When Gunman Clive arrived as a budget, bite-sized slice of action platforming on the 3DS in late 2012 it unsurprisingly earned a lot of praise. Its intentionally grubby paper aesthetic and simple, highly polished gameplay seemed like a loving - and skilful - homage to franchises such as Mega Man; that didn't go unnoticed by fans, either. Its success on the portable was notable, too, in that it captured the system's audience; one-man developer Bertil Hörberg (with assistance only in music) highlighted that the title sold better on 3DS than it did on smartphone stores, with Nintendo keen to champion it as a victory for the eShop.
It's a well-known title for multiple reasons, then, but there's no sign of nerves or over-reaching in the much-anticipated Gunman Clive 2. It continues the confident and skilful references to classics gone by, but also continues to forge its own identity and improve upon its predecessor - make no mistake, this is a franchise that has lost none of its appeal in this follow-up.
Once again players can set off on the adventure as Gunman Clive or Ms. Johnson, both using the same guns that - with pick-ups - can evolve into spread shots or powerful missiles. Each are useful characters for the challenge, with Ms. Johnson also boasting a Princess Peach-style float to slow her descent from jumps; it's optional, but can be hugely useful in trickier platforming sections. An addition this time is Chieftain Bob, who trades in guns for a melee-spear; one for the most skilful gamers, this shakes up the challenge a great deal, as you need to judge enemy patterns with more precision before leaping in for a close-range attack. There's an unlockable fourth character that we won't spoil, but those with the first game will know what it is and appreciate how much it can change subsequent playthroughs.
It's in level design that this follow-up shows the greatest evolution, while once again containing enough nods and winks to classic ideas to raise a smile. Across the 25 stages we see imaginative bosses (the T-Rex seen in the official trailers is memorable) that also bring scrolling levels and greater environmental challenges to the fore; even in the standard left-to-right run-and-gun levels there are fresh approaches or refinements of previous ideas, with standout examples being found in some gravity-defying sections. Some of those boss encounters (beyond the T-Rex) are also a noticeable step up in scale and imagination, too, and are well worth the price of admission.
This sequel introduces more new ideas, too. There are flying stages from a behind-the-player perspective, rather like a slow, more manageable After Burner; these add to the overall formula and provide welcome variety - though generally well designed, our only niggle is that it can be a little tricky to pick out incoming projectiles from enemies in these cases, but it's a minor problem. A horse riding stage is an enjoyable diversion - adopting the same camera perspective - and there's also a 2D platforming stage in which you you ride a panda, bringing to mind companion levels in Donkey Kong Country platformers; that's as much fun as it sounds.
It terms of presentation, Hörberg Productions has done an excellent job in maintaining its standards while making noticeable changes. The grainy paper effect returns, yet this time we have a diverse colour palette. It's implemented cleverly, as colour is themed depending on the environment and world, yet it's still a muted palette with limited range to deliver that retro vibe. It's a really smart inclusion, and when you add in the terrific soundtrack you have a game that's best enjoyed in a comfortable seat while wearing headphones.
Whether traversing across enormous dinosaurs, hopping between floating debris at sea or one of the other varied challenges, Gunman Clive 2 delivers entertaining and tight gameplay. Blasting through the adventure takes about 90 minutes when accounting for some deaths and tricky moments, yet the different approaches required for four playable characters - along with three difficulty levels that adjust your life bar - add a lot of replayability. Longer and more varied than its predecessor, it's a delightful steal.
Conclusion
Gunman Clive 2 successfully avoids the pitfalls that can befall sequels; it offers fresh ideas along with familiar excellence, and provides a notable improvement over its predecessor. Its stylish action platforming - along with dabbles in other approaches - combines with distinguished audio-visual presentation to deliver another gem for the 3DS eShop. We recommend it as a must buy for fans of action platformers, especially those that enjoy retro nods and winks with their modern day experiences - this one's a straight shooter.
Comments 88
Yee Haw! I'm picking this up as usual!
Yes! I knew it'd be a great sequel!
AWESOME a 9, i'm going to pick this up the second it shows up on the US eshop! i loved the first game
looks great!!
I'm not big on platformers, but I love Western, and at that price ... also the first one was actually fun, although I never managed to beat the last levels. ^^
Good to hear it's also great! With the price being right and people just impulsively buying cheap game no matter what the quality this should do just fine.
oh yeah !
but when will i download it? hm...
The first was a great game, and the second sounds even better. No way I'm not picking this up.
A well deserved 9! I loved the first one and was left with sweaty palms when I finished the game. So I'll definitely be buying the even better sequel!
Definitely downloading this one ASAP. Loved the first game, and I'm glad to see this one faring so well.
This is the defining "spirit" of the indie game.
The music alone is the sole reason people should buy this game.
I've been waiting for this one eagerly ever since that indie reel at E3 last year. I love the fact that it has different hues for different stages now, which should make the stages feel more diverse. I'm getting it later today and can't wait to try it.
I'll be downloading this in, oh, two hours.
