La-Mulana 2

If you think Hollow Knight or Dark Souls is child’s play, have I got a game for you.

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In La-Mulana 2, you will take on the role of Lumisa Kosugi on a mission to find the entrance to the ruins of Eg-Lana, which is rumored to be the source of recent monster appearances. The ruins themselves are compromised of a variety of areas as well as huge boss creatures known as Guardians. Who knows what lies in wait at the end of Eg-Lana?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 407 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

La-Mulana 2 improves on the original with better controls, graphics, and a more streamlined puzzle experience.
The game features a rich lore and engaging world design, making exploration rewarding and enjoyable.
The soundtrack is fantastic, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The game can be extremely punishing, with many instant-death traps and difficult puzzles that may frustrate players.
Some puzzles are still cryptic and poorly translated, leading to confusion and requiring external guides.
Boss design is inconsistent, with some being too easy and others feeling unfairly difficult.

gameplay
104 mentions
22 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of La-Mulana 2 has been described as a blend of improved mechanics and frustrating challenges, maintaining the series' signature puzzle-solving and exploration elements while introducing new movement upgrades and quality-of-life enhancements. However, some players feel it lacks the rewarding sense of discovery found in its predecessor, with a reliance on familiar mechanics and a more controlled experience that may deter diehard fans. Overall, it offers a complex and engaging metroidvania experience, but requires patience and a willingness to tackle its cryptic puzzles and challenging gameplay.
- “La-Mulana 2 delivers more of the same known good stuff with improvements in movement mechanics, a bestiary, more space for software and other needed things.”
- “A fantastic metroidvania experience that involves deep puzzle solving and fun exploration, as well as mechanical challenge.”
- “The gameplay is easy to learn but hard to master, the story is gripping and the puzzles are very puzzling.”
- “But unfortunately, La-Mulana 2 also attempts to change its gameplay formula, turning the end result into a game that maintains a good quality, but diehard fans of its predecessor will have a very hard time enjoying.”
- “The gameplay is far more infuriating.”
- “But unlike the first game, the gameplay took a bunch of steps backwards here.”
music
92 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and engaging, while some tracks have been criticized for being less memorable or even unpleasant. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement over the first game, featuring a mix of standout tracks and a few that detract from the experience. While some players feel the music lacks the iconic quality of the original, others appreciate its depth and variety, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is full of bangers, the boss fights are incredibly engaging and the whole lore is carefully built, basing itself on real-life archaeological places and facts.”
- “The music is fantastic, I enjoy many of them more than the original's songs.”
- “The music deserves its own special mention because it is once again possibly one of the best OSTs ever created, further cementing this series' status as one of the best, deepest puzzle platformers ever.”
- “The music in the Gate of the Dead is absolutely nauseating, a cat screeching in a tin can.”
- “Also, the actual curse of Eg-Lana might be the soundtrack that will be stuck in your head for weeks.”
- “Another big disappointment was the music.”
story
52 mentions
13 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
La-Mulana 2 enhances its storytelling compared to its predecessor, featuring a more directed narrative and a rich array of characters to interact with, though some players feel it lacks the depth and mystery of the original. The plot, which revolves around Norse mythology and civil wars, is engaging but can feel less impactful due to its reliance on the first game's events and some narrative stagnation in later stages. Overall, while the story is more accessible and well-crafted, it may not resonate as strongly with those who appreciated the cryptic storytelling of the first game.
- “La-Mulana 2 has more emphasis on story and talking with non-playable characters compared to its predecessor.”
- “The game's fantastic worldbuilding and story acts as the icing on the cake.”
- “The storytelling is also much less focused, though to detail in what way would be to spoil too much of the game.”
- “Even during the most climactic story moments, character dialogue stagnates, even in main characters.”
- “Oh, and you may hope to influence the plot, but the only scene meaningful in this way prevents a logical solution from applying, which frustrates and cheapens the plot surrounding that character.”
- “You already know what the threat is in 'La-Mulana 2', which makes the final battle have less power as a climax. It’s clear that the events in this game were planned since the first, but it doesn’t stop the game from feeling like excuses were made to keep the story going.”
graphics
39 mentions
49 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed character designs, smooth animations, and beautiful pixel art that evoke nostalgia for classic gaming. However, some players have criticized the visual quality for being washed out and poorly optimized, leading to performance issues even on capable hardware. Overall, while the aesthetic improvements and artistic direction are appreciated, technical shortcomings have detracted from the experience for some users.
- “Areas look really good and characters are more detailed, have smoother animations and sport incredible-looking artworks.”
- “The totality of this experience convinced me to call the graphics a 'masterpiece'.”
- “Gorgeous graphics - 8/10”
