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If one is good, two is better. The is the mind set you should have when starting PixelJunk
Shooter 2. This is the first true sequel in the PixelJunk series, with shooter being the
most deserving in the series. It was a very unique, challenging and creative game that
was a highlight of the PSN, and the same can easily be said about the sequel.
Taking place directly following the events of the first Shooter game, your subterranean
ship and all the miners that you have rescued are swallowed up by a gigantic beast. You
must now navigate through the monster to try and find an exit. You do this by doing what
you did in the first game which is a mix of shooting and using your grappling cable. But
while the first game had a geological feel, this time, since you are inside a creature,
it has a very organic feel. This change mixes up the gameplay considerably. The original
was all about interacting with three different elements. This one mixes in acid and darkness.
When you get the acid on your suit you only have a limited amount of time to find water
to cool off. It can also appear in a gaseous form, requiring you to swing through the area
with your grappling cable. And the darkness levels require you to carry a light through
the stages. Both of these aspects feel very natural and fit in well with the other established
elements.
And everything about the game is brought to life with the same style and graphics as the
first one. The areas look amazing, with bright and vivid colors that fill the screen, and
some of the most impressive fluid dynamics I’ve seen since, well the first PixelJunk
Shooter.
The entire campaign can be played with a friend in co-op, either online or local, which makes
the game just that much more fun. But there is also an added competitive multiplayer,
which is incredibly fun and surprisingly deep.
The game does not have the same feel you would expect from a sequel, but it feels more like
a continuation. In fact, the first chapter is called chapter 4, right where the first
game left off. Because of this some people could be turned off by the fact that they
might see it as simply more of the same. But with all the new elements, fitting in perfectly
with the comfortable mechanics, it makes for a game that feels fresh while also familiar.
There is plenty of enough here to justify the purchase, especially if you are a fan
of the original.