Ice, Fire & Desire- PixelJunk Shooter 2 Review

In 2009, PixelJunk Shooter demonstrated the unlikely virtues of blending 2D space combat with absorbing physics-based puzzles. Players were tasked with rescuing vulnerable scientists trapped in a subterranean network of tunnels teaming with hostiles. Recovery of each survivor required a cautious exploitation of each of the game’s natural materials, which included lava, water, ice, rock, and a peculiar magnetic fluid. Combining the first law of thermodynamics, carefully crafted level and a vigorous offensive loadout, the title was an inspired fusion of elements, diminished only by a tepid level of challenge.

With the recent release of PixelJunk Shooter 2, development house Q-Games has listened to critics and fans. From the game’s initial stage (continuing where its predecessor’s storyline concluded), the title’s difficulty has been raised, endowing the game with an increased sense of tension. This decision becomes apparent within the first few minutes of the game, as the player’s craft is doused with acid, prompting a beeline to the nearest water source. These types of edgy moments abound in Shooter 2; whether players are navigating through thin arteries filled with magma hurling foes, using light to deter invincible any baddies which roam through dark recesses, or using a grappling hook to catapult your spinning craft to safety, the title delivers a steady succession of thrills. Whereas the first Shooter tested your brain much more than your trigger finger, this sequel finds a more satisfying balance.

Like the last game, players periodically trade in their hook and nose-mounted cannon combo into for suits which grant additional abilities. Along with the returning armors, there’s a Hungry Suit, which burrows through soil, recalling coin-op classic, Dig-Dug. When using this device, players can even excavate under heavy rocks, sending the stones tumbling down on antagonists. Later, a boss fight sends insect-like assailant in curved attack patterns, paying homage to another beloved Namco title.

Each of the game’s three zones are comprised of five levels, with the final stage devoted to a satisfying boss fight. Smartly, each of the three areas feel distinct, thanks to differing visual aesthetics, environmental elements, and the play mechanics required for advancement. Unlike most puzzlers, players are unlikely to reach an impasse in the game. While the title presents some satisfying conundrums, your restricted variety of tools allow for a closed set of solutions, negating the need to keep a FAQ nearby. Mirroring the sonic success of the first Shooter, High Frequency Bandwidth returns with a soundtrack which not only suitably complements the action, but also differentiates itself from most game music.

Supplementing the game’s satisfying six-hour campaign is a competitive online multiplayer component. Here, gamers alternate between escorting scientists to scoring zones and eliminating other players trying to accomplish the same. Victory rewards players with the ability to purchase new weapons, coaxing participants to jump back into the fray. With the possibility for success by maneuvering past perilous pathways, Shooter 2‘s multiplayer mode rewards those with razor-sharp, retro-honed reflexes.