Schlagwort: spelunky 2

PlayStation developers’ favorite games of 2020

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Despite the rest of 2020, the past 12 months have been rich with immersive video game worlds, inspiring characters, compelling gameplay mechanics, and fantastic soundtracks. You’ve already told us what your highlights are. Now leading developers in the industry share their personal PlayStation picks from the class of 2020*.

Call of Duty: Warzone

As chosen by…

“As somebody who typically doesn’t play multiplayer, I not only surprised myself with how many hours I logged in Warzone this year, but how profoundly meaningful it all was. On its surface, Warzone combines the battle royale genre with Call of Duty’s rock-solid mechanics, gunplay, and audio design, making for a very potent (and addicting) combination.

“In 2020, however, Warzone became much more than a ‘game’ for me—it launched right around the time Covid-19 hit Seattle and we all went into lockdown, which just so happened to be when Camouflaj was due to wrap up development on Marvel’s Iron Man VR. My colleagues and I got into a fun habit of unwinding in Warzone after a long day of remote work. The game became our virtual afterhours hangout where we’d find ourselves having really heart-to-heart conversations while blasting our way out of spicy firefights.”

– Ryan Payton, Director, Camouflaj – Marvel’s Iron Man VR

“Since the month of April a few close friends and I play it about two to four times a night around 10pm for a few hours. These late night gaming sessions have been instrumental in keeping me sane during a very difficult year. We’re absolutely focused on getting that win but, we also just talk about the most random stuff and just laugh non-stop. It’s a release, it’s relaxing, it’s comforting and it’s just positive vibes. Video games have always been a participatory medium and a form of escapism. What I didn’t foresee happening is video games becoming another instrument in mine and so many others mental health toolbox this year. For those reasons Warzone was and still is my favorite game of 2020.”

– Ramone Russell, Product Development Communications and Brand Strategist, San Diego Studio – MLB The Show 20

Demon’s Souls

As chosen by…

“Although there were many amazing games this year, my favorite has to be Demon’s Souls. I never played the original, but got hooked on these types of games when Bloodborne came out in 2015, so getting a new PS5 was even more exciting because I got to play Demon’s Souls for the first time. Oh, and it also looks amazing. Incredible job by Bluepoint Games!”

– Jason Connell, Creative Director & Art Director, Sucker Punch – Ghost of Tsushima

“For me it’s got to be Demon’s Souls. Its worlds are as terrifying as they are beautiful. There are few games which give you that same tension, that sense of foreboding. The moment you think you’re getting somewhere you’re put firmly back in your place. It’s always keeping you on your toes. It’s stunning, punishing, awe-inspiring, and when you do finally defeat that seemingly impossible boss it’s incredibly rewarding. You really feel like you earn your victories. This game and I have a love/hate relationship. I love it… it hates me.”

– Ned Waterhouse, Designer Sumo Digital – Sackboy: A Big Adventure

“I was looking at a list of games that have been released this year. Most of them I’ve finished, some of them Platinumed, some of them are a trophy or two short of the Platinum, and I was (seemingly) struggling to choose which game to pick out as my personal game of the year. But try as I might, I couldn’t get away from the fact that to me, the original 2009’s Demon’s Souls is one of the most important video games of all time and the 2020 remake by Bluepoint Games re-hammered that point home like the Black Phantom Garl Vinland on NG+++ after you miss your parry.

– Henri Markus, Game Designer, Housemarque – Returnal

Doom Eternal

As chosen by…

“Doom (2016) was an incredibly tough act to follow as it was such a breath of fresh air, but somehow, Doom Eternal gave me everything that I could have wanted out of a sequel. Instead of just giving moreDoom (which they did completely and then some) they also completely expanded upon the core combat loop of the game; taking the Glory Kills = health mechanic and adding on the additional moves to provide armor and ammo, which fundamentally changed how you interacted with the combat spaces in comparison to its predecessor.

It constantly has you thinking while also moving and shooting – evaluating your own resources in the midst of combat. Combining that fundamental change with just a hilariously over-the-top feel of ever-increasing scope and scale made for a truly memorable experience this year. Plus… you have to love a game that has something called a ‘Super Gore Nest’. Somehow balancing the line between reverential, serious, over-the-top, and absolutely ridiculous – Doom Eternal was definitely an achievement by the team at id.”

– Louis Studdert, Producer, Toys for Bob – Crash Bandicoot 4

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

As chosen by…

“The rules are simple, the gameplay is wild, and you can enjoy it with your entire family. The combination of old and new elements – gameplay that focuses on a balance of luck, mastery of action, and strategy – is great. I think it’s fantastic that your luck depends a lot on the physics of interacting with other players, making it hard to direct your frustrations at the game itself. It’s been awhile since I’ve been this vocal while playing a game.”

– Hideaki Itsuno, Director, Capcom – Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

“I got caught up in the hype and started playing the game and before I realized it, I had spent an entire night trying to clinch that crown…”

– Naoki Hamaguchi, Director, Square Enix – Final Fantasy VII Remake

Ghost of Tsushima

As chosen by…

“It was visceral and precise like the blade itself. Legends was the best co-op experience to date with friends.”