Still need to play the first one, and honestly, I'm not sure why I haven't picked it up yet... Right now I'm saving my eShop credit for SmileBASIC, so maybe after that releases I'll get it.
I'll get this as soon as I get off work today.
Insta download when I get home today.
Have to say watching that trailer again it looks/sounds bloody awesome.
Have to pick this up soon.
time to buy this thing right now
This is a must have for me!
Definitely downloading this one.
A great birthday gift right here.
Yes! Triumph once again for Gunman Clive! I'll be DL-ing this gem ASAP.
Downloading it as I type, can't wait to play I loved the first one and have been waiting for this since he announced it!
I'll be downloading this as soon as I possibly can (which should be right after it becomes available).
I was gonna download it anyway but it's good to see that it's as good as I hoped.
I didnt even know this was going to be realeased today!
Im definitely going to get it!
so nice..ima download it twice. once 4 me and my sons 3ds. also retro city..he will like these two..
Awesome, downloading tonight
Wait... this is out?!
Even with the good score and low price, I don't think I'll be picking it up.
Didn't find the first one fun at all.
Insta-buy!
A definite must-buy.
Theres a reference to a certain iconic game in level 7, and it's amazing.
Great! The first was a remarkable little game. You can beat the first game in under an hour. I've found myself coming back to it frequently. The developer deserves our respect and support.
Nice to hear; great review. Any word on download size?
Gumnman Clive is no joke! Still one of my best experiences on 3DS. Can't wait to download Part 2.
I love it when a retro-vibe game doesn't go full 8-bit in its visuals. There are just too many 8- or 16-bit visual throwbacks these days (many of them are very good games, but the visual style is just overused), so this series gets points for an interesting art style in a retro-themed game.
Three dollars can buy a little happiness.
Idk about this one...... I played the original and it didn't leave me much of an impression. So I'll just wait for it to be on PC.
Sold, was going to buy it anyway, and just got a few dollars on my account because of MP Trilogy
Just watched a speedrun of the first game, it was nice, but im not going to pick it up.
Instead im going to jump straight to this one. Seems to be more varied and better than the previous one.
I liked the first Gunman Clive. Definitely going to pick this up. Just got my 32 gb SD card installed in my XL, so it's about time to use some of that space.
Certainly downloading this, even if I only got about half-way through the first one!
Very cool i loved the 1st one.
Downloaded it, have already played the first five levels, and it's been worth the wait. Really fun. Love the mix of gameplay in this one so far.
90 minutes? Thaaaaaaats a bit too short for my taste, even if it's cheap. I'll wait. The first game wasn't enough for that 1€ it cost me, since it took me just two hours to 100% every character.
The first one was fantastic. I am downloading this immediately. This is "indie developer" done right.
@C-Olimar It's 571 blocks in Europe.
Downloaded before the review, already past the second boss. It's not because the game is a small one (although it's ENORMOUS for its price), it's just because I wanted a sequel so damn much. It's amazing. My only complaint so far is that I've piloted the plane before being able to ride a horse.
Have the first one, found it hard and just never went back to it but I'm gonna try it again and buy this one two!
@Kaze_Memaryu Respectfully, there is no way you 100%ed all three characters in two hours. I assume you are not including No Hit Runs and Speed Badges.
The only thing I can assume you mean is you beat it with all three characters on Easy in two hours, and even that seems highly unlikely for the first time through the game.
Anyway, after playing Gunman Clive 2 some more, I actually prefer it to the original, which is saying something. Much more dynamic gameplay, variety of environments, and I really like the visuals. 9/10 is just right, especially considering it's only $3.
I also laughed at the homage to a certain puzzle game. Love those little surprises.
i hate anything western but gunamn clive so I just might give it a try
25 stages? How much longer is it?
Doesn't matter, will still be downloading it. Can't wait
@Kaze_Memaryu What do you mean when you say 100%?
$3 is... quite nice. I guess I'll be downloading it. That price is too nice to ignore.
Downloading it now so it will be ready for me when I get home from work tonight.
Loved the first, will be buying this as soon as Code Name STEAM demo finishes downloading.
Sounds amazing and for that price it is a definite get!
Wow, the boss fights are a lot harder playing as Chieftain Bob. I dig it.
Missed the first.. But with that review and for that price I'm sold. I'm still stuck on $3.. I pay more for a beer with my meal, hell I pay more for a happy meal! Can't wait to try this out.
It was impossible for this one to not be good.
Stage 6 and this is even better than the best 3DS game (Gunman Clive 1)
my god this game is so cool, i feel so bad paying 3 dollars for this masterpiece :/
I dunno, I have to choose between this or jewel Quest...
@Klimbatize No Hit runs are extremely easy to do, since spawning enemies can be tricked, and placement of stationary enemies is rather forgiving. A good run of any character through all levels takes around 30 minutes, except for duck, which is a bit faster.
@TimeGuy Hard Mode, all characters (Clive, Missy, and Duck), 3 stars on every level, no damage. There isn't much to do, anyway.
