Hylics 2

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In Hylics 2, players navigate a surreal world of claymation-style graphics and tweet-inspired dialogue. As the protagonist Wayfarer, you'll explore various landscapes, solve puzzles, and engage in turn-based battles. The game features a unique combat system that incorporates a variety of unconventional weapons and abilities, adding a layer of strategy to the RPG genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,941 reviews

music233 positive mentions

grinding35 negative mentions

Absolutely beautiful art style, animations, and music that create a mesmerizing experience.
Much more polished and cohesive compared to the first game, with improved gameplay mechanics.
Engaging combat system that requires strategy and offers a variety of unique abilities and items.

Platforming mechanics can be frustrating and clunky, making navigation difficult at times.
Some battles can feel tedious due to enemy healing and the overall difficulty spike in later encounters.
The story, while more coherent than the first game, may still feel simplistic and lacks depth.

music
487 mentions
48 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Hylics 2" has received widespread acclaim for its unique and captivating soundtrack, which blends psychedelic rock with experimental elements, enhancing the game's surreal atmosphere. Composed primarily by Chuck Salamone, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from chill and relaxing to intense and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game. Many players have expressed a desire for the soundtrack to be available for purchase, highlighting its quality and memorability as a key reason to experience the game.
- “Lindroth is a creative powerhouse when it comes to striking, vibrant visual art, and Salamone's comprehensive contribution to the groovy, surf-y, and psychedelic melodies results in simply beautiful music.”
- “The music further contributes, eschewing a lot of the overwhelming discordance and griminess with something far more ethereal and psychedelic, which ultimately benefits this game due to its vibe being softened a bit in general, still retaining the harsher guitar tones to maintain some degree of its slacker rock edge.”
- “The music is absolutely amazing, unfathomably so.”
- “The largest part of the zone, hylemxylem, has basically the same track the entire time, that's two hours of the same music, and I found myself bouncing along with it the entire time.”
- “The over-world music blasting in my ears gave me a splitting headache, so I would definitely lower that down as it is a very weird and trip-like buzzing with heavy bass.”
- “I can really only recommend this game if you are intrigued by the weird art and love the music (shit, I bought this one immediately because the soundtrack is dope as hell) but otherwise I'd probably find another RPG.”
graphics
341 mentions
47 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Hylics 2* are widely praised for their stunning, surreal art style, which combines claymation and unique visual elements to create a mesmerizing experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's vibrant animations and exceptional soundtrack, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall gameplay, despite some frustrations with platforming mechanics. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of innovative and artistic design in video games.
- “Absolutely beautiful art style, animations, and music.”
- “The visuals are so mesmerizing, the music is fantastic, and the gameplay is just real fun overall.”
- “The art style and everything else about it create one of the most psychedelic experiences I've had the pleasure of playing, and it is something you absolutely need to play to believe.”
- “The art style and general direction is out of this world, literally.”
- “In a game like this, that really doesn't work well, since the strange visuals can be very confusing to understand where you need to land.”
- “The revamped combat system has its ups and downs from the normal RPGM standards, such as not having any clear turns or initiative order, but the simplistic design and mind-blowing visuals easily make up for it, even if you can't tell what some of those visuals are.”
gameplay
244 mentions
34 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Hylics 2" has been described as a mix of traditional turn-based RPG mechanics and innovative elements, including platforming and puzzle-solving, which contribute to a varied experience. While many players appreciate the unique art style and engaging soundtrack, opinions are divided on the execution of gameplay mechanics, with some finding the combat and platforming frustrating or lacking polish. Overall, the game is seen as an improvement over its predecessor, offering a more curated experience despite some lingering issues with difficulty and control.
- “Not only does this game feature lovely artwork and an outstanding soundtrack, the gameplay is incredible.”
- “The gameplay is easy to learn, difficult to master--from the platforming to combat, Hylics 2 is an upgrade from the first game and better balanced than a lot of RPGs out there.”
- “The world is so fantastically bizarre, the RPG battle mechanics are super unique and fun, and the gorgeous visuals and aesthetic never stop being ultra charming, refreshing, and one-of-a-kind.”
- “However, forced platformer mechanics (which are clunky at best) made this one unplayable for me.”