– Keith Lee, CEO, Counterplay – Godfall

“Not only can you see Sucker Punch Productions’ technical finesse in this game, but I really felt their strong commitment to craftsmanship. Even as a Japanese person, I really enjoyed this game as a historical piece.”

– Masayoshi Yokoyama, Designer & Writer, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio – Yakuza: Like A Dragon

“Ghost of Tsushima really left an impression on me. It was a completely new game set in Japan during the Kamakura period, which I imagine was no easy endeavor for Sucker Punch to undertake, and they did a fantastic job with the stunning visuals and highly polished gameplay. Here at Team Ninja, where we have worked on a lot of sword fighting action, we were really impressed with the game overall, and strive to create a title with as much ‘honor’ as Ghost of Tsushima.”

– Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer, Team Ninja – Nioh 2

“Ghost of Tsushima is a game that has a special place in my heart. Everything in the art style, characters, music helps realizes the samurai setting perfectly. It was one of my most anticipated games for 2020 and Sucker Punch delivered it.”

– Rafael Grassetti, Art Director, Santa Monica Studio – God of War

“Hopping into Tsushima and clearing out Mongols from camps is exactly the therapeutic gameplay I needed in 2020. The world is beautiful, there are tons of things to discover, the combat is fluid and surprisingly deep, and I can feel like I’m actually accomplishing something turning the entire map from red to white! Sucker Punch really delivered on the samurai fantasy.”

– Kurt Margenau, Co-Game Director, Naughty Dog – The Last of Us Part II

Ikenfell

As chosen by…

“I’m tempted to give GOTY to the nostalgic grand slam that is Final Fantasy VII Remake, but my heart was stolen late in the year by Ikenfell! I was drawn in by the cool tactical approach to RPG combat, but before I knew it I was engrossed in the story of troubled magical youths trying their hardest. It’s the best classic RPG I’ve played in years and nobody should sleep on it. Also: killer soundtrack!”

– Kevin Zuhn, Creative Director, Young Horses – Bugsnax

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

As chosen by…

“My favorite game for 2020 is Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales because of its diversity, homage to Harlem and it’s always fun when my sons and I can swing through and explore Marvel’s New York City while fighting crime.”

– Shaun Escayg, Creative Director, Crystal Dynamics – Marvel’s Avengers

No Man’s Sky

As chosen by…

“My personal favorite game of 2020 is the same as my personal favorite from 2019: No Man’s Sky. In a lot of ways, NMS is the opposite of the games we make at Naughty Dog: rather than every moment being carefully crafted, literally the entire galaxy is procedurally generated. Digging a tunnel to take shelter from a raging radiation storm, barely avoiding freezing to death diving for ancient secrets in a polar ocean, building my dream-base on a forest moon filled with giant squid creatures, quietly watching flying animals flock and undulate with the planet’s ring backing them in the sky… Some amazing memorable moments in that game, all the more special because no one will ever have those exact moments but me. The next-gen update on PS5 is amazing, a great reason to come back.”

– Anthony Newman, Co-Game Director, Naughty Dog – The Last of Us Part II

Resident Evil 3

As chosen by…

“I was pretty busy this year, but I made time to play Resident Evil 3 because I loved the Resident Evil 2 remake. I thought RE3 was fantastic, especially given how stressful 2020 was. The combination of horror and action made it extremely cathartic for me to play through.”

– Derek Yu – Spelunky 2

The Last of Us Part II

As chosen by…

“The original Last of Us is one of my favorite games of all time. It really felt like they pushed the boundaries of what is possible in games and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole experience. With Part II, I wanted to know where director Neil Druckmann would take this world. How could he and the team possibly surpass the original, having set the bar so high?

“Well, they did, and I wasn’t let down. Existing characters are taken in unexpected directions, and brand new characters join The Last of Us saga that add spice to an already rich post-apocalyptic world.”

– Gavin Moore, Creative Director, SIE Worldwide Studios – Demon’s Souls

“For me it represents the best PS4 could offer, the pinnacle of this generation. It’s just so beautiful in every way, a masterpiece.”

– Cyrille Imbert, Executive Producer, Dotemu – Streets of Rage 4

“This game stuck with me for a long time. Humanity is shown from its darkest angle. But in all the hatred and revenge, is also a story of empathy and hope. A thought-provoking masterpiece.”

– Angie Smets, Studio Director, Guerrilla

“There’s so many [games to choose from]! I *just* platinumed Astro’s Playroom – and that was fantastic – a real love letter to the history of PlayStation…. But probably the highlight of my year was seeing the continuation of the Joel/Ellie story in the sequel to the Last of Us.”

– Stuart Whyte, Co-Studio Head, London Studio

“The narrative masterpiece that is The Last of Us Part II. One of the only games where I don’t find myself trying to analyze game loops or reading Reddit about min-maxing builds. A game where I sit back and willingly surrender myself to the brilliant minds at Naughty Dog.

Also, my wife agreed that if we ever have a daughter, her name would be Ellie. (If you’re reading this, it’s on the internet now. No take-backs).”

– Jason Chuang – Senior Product Marketing Manager, miHoYo – Genshin Impact

“I was blown away by the experience, by far my favorite of the year. I have always loved the craft and attention to detail Naughty Dog puts into every game they make and with The Last of Us Part II has set the bar, once again, for what our industry can accomplish.”

