SPELUNKY 2
Unearthing an even deeper sequel
“THE GAME BECOMES MORE CHAOTIC WITH MORE PLAYERS.”
FORMAT PS4 / PLAYERS 1-4 / DEV MOSSMOUTH
One more go.” Those are the words that echo through the caverns of Spelunky around your poor explorer’s dead body every time you fail, thanks either to a devious trap or your own poor judgement. You want to try again, to strike deeper. And in its own way Spelunky 2 is trying again and delving further.
One of the biggest new additions is online multiplayer, taking the uniquely mad co-op of the first roguelike platformer to a new level. “The game becomes more chaotic with more players – especially since you can pick up and whip other players – but it also becomes easier because of the ghosts and teamwork,” explains the game’s creator, Derek Yu, when we ask about what the online aspect adds. “I think that mix of extra chaos and extra power transforms Spelunky into something kind of like a casual party game.”
DIGGING A HOLE
While playing with friends is all fun and games, the challenge of Spelunky is not. The caves are dangerous, and one misstep means you’ll have to challenge yourself all over again. And in this sequel’s new areas there’s even more to worry about. Levels even have extra layers now as you move in and out of doorways.
“I’m trying to see how far we can push everything in Spelunky 2. With traps, I might look at a specific trap that worked well in the original game, like arrow traps or spikes, and think about why it worked and how else it could be used,” says Yu. “Can we make a version that’s bigger or attacks at different angles? A big part of the fun for me in making a sequel is getting to explore the possibility space more.”