- “The gameplay loop of Hylics 2 is easy to comprehend, it's just hard to get into it due to how little you're given and taught at the start.”
- “The gameplay seems overdeveloped when compared to Hylics 1; there's a lot of things this game attempts and sadly not all of them work out.”
story
154 mentions
23 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of *Hylics 2* is generally seen as an improvement over its predecessor, offering a more coherent and engaging narrative, though it remains relatively simple and straightforward. While some players appreciate the enhanced character development and world-building, others feel that the plot lacks the imaginative chaos that defined the first game, resulting in a more conventional RPG experience. Overall, the game combines its surreal aesthetic with a basic hero's journey, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its unique style, even if the story itself may not be the main draw.
- “The story is simple but intriguing; you play as Wayne, who was the main protagonist from the first game, as he heads on a journey to stop the revival of Gibby, the antagonist of Hylics 1!”
- “The art style and all is still great; the story makes more sense and is interesting, and even the boss fights aren't as bad because they are uniquely designed.”
- “Hylics 2 is the continuation of the adventures from the first game, with the same team of characters and surreal storyline, only now it's shown in a more three-dimensional way.”
- “Aside from the combat, the platforming is a bit clunky and even though you're probably not playing this game for the story, the story is practically nonexistent.”
- “The lack of imagination in the story department is honestly shocking to me considering these same guys made the first game which was nothing but imaginative.”
- “The story isn't really anything to write home about, but that's not really the reason why someone would play this game; however, it definitely expands somewhat on the world of the first game, and even gives reasoning for a few tiny things that weren't even really 'plot' factors before.”
humor
42 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its surreal and absurd elements, featuring quirky characters like the "funny croissant man" and "yellow moon man," alongside bizarre dialogue and situations that evoke laughter. While some players appreciate the dry wit and visual gags, others feel that character development could enhance the comedic experience. Overall, the game's unique aesthetic and playful writing contribute to a charmingly strange atmosphere that many find entertaining.
- “Came for the soundtrack, stayed for the amazing soundtrack, surreal visuals and funny characters and world.”
- “The world-building is bizarre and fun, matching the aesthetic with a strange sense of humor.”
- “Awesome graphics and art style, very intriguing RPG gameplay elements, confusing yet hilarious dialogue, and a story that parodies classic RPG games such as Final Fantasy.”
grinding
37 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding across the two games in the series. While the first game is praised for its strategic combat and minimal grinding, allowing for a more enjoyable experience, the second game suffers from tedious battles and frustrating platforming that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the lack of mandatory grinding in both games, but many find certain aspects, particularly in the sequel, to be overly drawn out and tedious.
- “No grinding, but you never feel starved for more fighting.”
- “Appealing even for people who aren't fans of JRPGs because the combat is challenging but not grindy or luck-based.”
- “The second game changes all of that with horrible top-down platforming; confusing and nauseating exploration; slower, more tedious, and dragged out combat; and overall many aspects that make the game feel stretched out for the sake of making it somewhat longer despite that extra time not being so enjoyable.”
- “The game is pretty, but every minute spent outside of combat feels incredibly tedious.”
- “I love the creator and the first game and this one is an acceptable sequel, but the platforming stages are pretty bad (especially the second one where I got stuck not even halfway in) and I feel like the battles can get pretty tedious.”
atmosphere
31 mentions
58 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal and psychedelic qualities, enhanced by a unique multimedia art style and an exceptional soundtrack that complements the bizarre visuals. Reviewers highlight the captivating and dreamlike environment, which, despite some gameplay shortcomings, creates a memorable and immersive experience. Overall, the game's distinct vibe and artistic presentation are considered its standout features, making it a delight for fans of the unconventional.
- “An incredible game that will stay in your brain forever; it's got a highly unique vibe and atmosphere thanks to its unique multimedia art style and amazing soundtrack.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, from the incredible visuals and music to the mysterious world building.”
- “The unique style and atmosphere were a real joy to play through.”
- “But if you have any expectations of a substantial gaming experience, then be forewarned that there is very little to chew on here besides the visuals and freakish atmosphere.”
- “I wouldn't be writing this worthless review if the game was just a horrid mess gameplay-wise, but everything having this eye-burning filter over it makes it painful to look at for too long, and the whole atmosphere and feel of the first game feels replaced by something that went through a 'sharpen', 'increased contrast', and 'brighten' filter-blender, making everything look nothing like the first game, aside from the texture itself, which at least still looks like clay and other DIY things.”