- “The blur is dumb, the visuals look too washed out. Unity crashed once or twice, which is disastrous if you haven't made a hard save in a bit. Good luck retracing your steps.”
- “How is it possible for it to be so badly optimized that it runs slowly even at minimum graphics settings?”
- “Still, for a game with La-Mulana's graphics, I feel this should have been avoided.”
humor
17 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in La Mulana 2 is characterized by a playful yet punishing tone, with developers seemingly laughing at players' misfortunes as they navigate challenging traps and obstacles. While the original game had moments of humor that felt more friendly, the sequel embraces a more overt comedic style, featuring unexpected instakill traps and witty dialogue that adds charm to the gameplay experience. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor with engaging mechanics and a captivating soundtrack, making for a uniquely entertaining adventure.
- “In the original game, it was rare for the game to instantly kill you, and the few times it did happen, you could usually see it coming, and it was funny.”
- “There are also tons of absolutely hilarious traps that you will not see coming.”
- “I was expecting a more serious game, like the original, but this one wears its humor on its sleeve.”
stability
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern, with many users reporting persistent glitches and bugs, some of which have been present for years. While recent updates have addressed many issues, players still encounter occasional game-breaking bugs and softlocks, leading to a recommendation to wait for further patches before purchasing. Overall, the game is considered solid but marred by its ongoing stability problems.
- “There are glitches reported years ago that still happen.”
- “Second, it's quite buggy to the point where you can softlock your progress, making it impossible to complete.”
- “The game is extremely buggy and should be marked as beta or early access.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, with combat described as dry and uninteresting. The lack of efficient note management and frustrating map design further exacerbate the grind, making the experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the grinding elements detract significantly from the game's enjoyment.
- “Really, how hard would it have been to make it record all text, so it can alleviate the tediousness of the game?”
- “It's not enjoyable, it's just repetitive and tedious.”
- “You are instead fighting several minibosses, mostly tedious and boring, and often walking from point A to point B.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, regardless of their hardware or graphical settings. Many users express frustration over the lack of improvement even when adjusting settings, suggesting that the developers' reliance on the Unity platform has led to poor optimization and a subpar gaming experience.
- “A game that looks like this shouldn't have the amount of performance issues it does, regardless of your PC's tech.”
- “If developers are too lazy to move from the platform they learned to develop in the name of developer convenience, they should not be surprised by harsh reviews on their performance.”
- “A game that looks like this shouldn't be having the amount of performance issues as it did, regardless of your PC's tech.”
- “This game's performance is a nightmare.”
- “How is it possible for it to be so badly optimized that it runs slowly even at minimum graphics settings?”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional impact of the game's art and music, which evoke a sense of epic achievement despite the lack of innovation in gameplay. However, the unclear mechanics regarding boss interactions can detract from the overall experience.
- “They made me feel like I was doing something epic (which I totally was) and were hard and often needed several tries to figure out how to approach them.”
- “We all hate E3 showcases for merely demonstrating their cinematic and marketing prowess while lacking any real gameplay ideas, but we all fall in love with pseudo-32-bit platformers with pretty art and emotional music that have very little going for them in the innovation department themselves.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in La-Mulana 2 builds upon the strong foundation of its predecessor, enhancing the sense of exploration and fantastical archaeology that made the first game a cult classic. Players appreciate the immersive environment, which is enriched by improved controls and creative boss designs.
- “This one really expands on the first game's setups, exploration, controls, boss designs, and just the atmosphere.”
- “La-Mulana 1 is a cult classic, a game that was (until the sequel) without equal when it came to the atmosphere of fantastical archaeology.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected from this sequel.”
- “Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere fails to engage me; it feels hollow and lifeless.”
- “I was hoping for a more immersive experience, but the atmosphere is just bland and forgettable.”
replayability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.
- “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
- “I love how every run feels different, making it a game I can come back to time and time again.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
- “The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in outcomes, which severely limits its replayability.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found that there were no new challenges or different paths to explore, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by its amazing character designs and artwork, which contribute significantly to the overall appeal and depth of the characters.
- “The character designs and artwork are absolutely amazing.”
- “The depth of character development really draws you into the story.”
- “I love how each character evolves throughout the game, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization reflects the passion of a small company with limited advertising budget, resulting in a high-quality experience that rivals many AAA titles.