Shank 2: Better Than Ever

INTRODUCTION

Having played Shank when it was released in 2010, I was excited to take Shank 2 for a couple of test runs. Shank was an entertaining game, though the controls were a little too clunky for my taste. Of course, I was curious to see if the developers were able to top themselves and fine-tune the things that irked me in the first game. Blocking out a couple of hours to give all my attention to this newly-released game, I settled in and readied myself for an interesting ride.

CONCEPT

Shank, the burly, former mob hitman has been forced to utilize his skills once again when the lives of those near and dear to him are threatened.  Shank must traverse through dense jungles, rocky ruins, villages in shambles, and dangerous construction zones to save his loved ones. Armed with heavy and ranged weapons along with a small handful of munitions, he must save hostages and punish the perpetrators before it is too late.

This 2-D side-scrolling brawler has unlockable weapons, munitions, outfits, and characters that can be used to customize your character to better fit your style of combat. Whether you like to distance yourself from your enemies or get into some close quarters combat, there is a weapon for you.

GRAPHICS

The crisp, comic-book style visuals give the environment and its characters bold, vivid colors.  The cinematics are silly and light-hearted despite the fact that the game revolves around darker elements such as kidnapping and oppression. Minor issues pepper the game throughout but do not in any way hinder your ability to enjoy the graphics in all of its comic-book-like glory.

SOUND

Much like the way upbeat music pumps you up at the gym, the composers at Suite803 created music that would get you in the mood to save the world from the fascist leader and his minions. Sound effects are run-of-the-mill but they get the job done. The voice acting is forgettable but I love the sound of enemies being shredded to pieces.

GAMEPLAY

With two levels of difficulty and the absence of a co-operative gameplay option in the campaign, Shank 2 provides only a couple of hours of single player missions. The beginning of the campaign provides you with only machetes, throwing knives, and a choice of munitions (grenades, mines, Molotov cocktails). Progressing through the campaign will automatically unlock a variety of weapons that you may choose from to suit your play style. There are 8 short levels in the single-player campaign and 3 scenes to choose from in Survival Mode.

We all remember the clunky controls from the first game. To dodge enemy attacks, you would have to depress a trigger button and flick the joystick in the desired direction. Thankfully, the developers have simplified the controls. Now, important commands like heal and attack are separate buttons and you only have to flick the joystick to evade incoming attacks. Counter-attacks hold a special place in my heart because I enjoy shoving bats down enemies’ throats.

Each completed level has your score posted underneath it, as well as a couple of random people that scored near you. This leaderboard did not impress me at all because there are no rank numbers. You may see that you scored above KittyCat837 and below God7355 but you have no idea if you are the cream of the crop or the bottom of the barrel.

Survival Mode provides a couple more hours of game time but is repetitive and can get old pretty quickly. There are 3 scenes to choose from and a full cast of unlockable characters. The objective in Survival Mode is to protect 3 cargo piles from the waves of enemies that attack and distract you while little bomber men arm explosives to destroy your cargo. If your teammate goes down, you have to fight your way over there to revive him/her. Keep a lookout, though, if you go down as well, the game is over.

REPLAYABILITY

After you finish the campaign the first time, there is little to no incentive to replay it. Most of your time will probably be spent playing Survival Mode with a friend. I played each of the three Survival Mode levels several times but soon came to the conclusion that the entertainment gets stale soon enough.  It is fun while it lasts, but you will be yearning for some new elements sooner than you would think.

VALUE

Priced at $9.99 USD and 800 MSP for PS3 (and PC) and Xbox 360, respectively, Shank 2 provides several hours of gameplay that can be enjoyed on your own or with a friend.  For such a great deal, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try, whether you are a fan of side-scrolling brawlers or not.

AFTER ACTION REPORT

The developers were able to fine-tune and polish up the things that bothered the consumers in the first game without completely reinventing their style or main mission. The character is quicker and the controls are smoother.  The game is short but straight to the point. If you have a couple of hours to spare, I would definitely recommend giving this game a go-around. On the other hand, if you are short on cash and tend to dwell on one game for a longer amount of time then perhaps your money would be better spent somewhere else.