Gimmick! 2
- September 5, 2024
- Bitwave Games
Gimmick 2 is a sequel that improves on its original and inspiration, put together by a studio that clearly have reverence for their source material.
Get on Steam"Gimmick! 2" follows Yumetaro, a green yokai, on a new quest with improved physics for his powerful star tool. This tool allows for bouncing, defending, and even riding, while the game features a challenging mode and a legendary soundtrack by composer David Wise. Assistance options are available for a more accessible experience.
Reviews
- Fun gameplay with enjoyable physics and mechanics reminiscent of the original Gimmick.
- Challenging puzzles and platforming that reward creativity and skill, especially in secret areas.
- Visually appealing with a charming aesthetic and a lot of love put into the design.
- The game feels overly safe and lacks the bombastic energy and memorable soundtrack of the original.
- Levels are long and can drag on, making the gameplay feel tedious at times.
- Art style and music do not capture the essence of the original, leading to a less engaging experience.
- music27 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the sequel has received mixed reviews, with many critics noting that it lacks the memorable and energetic quality of the original game's soundtrack. While some tracks incorporate themes from the first game and showcase the talent of composer David Wise, the overall consensus is that the new soundtrack feels bland and uninspired, failing to evoke the same excitement and distinctiveness. Despite its quality, the music is often described as not fitting the game's tone, leading to a disappointing comparison with its predecessor.
“It's a cult classic and very niche game that's most known for how far it pushed its soundtrack on limiting hardware.”
“The music is fantastic too: you can tell David Wise was on the team.”
“Unusual situations, traps, various eccentric creatures, some of which do not even attack you, a surreal fairy-tale world and soulful music.”
“There's a few times where they do remix music from gimmick 1 (the intro did make me smile), but having these songs here honestly detriments the game by just showing how boring the rest of the soundtrack is.”
“It's all serene, soothing environmental tracks that all just kind of blend into one another. I can't say I remember a single track, but every song in gimmick 1 stands out in my mind.”
“Add to this the mobile game art style, and really uninspired music and stage themes, and you really just have a spoiled soup of a sequel.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the sequel is praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, particularly the enhanced focus on the star throw mechanic, which is utilized effectively in puzzles and level design. While the game sacrifices some of the original's charm and memorable setpieces for a more streamlined experience, it compensates with challenging platforming and a wealth of secrets that encourage skillful play. However, some players find the star recall mechanic frustrating, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Great game with a lot of charm that makes great use of its signature star throw mechanic.”
“The star from the original gains a much greater focus by having it activate star switches you need to throw it into. The game does a really great job making the most out of this mechanic by having it interact with a bunch of the stage elements.”
“Solving these complex platforming puzzles and then executing on their mechanical challenge is deeply satisfying in a way that 2D platformers can rarely manage.”
“The star recall mechanic is absolutely miserable, often resulting in cancelling stars you needed to keep.”
“Disabling this mechanic of course kneecaps the game in a new and exciting way: stars will stay active offscreen for ages, so you can't just wait for one to leave before recalling.”
“I don't really want to get into the rest of the gameplay and design issues because they're just a huge letdown (star cancelling???).”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the sequel have received mixed reviews, with many fans expressing disappointment over the departure from the original's distinctive art style. While some appreciate the colorful visuals and find them visually pleasing, others criticize the new aesthetic as uninspired and reminiscent of low-quality mobile games, lacking the character and charm of its predecessor. Overall, the visuals seem to serve their purpose but fail to resonate with long-time fans.
“I understand why fans of the original don't dig the art style change, but I don't think that's a good reason to immediately dismiss this game. I would have loved if they'd gone with the style that Gimmick! Exact Mix did, but what they went with is still good and visually pleasing.”
“Adding onto this, I don't have too much to say about the visuals; they look colorful and nice, and they do their job well.”
“I wasn't too convinced of the art style at first, but the more I looked at it, the less I ended up feeling like it was reminiscent of 'cheap mobile games'.”
“The art style is horrible.”
“Another huge shame in my opinion is the art style they've chosen to go with here.”
“It bewilders me that a Famicom game released in 1992 with graphics by a single person has more character than this.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players feel that the grinding aspect in the game is unnecessary and detracts from the overall challenge, as the original version managed to provide a satisfying experience without it.
“The original game didn't have anything like this and still managed to be challenging in its own way without the tediousness.”
“Grinding feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, making the game less enjoyable.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the overall fun and creativity of the gameplay.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a strong emotional response to "gimmick 2," highlighting that it fundamentally misses the core message of the game, which they find deeply disappointing and heartbreaking.
“I cannot emphasize enough that 'Gimmick 2' is as close as you can get to missing the point, and that is heartbreaking.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story is perceived as lacking depth and cohesion, with boss fights feeling disconnected and the overall narrative appearing to be an afterthought rather than a central element of the experience.
“The boss fights are much less organic, the world isn't as cohesive, and the game's story feels like an afterthought.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the inclusion of cosmetics, which enhance the game's replayability by providing additional incentives to revisit and engage with the content.
“The cosmetics are a neat addition that adds some replay value.”
“The variety of choices in gameplay keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and outcomes available.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making it hard to find reasons to replay.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive after the first playthrough, diminishing any replay value.”
