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Gimmick! 2

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.
Gimmick! 2 Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
grinding, story
80% User Score Based on 59 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Gimmick! 2 Game Cover

About

Gimmick! 2 is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Bitwave Games and was released on September 5, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
+1
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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews
music21 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The physics and gameplay are enjoyable and reminiscent of the original Gimmick, with fun platforming and interesting challenges, especially in secret areas.
  • The game effectively utilizes the star throw mechanic, allowing for creative problem-solving and multiple ways to tackle challenges, which enhances replayability and speedrunning potential.
  • The level design is generally well-crafted, with a good variety of obstacles and a satisfying difficulty curve that encourages players to improve their skills.
  • The art style is criticized for being unappealing and reminiscent of low-quality mobile games, lacking the charm and character of the original.
  • Levels tend to be overly long and can feel tedious, with some players preferring shorter, more concise levels that maintain engagement without dragging on.
  • The soundtrack is considered bland and uninteresting, failing to capture the vibrant and memorable music of the original Gimmick, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • music
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many finding it underwhelming and lacking the energy and distinctiveness of its predecessor. While some tracks are appreciated for their quality, they often feel out of place and fail to capture the original's vibrant spirit, leading to a soundtrack that blends into the background rather than enhancing the gameplay experience. David Wise's involvement is noted, but critics argue that his style does not align well with the game's intended atmosphere, resulting in a soundtrack that feels plain and uninspired.

    • “The music is fantastic too: you can tell David Wise was on the team.”
    • “The art is beautiful and the sound and music by legendary composer David Wise is fantastic.”
    • “Unusual situations, traps, various eccentric creatures, some of which do not even attack you, a surreal fairy-tale world and soulful music.”
    • “The soundtrack is pretty plain.”
    • “The music is passable, but why this?”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in the sequel effectively emphasizes the star throw mechanic, enhancing its interaction with stage elements and incorporating more complex puzzles that challenge players. While the game sacrifices some memorable setpieces for a stronger focus on mechanics and level design, it successfully addresses the underutilization of the star mechanic from the original, providing a satisfying and engaging platforming experience. However, some players find the star recall mechanic frustrating, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great game with a lot of charm that makes great use of its signature star throw mechanic.”
    • “The main thing I wanted was for the platforming and the neat mechanics involving the star to feel fun and challenging enough not to be boring, and they succeeded in doing that.”
    • “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???).”
  • graphics
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the art style as uninspired and reminiscent of "cheap mobile games." While some appreciate the colorful visuals and find them adequate, others feel that the aesthetic lacks the charm and character of the original game, leading to disappointment. Overall, the visuals seem to be a divisive aspect, with a significant number of fans expressing dissatisfaction with the changes made in the sequel.

    • “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'.”
    • “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. 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.”
    • “The art style is horrible.”
    • “It bewilders me that a Famicom game released in 1992 with graphics by a single person has more character than this.”
    • “Lots of environmental assets don't feel like they really belong in the game's art style, and at worst some of them look like they might be reused from a different project.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players feel that the addition of grinding in the new game detracts from the challenge, as the original managed to provide a satisfying experience without the need for repetitive tasks. This shift has led to a perception of the game being more tedious.

    • “The original game didn't have anything like this and still managed to be challenging in its own way without the tediousness.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a strong emotional response, highlighting that "gimmick 2" significantly detracts from the game's core message, leading to a sense of heartbreak over its missed potential.

    • “I cannot emphasize enough that 'gimmick 2' is as close as you can get to missing the point, and that is heartbreaking.”
  • story
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is perceived as lacking depth and cohesion, with many reviewers feeling it is an afterthought rather than a central element. Additionally, the boss fights are criticized for feeling disconnected from the overall narrative.

    • “The boss fights are much less organic, the world isn't as cohesive, the game's story feels like an afterthought.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the inclusion of cosmetics, which enhance the game's replayability by providing additional incentives to revisit the game.

    • “The cosmetics are a neat addition that adds some replay value.”
    • “The cosmetics are a neat addition that adds some replay value.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Gimmick! 2 is a platformer game.

Gimmick! 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Gimmick! 2 was released on September 5, 2024.

Gimmick! 2 was developed by Bitwave Games.

Gimmick! 2 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Gimmick! 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Constance, MO:Astray, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and others.