- “The art style, atmosphere, and story all contribute to the feeling of being in a dream.”
character development
13 mentions
46 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
While the game features stunning visuals, unique character designs, and an incredible soundtrack, many reviewers noted a significant lack of character development for both the protagonists and the supporting cast. The initial charm of the characters' quirky appearances is overshadowed by their unremarkable personalities, leaving players wanting more depth and growth in a sequel. Overall, the artistic elements are praised, but they do not compensate for the absence of meaningful character progression.
- “Seeing and feeling the love and passion that the creators pour into every detail, from the character designs to every animation, set piece, and music choice.”
- “The soundtrack is incredible, the character design from the main party, to the enemies, to even the NPCs are all unique and charming.”
- “Everything from the hybrid clay/CGI visuals, the experimental soundtrack, and the appealing character designs are all a surreal treat that the developer deserves so much credit for.”
- “Notwithstanding their fabulous visual designs, our four heroes are seriously devoid of personality, and while the first time around, their unassuming natures were a humorous counterpoint to their bizarre appearances, for a sequel I really was expecting more character development.”
- “Zero character development (both for you and your party).”
- “Again, don't get me wrong, that style of art/graphics is amazing and right up my alley along with the dialogue or the character designs, but I cannot recommend either due to the actual gameplay of the game itself needing somewhat of an update.”
emotional
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
-29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players finding it charming and unexpectedly touching, while others feel let down by a lack of emotional depth in the story and frustrating gameplay mechanics. The contrast between the game's whimsical world and the steep difficulty of combat creates a disconnect that detracts from the emotional engagement, leaving some players feeling disappointed. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the journey and others feeling it falls short.
- “Hylics 2 is a charmingly strange, emotional and even funny game.”
- “Wow, I was not expecting such an emotional journey.”
- “Obviously I am still going to finish the game, but I was so looking forward to this game, and it turning out to be a downgrade in pretty much every way except music is heart-breaking.”
- “The emotional depth of the story is overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics.”
- “I found myself disconnected from the characters due to the lack of engaging emotional moments.”
- “The narrative tries to evoke feelings, but the execution falls flat amidst tedious gameplay.”
replayability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability across different games. While some titles, like Hylics 1, offer significant replay value through open exploration and character acquisition, others, such as Hylics 2, are criticized for lacking variety and challenge, which diminishes their replayability. Additionally, the quality of the soundtrack in some games enhances the replay experience, but overall gameplay mechanics may need improvement to sustain long-term engagement.
- “The scores by the legendary Chuck Salamone are some of the most replayable and enjoyable backing tracks I've ever heard.”
- “Hylics 1 was actually quite replayable; aside from some mandatory roadblocks, you can basically visit any area any time you want and get any character in any order.”
- “Hylics 2 is infinitely more playable than 1, and maybe 3 would finally be an enjoyable game to play.”
- “Neither have any replayability whatsoever.”
- “Honestly, if the game would have kept being developed for a bit longer, it could have been a masterpiece; sadly, it lacks any replay value when it comes to the gameplay loop.”
- “Once you figure out what the statuses and enemies do, the combat becomes far too easy; it needs more variety and a much higher difficulty for replayability, maybe a new game plus option?”
optimization
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting poor performance issues despite the use of a new engine designed to enhance capabilities. Additionally, controls are better suited for a controller rather than a keyboard, which may affect the overall gameplay experience.
- “Combat: the only real big con of this game, other than its poor optimization.”
- “The controls seem to be optimized for a controller, not so much for a keyboard.”
- “Instead of this game being made in RPG Maker, it's a completely new engine that helps this game expand more in performance.”
stability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, but some users have reported minor glitches, especially during running sequences.
- “Great sequel to Hylics 1, runs smoothly on Steam Deck.”
- “The game maintains a stable frame rate throughout, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs; the stability is impressive.”
- “There are some glitches, especially when running.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced a lot of lag and frame drops during gameplay.”