The original Gimmick!, made by Sunsoft was released on the Famicom in 1992, then on its Western counterpart, the NES a year later. It was a lesser-known 2D side-scrolling platformer, but an entertaining, addictive and challenging game for those who played it. It was also highly praised by industry legends, Shigeru Miyamoto and Masahiro Sakurai.

It received a re-release on modern consoles in 2023 as Gimmick! Special Edition and now after 32 years, it receives its long-awaited sequel published by Sunsoft and Clear River Games and developed by Bitwave Games, as Gimmick! 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Players take control of the green little yokai, Yumetaro, the protagonist from the original 1992 game. His new companion happens to be the daughter of his former companion from the first game. While sleeping peacefully together one evening, an evil wizard appears and disappears with the girl. Without any hesitation, Yumetaro now sets out on a new quest to rescue his friend in a world packed with interesting challenges, dangerous enemies, and hidden treasures.

Gimmick! 2 plays much like the original game from over 30 years ago. The gameplay is straightforward, though the challenges are anything but. It retains its classic 2D side-scrolling platforming gameplay where players will need to battle a variety of enemies, solve various puzzles, and overcome all kinds of obstacles. As players progress, the challenges ahead become harder and harder, adding to the addictive gameplay.

The boss battles at the end of each world offer a whole new challenge as players will have to think quickly to take them down. This time, players can play the game as intended with its increasingly challenging gameplay, or they can play in Assisted Mode for an easier and more laid-back experience.

To take down the enemies, Yumetaro can summon a star and throw it to take out most enemies with a single shot. The star can bounce on the ground, off walls and on water, but it is more than just a weapon. It can also be used to solve puzzles, trigger mechanisms and even as a platform to ride on and get to hard-to-reach areas.

How it bounces also depends on the angle at which it hits each surface, and players could be in one area for a while as they figure it out, but the satisfying feeling you get after completing them never gets old. Those with a good knowledge of geometry will thrive in this game. There is also more than one way to solve each puzzle, providing some nice replay value.

There are plenty of cosmetics to collect throughout the game which include different coloured and patterned skins, a variety of headwear, different coloured stars and more. While they aren’t needed to complete the game, they are indeed fun to try and obtain them having to overcome even more puzzles and obstacles to reach them.

Gimmick! 2 stays true to its classic gameplay, but the graphics and overall presentation have received a massive upgrade since the original game with its 8-bit graphics. The sequel has a bright and colourful art style and the animation is just as smooth. The art style may be simple but is aesthetically pleasing to look at and each world has its distinct style. The game’s music features both remixes of tracks from the original Gimmick!

And new compositions, incorporating live-recorded instruments that blend traditional Swedish sounds with Japanese musical influences to honour the game’s Japanese roots. The game’s soundtrack was created by David Wise and was recorded live in Sweden in collaboration with Joel Bille and creatively overseen by Pelle Cahndlerby.

With six different worlds and approximately four to six hours of game time, there is a lot to do and enjoy in this long-awaited sequel. Some may feel it’s a short game, but the replay value and addictive gameplay will keep fans coming back for more, just like the original game from 1992 which also happens to be available to play on modern consoles.

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.

Written by: Sammy Hanson