![]() There’s a way to finish the game, and then there’s the way to beat it. ![]() Taken as a whole, its tangled worlds are a tantalising, cosmic puzzle. Truth be told, I’ve yet to reach Spelunky 2’s true depths or heights. There are many secret doors, as well as magical items and strange rituals that need to be performed in order to open them. The game was always structured like a labyrinth, not just because of the twists and turns of its randomly generated levels, but the esoteric knowledge hidden within. S pelunky 2 is larger in scope than its predecessor. It feels as though the game’s principal designer, Derek Yu, has thought exceptionally hard for many months about each and every new component added (there’s a good chance this is the case, considering the years between the original game and the sequel). They subtly add to the original game without upsetting the balance, despite the fact they can sometimes be very loud and even explosive indeed. But sometimes taming them will run you into trouble, and with them come Turkey Handlers, who like the original Shopkeepers, can easily be angered by a stray bomb or an unluckily positioned idol trap.ĭespite all the introduced chaos, none of the new elements feel haphazardly thrown in. There are now incredibly useful Turkeys that can be mounted, leting you float down lethal pits and even navigate jungle spikes without taking damage. Spelunky 2 unfolds gradually, each new level introducing more ferocious enemies, more perilous traps and more confusing things that’ll instantly murder you.Įach new element adds volatility to a delicate mix. A strange golden idol which, once taken, will set off a deadly booby trap like in your classic Indiana Jones film, a shrine to the Goddess Kali and secret passageways – all new to the sequel, adding a whole new dimension for you to explore and get lost in! This is all just in the first area. New elements are slowly added in as you progress, each more mysterious than the next. Like Mario, you can also bop enemies by jumping on their head. In a run of Spelunky, you’ll start with just a handful of bombs – already, a recipe for disaster – some ropes to help you navigate the game’s jumbled caverns and your faithful whip. Make the same mistake enough times though, and you’ll begin to process better habits: don’t break pots close to you! After throwing a rock, run away! Make sure you pay for the item before you pick it up and walk out of the shop… Then suddenly, somehow, there’ll be explosions and shotgun blasts and lava pouring over everything. An innocent rock, which you‘ve attempted to hurl up in order to trigger an arrow trap, will bounce off the cavern wall and back down onto your own head. A simple pot will give out a spider instead of gold, making you jump and knocking you back just enough to tip you over the edge and down into a pit of spikes. Often things will begin humbly before cascading out into a larger, all-encompassing disaster. In Spelunky a “good death” is a humorous one. You don’t just die, you “pop your clogs” or meet a “sticky end”. It’s never dreary, although it’s quite often heartbreaking. Have I mentioned that you die a lot? Spelunky is a grand exercise in playing dead. ![]() The hope is that after you’ve died enough times, you’ll begin to unravel a level’s intricacies and be more able to read its dangers. You begin your one hundredth run of Spelunky 2 the same way you begin your first – with nothing but your wits. Progress is always made, but it’s internal and learned rather than gifted to you through level-ups or inherited skills. ![]() Like many games of old, it requires a ton of patience and plenty of practice. It’s a tight 2D platformer, with randomly constructed levels where you delve deep and slowly uncover both treasures and secrets. Spelunky 2, the surprise sequel to the all-time classic roguelike, is largely similar to its predecessor. While the media hones in on the dour tragedy of the event, Spelunky celebrates the cycle of death with an endless series of cheeky winks and a broad, graveside grin. Death doesn’t always have to be dead serious.
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