginning to collect the relics, he has caused the timelines to destabilize, which will mean the end of all timelines if he is not stopped.

Juan is led to reunite with Tostada, the Guardian of the Mask, so he can be restored to fighting form. They begin to travel the world to stop Salvador and his underlings from collecting the relics, but ultimately fail, and Salvador successfully gets to the Sacred Guacamole. However, Juan eventually defeats him, which destroys Salvador's mask and results in his death. The timelines are restored and the Mexiverse is saved, but this prevents Juan from returning to his own timeline. Recalling an earlier conversation, where it's said that El Otromundo connects all the timelines together, he leaps back into El Otromundo before the way closes and looks out across the great many indistinguishable portals.

In the normal ending, Juan's family awaits his return for many years, before he eventually appears. In the true ending, attained if the player clears the Chicken Illuminati's crucible and meets the Holy Hen, Juan recalls her advice and removes his mask, immediately identifying the correct portal and returning to his family without delay.

Development

The game was developed by DrinkBox Studios. Unlike its predecessor, the game was not released for the PlayStation Vita as DrinkBox opted to use the PlayStation 4 as the base platform to utilize its new rendering engine. The team prototyped different moves for Juan. However, they decided to retain all the moves from the original as they felt that they were more intuitive than the new ones created. [4] With Guacamelee! 2, the studio was able to revisit ideas that were scrapped during the development of the first game, and expand on the existing mechanics and systems. [5]

The game was announced at Paris Games Week by Sony Interactive Entertainment in October 2017. [6] It was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on August 21, 2018. [7] DrinkBox released the Nintendo Switch version on December 10, 2018. [8] [9]

Reception

The game received generally favourable reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. [10] [11]

It was nominated for "Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D" and "Game, Franchise Action" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards. [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dust: An Elysian Tail</i> 2012 action role-playing video game developed by Humble Hearts

Dust: An Elysian Tail is an action role-playing video game developed by American independent designer Dean Dodrill, published by Microsoft Studios. It was released for Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade in August 2012, and subsequently for Microsoft Windows in May 2013, for Linux and OS X in December 2013, and for PlayStation 4 in October 2014. A version for the Nintendo Switch was announced at E3 2018 and was released in September 2018.

<i>Axiom Verge</i> 2015 video game

Axiom Verge is a metroidvania video game by American indie developer Thomas Happ. The game was originally released in March 2015 in North America and April 2015 in Europe and Australia for PlayStation 4. It was released in May 2015 for Linux, OS X, and Windows. A PlayStation Vita version was released in April 2016. The Wii U and Xbox One versions were released in North America and Europe in September 2016. A Nintendo Switch version was released in October 2017.

<i>Guacamelee!</i> 2013 Metroidvania platforming video game

Guacamelee! is a Metroidvania action platforming video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios, initially launched in April 2013 for platforms PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita and was later ported to Windows in August and to OS X and Linux in February 2014. The enhanced Super Turbo Championship Edition was released for Wii U, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 in July 2014 and later on the Nintendo Switch in October 2018. The game is inspired by traditional Mexican culture and folklore, like alebrijes and Day of the Dead.

<i>A Hat in Time</i> 2017 video game

A Hat in Time is a 2017 platform game developed by Danish game studio Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Bundle. The game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and funded through a Kickstarter campaign, which nearly doubled its fundraising goals within its first two days. The game was self-published for macOS and Windows in October 2017, and by Humble Bundle for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles two months later. A version for the Nintendo Switch was released in October 2019.

<i>SteamWorld Dig</i> 2013 video game

SteamWorld Dig is a platform action-adventure game created by Swedish video game developer Image & Form. The second installment in the SteamWorld series after SteamWorld Tower Defense, SteamWorld Dig has the player control Rusty, a steam-powered robot who arrives at a small Western-Steampunk mining town called Tumbleton after having received a deed for a mine from his long-forgotten uncle, Joe. The objective of the game is to dig through Tumbleton's mine, which also involves solving puzzles and platforming to avoid traps and enemies.

<i>Severed</i> (video game) 2016 action-adventure video game

Severed is an action-adventure video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios for the PlayStation Vita, iOS, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. It was released on April 26, 2016, in North America and Europe for the PlayStation Vita and it was released on Wii U and iOS on September 22, 2016. It was released on Nintendo 3DS in Europe on September 22, 2016, North America on October 13, 2016. It was released in Japan on December 28, 2016.

<i>Gang Beasts</i> 2017 multiplayer beat em up party game

Gang Beasts is a beat 'em up party game developed and published by English indie studio Boneloaf. The title would originally be published by Double Fine Presents until May 2020 and self-published afterwards, while it would later be published in physical form by Skybound Games. The game released for Windows, macOS, Linux, and PlayStation 4 on 12 December 2017, following an early access period for the PC platforms that began in August 2014. It was also released on the Xbox One on 27 March 2019. A version for Nintendo Switch was released on 12 October 2021.

<i>Xeodrifter</i> 2014 video game

Xeodrifter is a Metroidvania video game developed by Renegade Kid. The game was first released for Nintendo 3DS and Microsoft Windows in 2014. A Wii U port of the game was released 2015, and after Gambitious Digital Entertainment acquired the rights to the Microsoft Windows version of the game, it was also released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2015. A Nintendo Switch version was released in February 2018.

<i>ChromaGun</i> 2015 video game

ChromaGun is a first-person shooter puzzle video game developed by Pixel Maniacs, an independent game studio from Germany.

<i>Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers</i> 2016 beat em up video game developed by Magic Pockets

Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game based on multiple Cartoon Network series developed by French studio Magic Pockets and published by GameMill Entertainment in the North American release and Maximum Games in the European release. It was released for Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 8 November 2016. The game features characters from various Cartoon Network shows, including Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Clarence, Regular Show, Steven Universe, and Uncle Grandpa.

