Shank 2 - Demo Impressions

Shank 2 is the sequel to the 2D arcade action beat-'em-up Shank. Shank is the main protagonist who is a former mob hitman who also carries a Rambo-like persona. Shank 2 was developed by Klei Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts for download on PC, PSN and Xbox 360. Shank 2 released February 8, 2012. For this particular Videogames4Gamerz article i played the demo of Shank 2 on my Xbox 360.

The title screen featured many menu options including Campaign Mode, Achievements, Medals, Rebel Intel, Leaderboards, Player Stats, Help & Options, Unlock Game, Quit Game. The Medals section shows in-game medals you can earn like Zombie Killer. Rebel Intel are collectible profiles of people, places and events. Achievements section shows what achievements are in-game and how to attain them. The controls via the Xbox 360 gamepad: LS & D-pad-move/aim, LB-grenades, LT-pounce, RS-roll, X-shanks, A-jump, B-guns, Y-heavy attack, RB-pick-up/drop, RT-grab. The controls are good except jumping. Jumping just felt weird and awkward. Climbing, pouncing, shooting and throwing grenades all felt good.

I started up Campaign Mode where you had to get Shank outfitted with gear before playing. You can select Heavy Weapons for Shank like the machete or his famous chainsaw. Ranged Weapons include throwing knives or pistols (not in demo). Munitions include grenades and molotovs. Most of the weapons are graded on speed, damage and stun. Some weapons are graded on other aspects such as tactics and splash. After you pick Shank's weapons of destruction you have a option to switch his look. I left it default and a nice looking cutscene featuring Shank on a bus in what looks like South America.

It doesn't take long before a group of Militia enter the bus and piss Shank off. Next thing you know Shank cuts off a Militia guy's arm and gameplay immediately ensues. Before i knew it i was kicking some serious ass with Shank in a beautiful 2D jungle setting. I was pouncing Militia troops, throwing grenades and slicing them with my machete. Much of the level featured minor platforming and a area with a big meat grinder where you can throw enemies into. Militia enemies ranged from normal grunts to big fat guys and the final bossfight with Razor which was pretty entertaining. I collected a "Primo" Bio which was 1 of 24 collectible intel in Shank 2.

The gameplay was decent but what really stood out to me regarding Shank 2 was the visuals and animations. Let me just say they are top-notch stuff for a arcade 2D game. The visual and art pops out of the screen. Shank and his animations were really impressive. The jungle setting look visually stunning. Every Militia member featured nice texture work and detail. The comicbook style cutscenes which tells Shank 2's story also popped out of the screen. The sound design and music while not as good as the graphics was decent.

Shank 2 was a good demo. Its not a groundbreaking 2D brawler by any means. However its sure is a sight for sore eyes. Thanks for reading.
Assassins Creed Revelations Review

Scarygirl - Demo impressions

Scarygirl is 2D action platformer that puts you in the role of the orphaned Scarygirl. I originally played Scarygirl on my Playstation 3 as a Minis title. I even reviewed that title on one of my other sites. The demo version is the arcade/console title which i played on my Xbox 360. To make a long story short the console arcade version is much different than the Minis and handheld versions. Scarygirl was developed by TikGames and published by Square Enix. Scarygirl is available on XBLIG and PSN. It has a TBA Q1 release date for the PC.

The Menus in Scarygirl included Start Trial, Look at Collection and  Onion Bowl. Onion Bowl is a combat tutorial section which was effective at teaching me Scarygirl's abilities. The controls via the Xbox 360 gamepad: D-pad-change hook attachment, LS-move, LB-scary mode, LT-block, RT-grapple, Y-heavy attack, X-light attack, B-roll and A-jump/glide. The controls were solid. In combat grabbing and juggling enemies with Scarygirl's whip and hook was precise. Using the grapple and glide abilities to traverse the 2D levels was seamless.

Scarygirl's story is told at the beginning of the demo. Scarygirl was abandoned at sea but rescued one day Blister the octopus. The cutscene is told through comicbook cutouts and voiced narration. One night, Scarygirl had a dream about a mysterious man who hunted her. Soon the nightmare she meets a mysterious guru-like Rabbit who says he can help her find out who the man is. From there the gameplay starts nears Scarygirl's home in a haunted island setting. If you need a visual of how Scarygirl looks and the world this game is played on think Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas.

The gameplay is pretty good in this arcade game. You have to use combat which is done primarily through Scarygirl's hook. You can modify her hook by collecting gems and fish from slain enemies. Gems are this game's currency. The stores are creatures who inhabit the levels. There is also a creature who can fill up Scarygirl's heart containers for a price. As far as modifying her hook goes those are done with attachments. Some attachments for sale were Anchor, Fan, Feather and Fish. Scarygirl also has a special Rage meter that fills up overtime while defeating enemies. When activated Scarymode kicks in and she dishes out the final judgement like the grim reaper.

Her attacks morph into a giant dark shadow that looks like a monster.The platforming is decent. You have to use Scarygirl's whip/hook to grapple illuminated objects on poles and other places. She can glide pretty far too. However most of the time your just hitting hedgehog enemies with her hook. There are areas where the path splits which was neat for a 2D game. There were two levels in the demo one being a dark haunted forest and the other Old Man's Mountains which is a bright sunny canyon/mountain setting.

As far as Scarygirl's presentation goes its good for a arcade style 2D platformer. The visuals are lead by a really good art design. I want to play Scarygirl on Halloween for its art design alone. The music and sound design was decent enough. The combat was good along with its platforming. The demo doesn't seem to have any real glaring weaknesses. I guess that just about does it. Thanks for reading.