– Brian Horton, Creative Director, Insomniac Games – Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2

As chosen by…

“Revisiting THPS 20 years later has been like some kind of hallucination. I sank 4 trillion hours into this series on the original PlayStation, and the gameplay feels just as snappy and endorphin-inducing as it did in my nostalgia-tinted memories of yesteryear.”

– Anthony Pepper, Senior Designer, Mediatonic Game – Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

—–

And while most of the creatives who kindly took the time to contribute to this article managed to boil down their favourite game of the year to just one title, some found the decision impossible. We made a rare exception and didn’t force them to choose. Here’s what they had to say:

Persona 5 Royal and Streets of Rage 4

As chosen by…

“I tend to enjoy games that I can share with my family, so it’s really a toss up between two titles for this year – Persona 5 Royal and Streets of Rage 4. I played the original Persona 5 when it released in Japan back in 2016 and Royal has even more content and story. My wife and five year-old daughter loved watching the characters interact and the well-developed story unfold. I must have played for over 230 hours!

Streets of Rage 4 is a fun action game that has local co-op and it’s great to share the experience with the fam. The controls are simple enough for my daughter to play, and she’s pretty good. I personally love the throwbacks to the original. The nostalgia is heavy with a booming soundtrack and homages to the originals.”

– Peter Fabiano, Producer, Capcom – Resident Evil 3

Final Fantasy VII Remake and Ghost of Tsushima

As chosen by…

“It is so hard to pick one, as there are so many good games that shipped this year… if I go with my heart it will have to be Final Fantasy VII Remake. For me it was a massive hit of nostalgia. I was always a big fan of the series even from the very first one! But if I go with my soul, Ghost of Tsushima as it was so well done. I really like how they took this theme and expressed it in mechanics and systems beautifully.”

– Benoit Richer, Co-Dev Game Director, Ubisoft – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II

As chosen by…

“This is tough. I will get in a lot of trouble for making choices like this, but I can’t decide between Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us Part II. Ghost was such an enjoyable experience – I am so happy for the team at Sucker Punch at the way that has gone for them. Exploring 13th century Japan felt unique, and it’s such a beautiful game as well. The cinematic Kurosawa Mode just felt so cool. And The Last of Us Part II was a very intense experience. Not just because the story and characters were gripping, but also because the world itself was so detailed. It’s the kind of memorable experience you get from being dragged way outside of your comfort zone.

“In fact, you cannot expect me to choose just one game here. So I am not going to. Btw, I am also very impressed with the work that Sucker Punch and Naughty Dog did to make both titles run so well on PS5.”

– Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios

*The views and opinions expressed are those of the persons appearing in the blog and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

**Call of Duty: Warzone, Demon’s Souls, Fall Guys, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, Streets of Rage 4, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2’s online multiplayer modes require internet connection and a PS Plus subscription; fees recur until canceled. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: https://www.playstation.com/legal/ps-plus-usage-terms/.

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31/12/2020
Spelunky 2 überleben: Tipps für eine erfolgreiche Expedition

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Hallo, ihr Forscher! Vor vielen Monden – auf den Tag genau vor sieben Jahren – verfasste ich auf diesem Blog hier eine Überlebensanleitung für Spelunky HD mit Anfängertipps und -tricks, die auf meinen unzähligen Reisen (779 allein auf PS4) in tief die Höhlen und noch weiter basiert.

Endlich sind wir bei Spelunky 2 angekommen – der Fortsetzung zu einem der besten, richtungsweisendsten Spiele aller Zeiten. Und nachdem ich eine sinnvolle Zeit lang mit einem Exemplar der Vorabversion verbracht habe, kann ich ein paar meiner Erfahrungen mit euch teilen. Damit meine ich eine Handvoll Tipps – konkreter wie philosophischer Natur – für wiederkehrende und ganz neue Spieler gleichermaßen. Macht euch bereit: Die Wände verschieben sich … wieder …

Seid darauf gefasst, schlecht zu sein.

Ob ihr nun zum ersten Mal spielt oder schon tausend Stunden in die Spielereihe investiert habt, macht nicht den Fehler, zu denken, Spelunky 2 sei wie andere Spiele – nicht mal wie Spelunky HD. Natürlich benötigt ihr etwas Geschicklichkeit und mechanisches Verständnis, um mehr als ein paar Minuten durchzuhalten, aber die andere Hälfte des Fortschritts in einem Spelunky-Spiel besteht daraus, zu lernen, wie alles zusammenpasst. Die einzelnen Teile der Levels, die generiert werden, und wie es sich anfühlt, sich zwischen ihnen zu bewegen, das Verhalten der Gegner, die Art und Weise, wie sie miteinander interagieren, die unterschiedliche Schadensmenge, die alles auf euch haben kann, und so weiter und so fort. Ihr werdet einfach für einige Zeit schlecht sein, bis ihr anfangt, die kritische Menge an Informationen zu verinnerlichen. Also, seid nicht frustriert. Akzeptiert es einfach von vornherein und genießt den unermesslichen Lohn, den ihr erntet, wenn ihr gut im Spiel werdet und zu verstehen beginnt, wie alles zusammenpasst.

