Over a year ago, Shank made its debut on Xbox Live and Sony Entertainment Network, which was then still called the PSN. Riding on the wave of a digital market increasingly prosperous and held, the unknown Klei Entertainment decided to bring this action-dimensional, weakly stained by distant and pale platform ambitions.
Our opinion was not very enthusiastic. While recognizing the undoubted quality, original Shank was crippled by a level design unable to do justice to the bottom of a combat system still functional and the height of today’s standards. The project, however, aroused sufficient consensus and sales, so as to attract the attention of Electronic Arts: producer of the sequel. Also entrusted in the hands of Klei Entertainment, the team has rightly decided for continuity. Despite the imperfections of the prequel, the formula has remained virtually intact, while not lacking a careful and highly visible work of refinement and improvement. So will this be enough restoration and enhancement for mild action to give us a completely convincing?
Shank 2 is a two-dimensional action game, which occasionally prompts you to jump from one platform to another with little conviction and inspiration. Taking a cursory overview, one might also conclude that any defect that prevented the predecessor to fly are almost blameless here. However, once we got into the details, you will notice the undeniable progress made by the team. Perfection is far short, but the overall quality of the now saga has undergone a sharp transformation.
The plot is something like this. Shank, the protagonist sees the return to his homeland after spending some time who knows where. Many things have changed since last time: the spirits are not strong as it once was, the bus service is poor and an increasingly mad general named Magnus as the dictator. It becomes very personal when the fearless bad guy has an unhealthy idea of blaming Shank’s friends. At that point there is only one thing to do: liberate the people from the oppressive figure of the aspiring tyrant and avenge himself.
The dusty and sultry Mexican-like setting has given way to more tropical views, dominated by dense vegetation, watercourses’ water color and slightly cooler. If the section has remained unchanged, the plot has definitely suffered a sharp decline in quality. As it remains pleasing to see our gutting and tormenting each opponent, including a stop-effect and the other end of the narrative, a series of flashbacks that had galvanized the predecessor and was abandoned in favor of a linear plot that has virtually nothing to give. From savory moments, even able to push a little reflection, the cut-scenes have become a mere glue between one level and the other, useful only to justify the change of environment.
Fortunately, however, is the heart of the production from all directions on the other hand. Shank 2 is a two-dimensional scrolling action which consists of eight levels. In each of these, your task is very simple: kill anything that moves on the screen, reach the end of the level, to the right of the screen, and defeat the boss in turn. On a rather classical platform, developers have been able to build a successful and very much as far more upbeat than its predecessor. The combat system stands out for its relative complexity on the number of commands, a characteristic that fortunately does not translate into a chaotic gameplay or reserved for a select audience of gamers’ skill above average. While the left analog stick will control the avatar, the right is used for dodging, which replaces the parade used in the predecessor. With a button jumps, while the other three fronts will take advantage of three weapons available to Shank, each appointed to a different type of attack: fast short-range, powerful but slower and distance.
The initial set of weapons, which contemplates throwing knives and a pair of machetes, in the course of the adventure will be replaced by new entries such as shotguns, chainsaws, and so on. The command set is completed with four dorsal. One is to throw grenades, another to pick up objects from the ground, the other two took to make. Just for the latter item, it should be commented out another new introduction that makes every encounter vastly more fluid and fun than the past.
During the fighting and the ability to surprise the enemy with violent ambush, you will perform a counterattack by pressing the back with the right timing. It is, also in this case, of extremely effective choreographic moves which have, among other things, the extreme value to maintain the high pace. Rhythm is the key word of Shank 2. While it is true that the set of controls remained almost unchanged, as well as problems related to an uninspired and whimsical level design, this sequel amazingly enhances the speed and ease with which you face every battle. Though surrounded by enemies equipped with powerful guns and iron maces, you will always have strong and agile enough to overcome any difficulties. Make a socket, throw an opponent down a ravine and shoot the reinforcements that come and perform in a short sound of a chainsaw combo is a matter of moments.
The combat system also is enhanced by being able to gather a variety of weapons from fallen enemies, such as shovels, hammers, blow torches and whatnot, and some elements of the scenario with which to interact to carry out executions even more bloody and spectacular. Also excellent fight with the bosses, among other things, is the perfect calibration of the difficulty of the adventure. Challenging but never frustrating. You will push to take full advantage of your arsenal, rewarding the just tribute of commitment and effort. Gameplay so fluid is not only capable of hiding the extent of a level design which, while still evident, is capable of to expose all the slow and cumbersome nature of the predecessor.
In addition to the main campaign, which in this sequel is exclusively single-player, there is a survival mode designed for local and online co-op. Before the proper game, it will ask you to resist a thirty waves of enemies, and you will select weapons and character. Each of them will enjoy several bonuses of life, strength, agility and so on. Another interesting element that extends the ambitions of this tactical way is the ability to build turrets with the money accumulated by the various killings. Of course, you do not reach the level of complexity of the Horde mode in Gears Of War 3, but still more cool features able to further spice up the games. On balance, it is a fun diversion that will swallow up some afternoon, mainly relying on a friend fitted with a second pad.
Unfortunately, no further mode, and so we encounter the second major defect of Shank 2: the longevity. Despite the replayability is assured of the main campaign, thanks to a good amount of unlockables and medals, despite the excellent balance of difficulty, the afternoon will be more than sufficient to complete the adventure. If this factor is added to the impossibility of multiplayer fun for more than a few afternoons, one realizes that the ten euros needed to buy the game are a reasonable price, but only by a whisker.
The graphics engine is the same one that moved its predecessor. Once again we are dealing with a line graphic element that resembles the novel with well-animated characters and environments sufficiently varied and detailed. Also good music, though not many, and the voice that strives in all ways to give tone to dull cut-scenes.
Finally, Shank 2 failed to score excellence. Though there remain problems related to longevity and the level design, the strong pace of the adventure, a fun multiplayer, a deep combat system at the right point, and an achievement chart-decent sound, make the title of Klei Entertainment a recommended purchase for all fans of the genre. Aware that there is better in the digital catalog of reference platforms, Shank 2 manages to offer a wholesome entertainment, enhanced by as much gore and gallons of blood.
Shank 2 Launch Trailer [HD]
GAME INFO: Shank 2
Release Date: February 08, 2012
Also on: PS3
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
Genre: Action
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Klei Entertainment
Online Play: 2 Co-op
Local Play: 2 Co-op
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