3 stars? Maybe you're confusing it with another game.
AWESOME!
Gunman Clive: The Lost Levels. This game is pretty tough so far.
Yay!
I loved the first game. I got it back in 2012 and decided to finish it. I finished it a few hours ago and now I need an eshop card to get this awesome sequel.
I must admit: the level design is absolutely INFURIATING to the point it makes DKC Returns easy. In other hand, the levels have the perfect size to be completed before the frustration makes you want to throw your 3DS on the wall.
That said, I loved the sequel as much as the first one. The game takes a while to suck you in (longer than its predecessor), but once it does, you can't put it down before you finish. The replay value is also higher.
Pros
Cons
@Sforzando 90-120 minutes long if you choose Clive on Normal. The girl takes fairly less, I'd say half of Clive's time thanks to her floating jumps, which means less cheap deaths. The Chief takes longer. He's basically a duck with a spear.
@ThomasBW84 Thanks.
I got this game yesterday, it's so beautiful. Also its really fun.
Still stuck at level 10 of the first game, still awesome though.
Finally bought it last night. I'm so excited to play this. I LOVE the first game!
This game was short like the first one . I'm glad I have both 1 and 2 to play again though.
Oh, how I wish I hadn't wasted my money on Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels. I was expecting this to be bad...
I guess I'm the only one, but I thought the first game was a bit... Underwhelming. It felt exactly like Megaman, except it was way easier and not as fun. Even the music in certain stages was almost identical to Megaman music!
I guess you can't please everyone. Hope y'all enjoy your new game though! Its great that some people enjoy it.
This game is SO GOOD!!!! I dont want to reveal too much but the "True Final Boss..." WOW! Then when you see who it is you will say stuff like "Super Special Awesome Plot Twist!" XD XD Mind was BLOWN! XD
The music is great! The references were great & subtle. Fun and challenging boss battles. "I think I just dont like the Panda stage too much because it climbs SO FREAKING SLOW! Argh...the number of times I died because of slow climbing...jeez." XD My top 4 favorite level here is definitely the horse riding! So fun!
Thought this one was kind of a mixed bag frankly. They were certainly more ambitious with it than the original, but that didn't necessarily lead to better gameplay experiences. The 3D and autoscrolling levels could be a real nuisance, and there is one boss in particular which was just ridiculously hard to dodge with the game's slow controls. I feel the controls weren't tight enough to make the new level design really come together.
I have the game since day 1 and completed in in like two sittings. It's a great game, I like it a lot... But! Well, it didn't have the "wow" effect the first one hit me with. I just like GC2, not love it like the original. Still, I totally recommend it to absolutely anyone with a 3DS, it's a must-own title!
I loved this title game, and I think everyone who like 2D platformers will. If you couldn't get enough of Gunman Clive 1 and Shovel Knight, get this!
I hope to see Gunman Clive 3 on Wii U.
How anyone expected this to be bad, I can't conceive.
I guess if there was one thing that disappointed me, it was that this game didn't try new stuff with Clive's gun. No new powerups? Heck, I barely felt that the gun powerups, with the same types as before, factored in to the gameplay as much as I remember it from the first game.
@rushiosan and dronesplitter
I agree. For me, despite the ambition of this game (those 3D flying sections were a pleasant surprise!), the biggest problem is that the game's overall design is worse. The panda section for example is just frustrating and trial-and-error, and in no way deserves to be mentioned with the Rambi sections or or on rail mine cart sections from DKC. While those had a certain amount of trial and error design, here, the panda stage is just too trial and error, and the fact the panda takes so long to climb up obstacles is an annoying problem. The level after that goes down the common list of bad game design choices by having enemies pop out of the background or from above. Reminds me of Tiny Toon Adventures on NES in this regard.
Guman Clive 2 is a good game that mimics older games while still being original, but also copies over some of the bad game design choices from our favorite retro games. Including spikes that kill in one hit. And yes, the gravity switch gimmick was running old by the first game, so here, it's really worn out.
With that said, owning both games together is great because you can play the first, then the 2nd, in one sitting. Both games are similar enough that it feels somewhat like playing the locked on Sonic 3 and Knuckles game. Very good stuff overall, but the level design near the end gets pretty bad. The lack of power ups is disappointing as well. Even Super C on the NES managed to switch up the power-up variety a bit while this one just played it safe.
@OnionOverlord To be honest, the biggest "bad design choice" found in both Gunman Clive 1 and 2 for 3DS is the death count. I know that for some people this is just a minor detail, but for completionists (or even if you have some kind of OCD with numbers like me) you'll put it down once you finish that particular save file because you don't wanna end up someday with like 723 deaths and counting.
That made Super Mario 3D Land a bit worse to me because I became so obsessed about not dying that it just drained the whole joy from playing challenging levels. Same for any non-competitive game which uses this feature to register your failures and throw them at your face like "hey, you died 50 times, wanna keep playing and reach 100 deaths?"
That thing just didn't work for me and basically took away the replay value for both games.
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