Hört nie auf, zu sammeln.

In meiner ursprünglichen Anleitung zu Spelunky HD war mein erster Tipp, immer etwas zu tragen – einen Fels, einen Bogen, eine Ratte –, um es als Falle auf herannahende Gegner zu werfen. Während das immer noch wichtig ist und regelmäßig Leben rettet, stellen die kleinen Kreaturen in der Umgebung (Mistkäfer in der ersten Welt, zum Beispiel) keine Bogenfallen mehr auf. Außerdem gibt es jetzt einige Möglichkeiten mehr, den Schaden zu absorbieren. Es ist dieses Mal aber noch wichtiger, jedes Stück Gold und jeden Edelstein einzusammeln, den ihr seht (oder findet, indem ihr Gefäße zerbrecht, besonders das „Geistgefäß“, wenn ihr es neben einem Levelausgang zerschlagt). Warum? Weil die Gegenstände, die ihr in den Läden von Spelunky 2 kaufen könnt, noch nützlicher/abwechslungsreicher/spaßiger sind und ihr euch das gute Zeug einfach leisten können wollt, wenn ihr es seht.

Aus Alt mach Neu.

Wie oben beschrieben sind die ausrüstbaren Gegenstände von Spelunky 2 unglaublich nützlich – nicht nur die Neuzugänge (das Power Pack ist eine überaus lustige, wenn auch chaotische Methode, im Level aufzusteigen), sondern gerade auch die überarbeiteten Gegenstände aus dem ersten Spiel. Der Kompass ist eine ungeheure Hilfe und weist euch in unbekannten, spannungsgeladenen neuen Welten – darunter der überarbeitete Dschungel – den Weg zum Ausgang. Aber nicht nur das: Jetzt verrät er euch auch noch (einige) versteckte Ausgänge, solltet ihr anfangen, nach den vielen obskuren Geheimnissen des Spiels zu graben. Einen wurf-tastischen Job macht der Bumerang, der jetzt auch nach schwierigeren Würfen zu euch zurückkehrt und dabei überraschend preiswert im Laden zu erstehen ist. Die Kletterhandschuhe kleben nicht mehr automatisch an jeder Oberfläche fest (dafür müsst ihr jetzt eine Taste gedrückt halten). Damit wurde die einzige Schwachstelle des besten Gegenstands im Spiel behoben. Einige Gegenstände wie die Schrotflinte haben wir aber auch herabgestuft. Sie hat jetzt einen Rückstoß, sogar wenn ihr an Seilen, Lianen oder Ketten hängt (außer ihr habt das vorher erwähnte Power Pack). Und zu guter Letzt wäre da noch der Umhang, der überraschenderweise sehr wichtig geworden ist, weil … 😉

Zurück zu den Wurzeln.

So toll und wichtig diese ganzen zusätzlichen Höhlen-Werkzeuge alle sind, gute Höhlenforscher wissen, dass die wichtigsten Werkzeuge in ihrem Kasten ihre Grundwerkzeuge sind: eine Peitsche, ein paar Bomben und jede Menge Seile (und vielleicht noch etwas Kies). Und um das Meiste aus ihnen herauszuholen, müsst ihr genau wissen, wie sie funktionieren. Nach einer Zeit bekommt ihr bestimmt ein gutes Bauchgefühl für sie, aber denkt dran, dass die Peitsche eine bestimmte Reichweite und „Treffer-Box“ hat – und die verhalten sich jeweils anders als in Spelunky HD. Viele Gegner erfordern eigene Herangehensweisen. Vielleicht wollt ihr euch um die Fledermäuse mit einem rückwärts gerichteten „Rück-Schlag“ der Peitsche kümmern? Der Bombenradius hat sich im Vergleich zu Spelunky HD ebenfalls geändert und damit auch das Wissen um den nötigen Sicherheitsabstand – bzw. das Wissen, wie viele Blöcke ihr mit einer Bombe sprengen könnt … Wissen, das über einen gelungenen oder misslungenen Durchlauf entscheiden kann. Und was die Seile angeht: Vergesst nicht, dass ihr damit zur Not Gegner über euch treffen könnt und – Überraschung – wütende Ladenbesitzer jetzt auch an ihnen hochklettern können, um euch zu schnappen (was in bestimmten Situationen sehr hilfreich sein kann).

Der Vogel des Jahres.

Die neuen Reittiere im Spiel machen nicht nur Spaß, sie sind auch sehr hilfreich. Je schneller ihr euch mit ihnen vertraut macht, umso besser. Das gilt vor allem für die Truthähne, auf die ihr in der ersten Welt stoßt. Sobald ihr sie gezähmt habt, könnt ihr mit ihnen Doppelsprünge ausführen und sie absorbieren etwas Schaden für euch. Und wenn es zu gefährlich wird oder unpassend erscheint, ein Hindernis mit ihnen zu umgehen, lassen sie sich außerdem ganz praktisch wie ein federverzierter Koffer umhertragen. Es braucht etwas Zeit, sich an sie zu gewöhnen, aber glaubt mir, es lohnt sich. Und wenn alle Stricke reißen, könnt ihr sie immer noch mit einer Bombe oder einer Fackel braten … Das gibt leckere, lebensspendende Herzen. Beim Felsenhund in der Vulkan-Welt solltet ihr vorsichtig rangehen – aber wenn ihr ihn zähmt, stehen euch Feuer-Atem und Feuer-Immunität zur Verfügung (also eurem Reittier, nicht euch).

