Gonner2
- October 22, 2020
- Art in Heart
- 7h median play time
GONNER2 has tight platformer shooter gameplay that can sometimes become difficult to parse through the game's unique aesthetic style.
Gonner2 is a platformer game with roguelike elements, where you play as Ikk, helping Death by exploring procedurally generated levels in a surreal world, with intense shooter action, various head, gun, and upgrade combinations, and both single-player and party co-op modes for 2 players. The game features a good soundtrack and promises secrets and mysteries to discover.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and stylish art direction that enhances the overall experience.
- The addition of a dash mechanic and 360-degree shooting adds depth to the gameplay.
- The soundtrack is engaging and complements the game's atmosphere well.
- The visual clutter and noise make it difficult to track the player's character and incoming threats.
- The respawn mechanic is frustrating, as players lose their gear upon death and must retrieve it without any means of defense.
- The game feels unfinished, lacking a proper ending and essential features like customizable controls.
- gameplay38 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Gonner 2 features significant mechanical advancements over its predecessor, including a new dash mechanic and varied biomes that enhance replayability. However, many players find the experience cluttered and visually overwhelming, with complaints about the respawn and death mechanics detracting from the overall flow. While the core gameplay remains enjoyable, the changes in art style and mechanics have polarized fans, leading to mixed feelings about the game's accessibility and variety.
“There's a new dash mechanic that lets you dodge and hit enemies if you lost your weapon.”
“Though there's not a ton of content compared to the genre giants, the weapons, heads, and simple mid-run upgrade system, combined with the fun core gameplay and controls, lends good replayability.”
“The game also has much more variety between runs by giving you a choice between biomes (and not the same choices every time, either) on each level set, each with their own enemies and mechanics.”
“That said, it is also a lot more cluttered and visually noisy to the point of detracting heavily from the gameplay experience.”
“My biggest complaint with the game is the respawn mechanic.”
“I was surprised to see a sequel to one of my favorite games, but unfortunately it's not really what I would have liked, as the gameplay and (primarily) the art style changes take away a whole lot of what I enjoyed about the first game.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of Gonner 2 are widely praised for their unique and beautiful aesthetic, with many reviewers highlighting the charming art style and impressive visuals. However, some players feel that the gameplay can be hindered by the overwhelming visual design, making it difficult to navigate and enjoy the experience fully. Overall, while the art and soundtrack are standout features, they are sometimes overshadowed by questionable design choices that affect gameplay.
“This game is pretty fun, the art style is cool, and the OST is really great.”
“Gonner 2 is probably one of my favorite rogue-lite games ever made, the art style is awesome (especially because of the combos), shooting stuff with guns is really satisfying, and the guns and heads are super unique!”
“With an even more charming art style and a soundtrack that makes me zone out and lose an hour of my life every time I pick up the game, this is a shoe-in for one of my favorite games this year.”
“I was surprised to see a sequel to one of my favorite games, but unfortunately it's not really what I would have liked, as the gameplay and (primarily) the art style changes take away a whole lot of what I enjoyed about the first game.”
“Gonner2 has tight platformer shooter gameplay that can sometimes become difficult to parse through the game's unique aesthetic style.”
“This game has some of the prettiest visuals I've ever seen, it's just dragged down by questionable game design.”
- music20 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the original soundtrack (OST) for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as incredible and capable of drawing players into the game's vibrant world. Overall, the combination of captivating music and stylish visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“With an even more charming art style and a soundtrack that makes me zone out and lose an hour of my life every time I pick up the game, this is a shoe-in for one of my favorite games this year.”
“An incredible OST of music that blissfully immerses you into the essence of what is Gonner2: a swirl of controlled movements, explosions, and combos that pulls you through unfolding worlds filled with platforms, ammo, walls, monsters, and more.”
“I highly recommend the soundtrack because it is an amazing listen.”
“The music provides a creepy atmosphere that detracts from the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and fails to enhance the gameplay.”
“While the artwork is unique and stylish, the music does not complement the fast-paced action.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is mixed; while the core gameplay and upgrade systems provide enjoyable experiences, the reliance on collectibles for replay value may deter players unfamiliar with how to unlock them. Additionally, the introduction of co-operative campaign play enhances replayability, particularly for those playing with friends, despite the overall content being less extensive than larger genre competitors.
“Though there's not a ton of content compared to the genre giants, the weapons, heads, and simple mid-run upgrade system, combined with the fun core gameplay and controls, lends good replayability.”
“It builds upon the original game’s premise well and by offering co-operative campaign play, adds significant replayability with friends.”
“Also, if the majority of your players don't know how to unlock collectibles, which are the only source of replay value, why do you expect people to play your game at all?”
“Also, if the majority of your players don't know how to unlock collectibles, which are the only source of replay value, why do you expect people to play your game at all?”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique and stylish artwork, complemented by a captivating sound design that enhances the experience. The music contributes to a creepy ambiance, effectively setting the tone for the fast-paced action and immersive gameplay.
“The sounds and atmosphere are wonderful.”
“The sounds and atmosphere are wonderful.”
“The artwork is unique and stylish, fast-paced action with a lot to learn, and the music provides a creepy atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While users appreciate the visuals, soundtrack, and character design in Gonner2, they express frustration with certain design choices that hinder character development, suggesting that the potential for deeper engagement with the characters is not fully realized.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized due to significant bugs, particularly involving the character referred to as the "big dumb bird," which can spawn trap players and has a hitbox issue that allows players to avoid damage by standing inside it. This inconsistency detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
“The game is plagued by bugs, such as being able to stand inside the hitbox of [spoiler] big dumb bird [/spoiler] without taking damage unless I move.”
“[spoiler] big dumb bird [/spoiler] can spawn trap players, and its buggy behavior makes the experience frustrating.”
“The stability issues in the game are highlighted by the annoying mechanics of [spoiler] big dumb bird [/spoiler], which can lead to unfair situations.”
Critic Reviews
GoNNER2 (Switch) Review
A psychedelic punishingly good time.
80%GONNER2 Review
It takes time to figure out just what you’re doing, but anyone looking for a strong challenge will find a lot to love with GoNNER2. It builds upon the original game’s premise well and by offering co-operative campaign play, adds significant replayability with friends. It's not a flawless game by any means, and players who prefer a more guided experience would do better to look elsewhere but, those caveats aside, GoNNER2 still makes for a compelling experience that comes recommended, if you're up for the challenge.
70%GONNER2 Review
GONNER2 has tight platformer shooter gameplay that can sometimes become difficult to parse through the game's unique aesthetic style.
80%