During an early moment, the game doffs its cap to Limbo’s superb and chilling spider chase
Guacamelee! 2
GRIPPING GRAPPLER THROWS OUT A SMASHING SEQUEL DAVE MEIKLEHAM
PUBLISHER DRINKBOX STUDIOS / DEVELOPER DRINKBOX STUDIOS / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST £15.99/$19.99
have arachnophobes cowering, to a
cast of brilliantly scripted characters
who just want to inspire the inner Rey
Mysterio of Juan’s ass-kicking self,
Guacamelee! 2’s style and sense of
self overflows at every opportunity.Juan and only
Regardless of whether you own an
Xbox One X or the regular Xbox One,
this is a stunning videogame. With
a bold, instantly affable art style,
striking colours and effortlessly
charming character designs,
Guacamelee! 2 proves you don’t need
cutting-edge polygons to be one
of the best-looking games on Xbox.
Thanks to its sublime art direction,
this old-school grappler is one of the
most gorgeous titles to ever grace
Team Green’s line of machines.
Guacamelee! 2 is also seriously
clever. Where lesser titles rest on
their chokeslamming laurels, this
constantly inventive platformer
chooses to subvert at every turn. WithAre you partial to
a slice of avocado
toast, gentle reader?
Wonderful! Then
you’re going to adore
this platforming/
puzzle hybrid. With a plot that revolves
around a deity who is desperate
to keep his ancient and sacred
guacamole recipe secret, this 2D indie
adventure’s premise is as intriguing as
its delightfully offbeat action.
Following on from the 2013 original,
Guacamelee! 2 once again places
you in the suplexing sandals of
Juan Aguacate. Over the course of
a deliberated, simplified intro, this
sequel recounts the end of the last
game in charming, extra easy style.
Fast forward seven years, and the now
pot-bellied Juan finds the pummelling
proceedings much more difficult.
Even in its challenging moments,
DrinkBox Studios’ adventure is rarely
anything less than a delight. From
a wonderful Limbo tribute that will
an ever-evolving set of powers, and
a world that adapts to challenge said
abilities, you’ll rarely find a game that
so deftly marries level design to the
skills of your character.
Just like its predecessor, the sequel
delights in crunching melee combat.
Though you start the reality-skipping
quest with relatively few powers,
don’t worry – the Mexican Multiverse
soon opens up many body-slamming
avenues and Juan quickly evolves to
battle the evil forces facing him.
Like an all-time Xbox indie great
such as Braid, Guacamelee! 2 knows
how to pace its thrills. From platform
puzzles that demand an uppercutting
solution to challenges that demand
midair teleporting, this Lucha-loving
jaunt relishes in presenting you with
constantly changing conundrums
at every turn. Whether artfully
dodging the attacks of monsters or
uppercutting minibosses into oblivion,
skirmishes in Guacamelee! 2 are
nothing short of slickly responsive. Beshort
cutWHAT IS IT?
A 2D indie
metroidvania that
really loves wrestling.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
WWE 2K19 minus the
RKOs and 3D holds.
WHO’S IT FOR?
Platforming fans
who relish a good
German suplex.088 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE
REVIEW