<i>SteamWorld Dig 2</i> 2017 video game

SteamWorld Dig 2 is an action-adventure platform video game developed and published by Image & Form. It is the fourth installment in the SteamWorld series of games and the direct sequel to 2013's SteamWorld Dig. It was first released in September 2017 for Nintendo Switch, Linux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. It was later released for Nintendo 3DS in February 2018, for Xbox One in November 2018, for Stadia in March 2020, and for Amazon Luna in October 2020. Publisher Rising Star Games released physical retail copies of the game for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2018.

<i>Hue</i> (video game) 2016 adventure puzzle game

Hue is a 2016 puzzle-platform game developed by Fiddlesticks and published by Curve Digital. The game was released on August 30, 2016, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One; on November 29, 2016, for the PlayStation Vita; and on June 6, 2019, for Nintendo Switch. There were further releases for iOS on January 25, 2020 and Android on April 22, 2020.

<i>Windjammers 2</i> 2022 sports video game

Windjammers 2 is a 2022 sports video game developed and published by Dotemu. It is the sequel to the 1994 Neo Geo game Windjammers, co-produced by Data East and SNK. Windjammers 2 was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, and Xbox One on January 20, 2022. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the visuals, new content and gameplay mechanics.

<i>Fox N Forests</i> 2018 video game

Fox n Forests is a video game developed by German studio Bonus Level Entertainment and published by EuroVideo Medien GmbH for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It was released on 17 May 2018. Fox n Forests is a side-scrolling platform game with retro-style graphics.

<i>Coffee Talk</i> (video game) 2020 video game

Coffee Talk is a visual novel developed by Indonesian indie studio Toge Productions, and released on 29 January 2020 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game was released in Japan for Nintendo Switch a day later on 30 January 2020. The game follows a barista working in a coffee shop in a fantasy version of Seattle as they listen to the concerns of the coffee shop's various patrons and prepare drinks. The game features an aesthetic inspired by 90s anime, pixel art, and the lofi chillhop genre of music.

<i>Bayonetta</i> Video game series

Bayonetta is an urban fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Hideki Kamiya. It is developed by PlatinumGames, owned by Sega, and currently published by Nintendo. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with Bayonetta, which was followed by two sequels, Bayonetta 2 (2014) and Bayonetta 3 (2022), as well as a spinoff, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023). The games follow the titular character, a witch who wields dual pistols, shooters in her high heels, and long, magically transforming hair which becomes a deadly weapon.

<i>Beyond Blue</i> (video game) 2020 educational video game

Beyond Blue is an educational underwater diving adventure game developed and published by American studio E-Line Media, who had formerly developed Never Alone. The game was inspired by the BBC's Blue Planet II nature documentary series. It was released in 2020 on iOS through Apple Arcade on April 17, and on Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on June 11. The game was released for the Nintendo Switch on November 11, 2021. It received positive reviews praising its quality for an educational game while criticizing its short length, graphics, and unrealistic nature.

Scribblenauts is a series of action puzzle video games primarily developed by independent studio 5th Cell. The series is owned and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The first game in the series was titled Scribblenauts and was first released on September 15, 2009, in North America, exclusively on the Nintendo DS. Since the release of the first game, five other Scribblenauts games have been released, in addition to two compilations and two comic adaptations.

<i>Nobody Saves the World</i> 2022 video game

Nobody Saves the World is an action role-playing dungeon crawling video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022, which was followed by ports on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in April 2022.

<i>Animal Well</i> 2024 video game

Animal Well is a 2024 Metroidvania video game developed by Shared Memory and published by Bigmode. The player controls a blob and explores a labyrinth filled with animals. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Windows on May 9, 2024. It released to critical acclaim.

References

  1. ↑ Corriveau, Gary (July 24, 2018). "Guacamelee! 2 Brings Pollo Power to PS4 August 21". PlayStation Blog . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ Tach, Dave (August 21, 2018). "Guacamelee 2 tips guide, from its creators at Drinkbox". Polygon . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ Makedonski, Brett (July 24, 2018). "Guacamelee 2 flies the coop on August 21". Destructoid . Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ Leri, Michael (August 23, 2018). "DrinkBox Studios Co-Founder on the Vita, Trump, Guacamelee 2, and Memes [Interview]". Game Revolution . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  5. ↑ Sinha, Ravi (December 19, 2017). "Guacamelee 2 Interview: Coming Home to Roost". Gaming Bolt. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ Phillips, Tom (October 30, 2017). "Guacamelee 2 announced". Eurogamer . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ Ramee, Jordan (July 30, 2018). "New Guacamelee 2 Trailer Teases Dancing Chicken Illuminati". GameSpot . Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  8. ↑ Andriessen, CJ (October 8, 2018). "Guacamelee! 2 comes to Switch this December, Super Turbo Championship Edition available now". Destructoid . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Guacamelee 2 launches December 10 on Switch". Nintendo Everything. November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Guacamelee! 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Guacamelee! 2 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Guacamelee! 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Guacamelee! 2 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  14. ↑ Carter, Chris (August 26, 2018). "Review: Guacamelee 2". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (August 21, 2021). "Guacamelee 2: An Excellent But Familiar Return To The Ring". Game Informer . Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ Clark, Justin (August 21, 2021). "Guacamelee 2 Review - Ready For A Challenge". GameSpot . Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  17. ↑ Dornbush, Jonathon (August 21, 2018). "Guacamelee! 2 Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  18. ↑ Mundy, Jon (August 21, 2021). "Guacamelee! 2 Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  19. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (August 21, 2021). "Guacamelee! 2 Review". Push Square . Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.