Gunman Clive 2 Review

In the year 18XX that same wily group of bandits are still up to no good and have laid siege to your home town. Join Clive and his friends on a quest that will take you around the globe to snuff them out once and for all.

That's the premise I took from the 2015 sequel to the indie hit Gunman Clive by Hörberg Productions. So the story is simple, but is the game an improvement over its predecessor? More than I possibly could have predicted.

At its core, Clive's gameplay gives a respectful nod to the 2D platformers of old. I've even gone as far as to describe the first game as "Mega Man 2 in the wild west" to others. Clive 2 takes it a step further, introducing more advanced stage mechanics like gravity manipulation and dynamic set pieces like crumbling buildings or the swaying of a ship in the ocean.

Clive 2 is more than a run and gun platformer this time around. Sprinkled throughout the adventure segments that cross into other genres like the handful of flying stages that feel like you're playing a lost level from a Star Fox game. There are also stages that aren't necessarily run and gun but still follow the more traditional 2D platformer fare, such as the panda ride or Donkey Kong Country style mine cart ride.

As I stated earlier, this adventure takes you across the globe so you get to experience more locals than the wild west setting of the first game, including snow levels, a trip to China, a Japanese castle, and even a lost world in South America where Dinosaurs still exist. It can feel a bit random but the game's expanded color pallet from the wanted poster look of the first game really benefit from it. On your first play through you'll be anxious to know what kind of environment the game is going to throw at you next which keeps things fresh the whole way through.

Joining Clive on his quest are Ms. Johnson from the first game and newcomer Chieftain Bob. Ms. Johnson plays similarly to Clive only having a slower walking speed but the ability to float to extend her jumps or to slow descent. Bob handles more like Clive except his attack is a melee with is spear, making the game a lot more difficult but that much more rewarding if perhaps you're looking for a more "Castlevania" type of experience. Just like the first game, the controls are excellent and I always felt like each death was my own doing.

At a mere 3 dollars I have to recommend this title to anyone who has a 3DS, especially if you're a fan of 2D platformers and run and gun games. With the multiple play styles available it should give you a lot of replay value while trying to master this game.

Pros:

-Improves on nearly every aspect of the original.
-Awesome graphics and audio. The 3D effect is really pleasing in this one.
-The different play styles of each character give the game a lot of replay value if you're a challenge seeker.
-Awesome price point at only 3 dollars.

Cons:

-The game might be considered relatively short to some. It's about the length of a typical nes title.

Click here for my review of the first Gunman Clive game.