Gimmick! 2

Gimmick! 2 is an easy recommendation for fans of retro platformers and a no-brainer for lovers of the original. Its cutesy, feel-good vibes belie a trove of super-tough but cleverly crafted challenges that are surmountable with practice, precision, and patience. What's clear is the absolute reverence that developer Bitwave Games has for the source material. Dispel any notion of this being a retro cash grab; this is the sequel that the underappreciated and ahead-of-its-time NES classic has always deserved.

Yes, it is hard, but that is what makes it special. The game never punishes its players and instead encourages trying again with excellent checkpoints. I do wish the original was included in this package just so I could revisit it, but otherwise this is a fantastic sequel to one of the most unique platformers of all time.

Gimmick! 2 may not have been a game that most gamers were asking for due to its obscurity, but we are glad it’s here. Gimmick! 2 proves that even the simplest game designs can create some of the biggest, most fun and addictive challenges.

Like a dream come true from the 1990s, Gimmick! 2 has beautiful, lively visuals, clever and challenging platforming, and plenty of charisma, although it doesn't try to expand the game's identity beyond the cute design of Yumetaro and his adversaries. Even though it can be frustrating due to the many instant deaths on spikes, the simple and straightforward campaign will please 2D platformers admirers.

Gimmick! 2 is a short experience with only six levels, but that won’t feel like the case if you are not willing to buy into its design choices. The assisted mode should help more casual players get into it, but at its heart, this is a platforming trial that may look simple but has much more to offer.

As someone who grew up with NES platformers, Gimmick 2! feels like having a favorite dish at a new restaurant where they've tweaked the recipe by adding one or two new ingredients. I know I've had better, but it's still tasty. While this challenging game doesn't earn the broad recommendation I hoped for, it's worth a long look for skilled platformer enthusiasts.

While Gimmick! 2 isn’t for me, it’s a cute little game that might be just the thing some are looking for in the platforming genre. Personally, this game stands as a curiosity that reflects a game that many discovered years after its release and that’s a fantastic approach to game development.

An improvement over the old-school original, but its momentum-based style can still make it tough to love

Who knew a modern sequel to an obscure NES classic could be this much fun? Well, Gimmick! 2 definitely is and I highly recommend it.

Gimmick! 2 is an awesome sequel to it’s NES predecessor, that has great controls, nice but fair challenge and music from the maestro David Wise himself.