Fackeln – die neuen Steine.

Viele der neuen Gegner in Spelunky 2 können mehrere Treffer einstecken, bevor sie endgültig besiegt sind. Das macht den Standard-Felsen etwas weniger nützlich als noch im ersten Teil (zum Aufstellen von Fallen kann man ihn aber nach wie vor ausgezeichnet einsetzen). Geworfene Pfeile zerbrechen jetzt nicht mehr, wenn sie durch schwächere Gegner wie Fledermäuse dringen, aber ich empfehle euch DRINGEND, euren neuen besten Freund näher kennenzulernen: die Fackel. Lasst die Peitsche auf ein beliebiges Lagerfeuer knallen und schon habt ihr eine Fackel. Angezündet teilen sie 2 Schadenspunkte aus und brennt sie nicht mehr, könnt ihr sie per Wandfackel wieder entfachen. Mit einer Fackel könnt ihr sogar Truthähne braten (ihr Monster!) und den ersten Miniboss mit nur ein paar Würfen erledigen. Unterschätzt bloß eure einfache und bescheidene Fackel nicht!

Lasst den Weg zu euch kommen.

Neuen Spielern empfehle ich, es langsam anzugehen (aber nicht langsamer als 3 Minuten, sonst taucht der Geist auf) und euch die Routinen der Gegner, Förderbänder usw. anzusehen, bevor ihr auf sie zu rennt. Lasst das Unerwartete zum Erwarteten werden, vermeidet unangenehme Überraschungen, indem ihr erst mal Mäuschen spielt, bis ihr bereit seid, die am wenigsten gefährlichen nächsten Schritte zu unternehmen. (Dies gilt besonders für die Maulwürfe in der ersten Welt: Beobachtet ihre Handlungsabläufe und lasst sie einfach ihr Ding machen, denn es ist es selten wert, sie anzugreifen.) Für erfahrene Spieler hat der Weg eine vollkommen andere Bedeutung. Aber wisst ihr was? Früher oder später werdet ihr ihn meistern und bis dahin wird euch jeder Schritt auf eurem Weg etwas Wundervolles, etwas Neues offenbaren. Aber ärgert euch nicht, wenn ihr den Weg nicht findet oder ihr erst einmal etwas gradlinig das Spiel meistert. Freut euch einfach an allem, was Spelunky ausmacht und versucht, mit der Zeit immer besser zu werden. Das wird zwar länger dauern, als ihr denkt, aber jedes Mal seid ihr immer etwas besser gewappnet, euch noch hinterhältigeren Herausforderungen zu stellen. Und das führt mich zu …

Schafft eure eigenes Spelunky-Netzwerk.

Sollen wir nicht ständig unsere „Netzwerke“ in dieser verrückten Welt ausbauen (und spielt Spelunky 2 vielleicht genau deshalb auf dem Mond?). Wieso trommelt ihr nicht einfach ein paar Freunde zusammen, um ein eigenes kleines Netzwerk zu bilden, um euch gemeinsam in die Tiefen von Spelunky 2 zu graben? Ihr könnt so viel voneinander lernen, wenn ihr euch beim Spielen zuschaut und euch gegenseitig Tipps gebt oder euch abwechselnd an Durchläufen probiert. Zum Zeitpunkt dieses Beitrags habe ich den Online-Koop-Modus zwar noch nicht selbst ausprobiert, aber ich muss einfach annehmen, dass er fabelhaft ist. Aber mal abgesehen davon rate ich euch, nicht als Erstes online nach Geheimnissen und Spoilern zu Spelunky 2 Ausschau zu halten. Es gibt so viele von ihnen und es ist dermaßen befriedigend, sie selbst – alleine oder mit einer kleinen Gruppe – zu entdecken. Könnt ihr euch noch an die Zeit erinnern, als man nicht jederzeit alles über alles gewusst hat? Die Zeit, in der man wilde Gerüchte und Theorien mit Freunden in der Spielhalle ausgetauscht hat? Genau dafür ist Spelunky 2 das perfekte Spiel. Zumindest in den ersten Wochen solltet ihr euch untereinander austauschen … und das vielleicht nicht gerade im Internet. Und falls ihr selbst kein Teil so eines Netzwerks seid, dann geht doch ins große Netzwerk, dem Internet, und hört euch dort meinen Podcast an: Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games (früher auch bekannt als „The Spelunky Showlike“). Diesen Freitag, den 18.9., starten wir mit unserer ausführlichen Mini-Reihe über Spelunky 2 – wenn ihr noch nichts vorhabt, dann hört doch mal rein und spielt gemeinsam mit uns.

Und das war‘s! Spelunky 2 ist einfach eine Schatztruhe voll mit brillantem Design, Herausforderungen, Lachern, Geheimnissen und – natürlich – Schätzen. Ich hoffe, dass ihr jetzt ein wenig besser auf eure Reise vorbereitet seid. Glück auf, Forscher!

PS: Ein besonderer Dank geht an meine Kollegen Zach Gage and Doug Wilson für ihre Beiträge! Und an Derek Yu, der uns nicht nur dieses wunderbare Spiel geschenkt, sondern auch diesen Beitrag abgesegnet hat.

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18/09/2020
Surviving Spelunky 2: Tips for a successful expedition/transition
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Hello again, explorers! Many moons ago — seven years ago to the day, it turns out — I penned a Spelunky HD survival guide of beginner tips and tricks on this very blog, based on my countless (779, on PS4 alone) journeys into the Caves and far beyond.

Well we’ve finally arrived at the altar of Spelunky 2 — the sequel to one of the best, most quietly influential games of all time — and after some meaningful time spent with a pre-release copy, I’m ready to share some learnings. That is to say, a handful of tips — some tangible, others philosophical — for both returning players and those brand-new to the depths. Steel yourself: the walls are shifting…again…
- Get ready to be bad. Whether this is your first time playing or you’re a thousand hours into the franchise, don’t make the mistake of thinking that Spelunky 2 is like other games — even Spelunky HD. Sure, you’ll need some dexterity and mechanical proficiency to get more than a few minutes into it, but the other half of progress in a Spelunky game is learning how everything fits together. The level pieces that are generated and how it feels to move between them, the behaviors of the enemies, the ways they interact with each other, the differing amounts of damage everything can do to you, etc. etc. etc. You’re just going to be bad for some amount of time until you start to internalize a critical mass of information — so don’t get frustrated. Just accept it up front, and enjoy the immeasurable reward that lies at the nexus of becoming good at the game and starting to understand how it fits together.
- ABG: Always Be Gathering. My original Spelunky HD guide began with the tip to always be carrying something — a rock, an arrow, a rat — to set off traps and throw at incoming enemies. While this is still important and is regularly a lifesaver, the small ambient level creatures (dung beetles in the first world, for example) no longer set off arrow traps, and there are a couple more ways to dodge or absorb that damage now. But even more important this time around is to gather every scrap of gold and every gem you see (or find by breaking pots, especially the “ghost jar” if you can smash it safely near a level’s exit). Why? Because the items you can buy in Spelunky 2’s shops are even more useful/varied/fun, and you’ll want to be able to afford the good stuff when you see it.
- What was old is made new again. Per the above, Spelunky 2’s equippable items are incredibly useful — not just the new additions (the Power Pack is an especially fun-if-chaotic way to level yourself up), but particularly the redone items from the first game. The Compass is immensely helpful in guiding you toward the exit in unfamiliar/tense new worlds like the redone Jungle, and now also points to (some) hidden exits for when you start to plumb the game’s many arcane secrets. The Boomerang now does a bang-up job of returning to you after more complex throws, and is surprisingly affordable in a shop. The Climbing Glove no longer auto-sticks to surfaces (you have to hold a button to opt in), removing the one flaw from one of the game’s best items. And also note some small downgrades for items like the Shotgun, which now has recoil even when hanging from ropes/vines/chains (unless you have the aforementioned Power Pack). And lastly the Cape is now surprisingly important for…reasons. 😉
- Back to basics. As cool and important as all the extra spelunking tools are, a good spelunker knows that the most critical tools in their roster are the ones they start with: a whip, some bombs, and some ropes (and maybe a little bit of grit). And to get the most out of them, you need to understand exactly how they work. It will become a gut thing over time, but the whip has a very specific range and “hit box” — one that’s notably different from Spelunky HD — and it requires approaching some enemies differently than others. Perhaps you’d like to try hitting bats with a backward-facing “back-whip”? Bomb radiuses are also a bit different than they were in Spelunky HD, and knowing how far away you need to be for safety — or how many blocks you can blast through — can save an otherwise doomed run. As for ropes, don’t forget that you can use them to hit enemies above you in a pinch, and — surprise! — angry shopkeepers can now scurry up them to get you (which can also be a helpful tool in the right situations).
- Bird’s the word. The new mounts you can ride in the game are as helpful as they are fun, and the sooner you can make them a regular part of your Spelunky vocabulary, the better. This mostly applies to the Turkeys you’ll find in the first world, which — once tamed — give you a double jump, absorb a few hits of damage for you, and can be carried around like a feathery suitcase when it’s not convenient/safe to ride them around an obstacle. They take some getting used to, but it’s worth the time investment. And if nothing else, you can roast them up with a torch or a bomb for some delectable life-giving hearts. Take care mounting the Rock Dog in the Volcana world — but if you can pull it off, fire-breathing and fire-immunity (for the mount, not you) await.
- Torches: the new rocks. Many of Spelunky 2’s new enemies take multiple hits to kill, so the standard rock is a bit less useful than it once was (beyond setting off traps, which it’s still great for). Thrown arrows don’t break when passing through lesser enemies like bats anymore, but I’d ESPECIALLY recommend getting to know your new best friend: the torch. You can pick one up by whipping any campfire, and they do 2 points of damage when lit — and you can relight one by touching it to any lit wall sconce. You can even use a torch to cook turkeys (you monster), and take out the first mini-boss in a few throws. Don’t underestimate the humble torch!
- Let The Path come to you. For new players, I’d recommend doing your best to take it slowly (though not more-than-three-minutes slow, lest the ghost show up) and observe the routines of enemies, conveyor belts, etc. before you rush into them. Let the unexpected become the expected, and avoid unpleasant surprises by being a fly on the wall until you’re reading to take the lowest-risk next steps. (Especially for the moles in the first world — watch their patterns and just let them run their course — it’s rarely worth engaging them.) For experienced players, The Path means something entirely different. And you know what? You’ll solve it eventually, and every step of the way will be a wonderful new revelation. But try to avoid the FOMO of not solving it immediately, or being the only way you’re allowed to conquer the game. Just delight in the joy that is Spelunky, and spend your time getting good again. It will take longer than you think, and you’ll be all the better equipped to tackle its more furtive challenges. Which leads me to…
- Start a Spelunky pod! Pods are all the rage in this weird world of ours (is that why Spelunky 2 is set on the moon?), so why not find a few pals with whom to plumb the depths together? You can learn so much by just having a friend watch and make suggestions, or take turns doing runs. I haven’t tried proper online co-op as of this writing, but I have to assume it’s excellent. But beyond that, try your best to not dive headfirst into Spelunky 2 spoilers and secrets online, since they are myriad, and discovering them in-game — or working through them as a small group — is deeply satisfying. Remember when you didn’t know everything about everything all the time? Remember sharing rumors and theories with friends down at the arcade? Spelunky 2 is the perfect game for that, so at least for the first few weeks, talk amongst yourselves…and perhaps not on the internet. And if you don’t have such a pod in your life, I’ll mention a different sort — the podcast that I host, Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games (formerly The Spelunky Showlike), on which we’re starting a deep-dive miniseries on Spelunky 2 this Friday (09/18) — so if nothing else, you can listen in and play along with us.
And that’s it! Spelunky 2 is just a treasure trove of brilliant design, challenges, laughs, secrets, and well, treasure. And I hope you now feel slightly more equipped for your journey. Godspeed, explorers!

P.S. Special thanks to my co-hosts Zach Gage, Doug Wilson, and Andy Nealen, and also Colin Northway for their contributions! And to Derek Yu for not only his wonderful game, but for sanctioning this post.

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17/09/2020
Spelunky 2 ist ab heute auf PS4 verfügbar

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Es ist an Zeit, sich der nächsten Generation von Entdeckern anzuschließen, die auf der Suche nach Schätzen und vermissten Familien sogar bis zum Mond reisen! Mit der Veröffentlichung von Spelunky 2 auf PS4 können Spelunky-Veteranen endlich die nächste Entwicklung der Serie stehen, die das erste Spiel erweitern. Auf der anderen Seite finden neugierige Spieler, die den Spaß noch nicht erlebt haben, keinen besseren Zeitpunkt, um dabei zu sein. Lernt die Besonderheiten von Spelunky 2 neben dem Rest der Welt kennen und genießt alle neuen Funktionen, die teilweise speziell für neue Spieler gemacht wurden.

Der hohe Schwierigkeitsgrad von Spelunky erhält viel Aufmerksamkeit, aber ich sehe es eher als unterhaltsame Kulisse, in der sich die Spieler ausdrücken können. Eines meiner Hauptziele bei dieser Fortsetzung war es, den Spielern noch mehr Möglichkeiten zu bieten, um kreativ zu sein. Ihr sollt die Wahl haben, wie ihr in dem Spiel austobt und wie sehr ihr euch mit den verschiedenen Charakteren beschäftigt, denen ihr auf dem Weg begegnen werdet. In vielen Spielen, einschließlich Spelunky 1, tendieren Entwickler dazu, den Spieler zu einer bestimmten optimalen Spielweise zu verhelfen. In Spelunky 2 wollte ich, dass das Design die Spieler dazu ermutigt, auch nach Hunderten von Läufen ständig neue Dinge auszuprobieren.

Ein Beispiel: Erfahrene Spelunky 1-Spieler rauben im Allgemeinen jeden Laden aus, auf den sie bei der Suche nach Jetpacks und Schrotflinten stoßen, weil es die besten Gegenstände für die härtesten Herausforderungen im Spiel sind. In Spelunky 2 gibt es zwar sicherlich noch eine praktikable Strategie, aber es gibt viele andere funktionsfähige Strategien, die ihr ausprobieren könnt – wenn ihr wollt! Man kann ein gesetzestreuer Käufer heute und ein Gelegenheitsdieb morgen sein. Das kann genauso effektiv sein wie ein Leben als kaltblütiger Mörder (und es ist wahrscheinlich auch sicherer). Und je nach Situation ist ein Kraftpaket (ein neues Element, mit dem ihr große Bomben werfen werdet) möglicherweise die bessere Wahl als ein Jetpack. Tauscht doch mal die Sprengkraft der Schrotflinte gegen die Genauigkeit der Armbrust aus. Oder vielleicht habt ihr auch gar nichts davon und ihr macht einfach das Beste aus einer Machete und einem Truthahn!

Ziel des Spiels ist es, Spelunky 2 zu schlagen, aber es ist nicht DAS Ziel. Es gibt Menschen zu treffen, eine Welt zu erkunden, Geheimnisse aufzudecken und Geschichten zu erschaffen … und wie ihr das macht, liegt ganz bei euch. Je mehr ihr spielt, desto persönlicher wird auch eure Reise. Und jetzt, da Spelunky 2 endlich auf PS4 verfügbar ist, könnt ihr auf eure Reise starten. Ich kann es kaum erwarten zu hören, was passiert! Happy Spelunky-ing!

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16/09/2020
Spelunky 2 Is out today on PS4

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It’s time to join the next generation of explorers as they travel to the Moon in search of treasure and missing family! With the release of Spelunky 2 on PS4, Spelunky veterans can finally sink their teeth into the next evolution of the series, which greatly expands on the concepts introduced in the first game. On the other hand, curious players who have yet to experience the fun can find no better time to join in – you’ll be learning the ins and outs of Spelunky 2 alongside the rest of the world and enjoying all of the new features, including many that were designed with new players in mind.

Spelunky’s high difficulty gets a lot of attention, but I think of it as more of a fun backdrop for players to express themselves. One of my main goals with this sequel was to offer players even more opportunities to be creative in how they approach the game, whether it’s the equipment you use, the paths you take, or how you engage with the various characters you encounter along the way. In many games, including Spelunky 1, the design tends to funnel the player toward a certain optimal way of playing over time. In Spelunky 2, I wanted the design to encourage players to try new things all the time, even after hundreds of runs.

To give you an example, experienced Spelunky 1 players generally rob every shop they come across in their hunt for jetpacks and shotguns, because, simply put, those are the best items for the toughest challenges in the game. In Spelunky 2, however, while that’s certainly still a viable strategy, there are many other viable strategies. Being a law-abiding shopper or an occasional thief can be just as effective as being a cold-blooded killer (and it’s probably safer, too). And depending on the situation, a powerpack (a new item that lets you throw extra large bombs) might be the better choice than a jetpack. Or perhaps you’ll willingly trade the shotgun’s blasting power for the crossbow’s accuracy. Or maybe the game gives you none of those things and you find yourself making the best of a machete and a turkey mount!

Ultimately, beating Spelunky 2 is a goal of the game, but it’s not THE goal. There are people to meet, a world to explore, secrets to uncover, and stories to create… and how you choose to pursue that is up to you. The more you play, the more personal your journey becomes. And now that Spelunky 2 is finally out on PS4, you can take the first steps on that journey. I can’t wait to hear about what happens! Happy Spelunky-ing!

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15/09/2020
Spelunky 2 Developer Shares New Screens, Progress Update

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Hey, everyone! Derek here. It might feel like it’s been awhile since our last update — to the Spelunky 2 team, however, it feels like almost no time at all, since we’ve been hard at work and seeing the steady progress we’ve been making each day. I wanted to share some of that progress with you here right now!

First off, we’ve been working on making the game look even nicer, adding more details to each area and making sure that the ones that were already in there popped out better. Thank you to the fans who gave us their feedback about that after viewing the last trailer! I think we’ve struck a good balance now, where the graphics are crisp and easy to parse, but the details still stand out enough so that you can easily soak them up as you play the game. Effects like lighting and liquids are more vibrant now, too, contributing to that feeling of a dynamic, living world that has been our goal since day one.

Content-wise, one of my goals with Spelunky 2 was to make each run feel even more like a personalized adventure. Of course, players of the original game created a lot of their own stories through their choices during the game, and in my opinion those are still the most meaningful. We want to keep supporting that kind of creativity by adding more variety to the game.

This can come in many forms — new items that, in the Spelunky style, are carefully designed and have a lot of obvious and non-obvious interactions with the rest of the world. But there will also be more characters in the vein of the shopkeeper, who can help or hinder the player in unexpected ways. Fans who have been following Spelunky for a long time may even spot some familiar faces within the vibrant community of new NPCs that will be joining them in Spelunky 2!

One thing we haven’t talked enough about yet is audio. Eirik Suhrke, who worked on Spelunky 1, is creating a dynamic, multilayered soundscape that is much more immersive than the first game. Each area not only has its own unique musical theme, but every creature, trap, item, and surface has its own suite of sound effects associated with it. Landing on grass in the Jungle will sound very different than landing on a conveyor belt in Volcana, for example. It’s perhaps a more subtle change but adds a lot to the distinct feel of each area.

There’s so much more that I could talk about! Deathmatch, which was a bit of a sleeper mode in the original game — we’re trying to expand on the concept and make it stand tall next to Adventure Mode. Or the ways we’re tying the feeling of progressing through the caves into the feeling of building a small community of friends and family. Or even our improvements to the journal and menus, which don’t seem as important but nonetheless contribute a lot to the overall experience. But I’ll save it for another time.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your patience. Although we’re not quite ready to announce a release date, we’re getting closer and closer, finally getting to implement the deepest parts of Spelunky 2 that have been collecting dust in my notepad for years. From me, Eirik, BlitWorks, and Lollipop Robot (our amazing QA team) — we can’t wait for you to join us on the adventure!

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11/03/2020