Shank 2

Shank two is an improved game over its predecessor however in doing so has lost some of its charm along the way. The original Shank was essentially an 80’s action B movie, with over the top violence, a simplistic goal for revenge, and plenty of one-liners. Now Shank 2 has all of that plus more: the game play has been overhauled putting a greater emphasis on combos and counters making combat encounters much more fast-paced and reactionary. As well as introducing environmental to help top the balance in your favor ranging from swinging sharks to meat grinders. Alongside the heavy weapon and gun balance making each weapon viable depending on the players play style and preferences. Each gun slows or stun locks enemies and each heavy weapon, while specified for certain encounters, still deals big damage and knocks enemies back. Platforming has also cranked it up a notch, with better imputes and reaction times making them a bit easier and more of a spectacle. Bosses are still fun, even if some are a little unfair, looking at you Pyro and your unavoidable room filling splash attack. Pyro aside, the game is still a hoot to play and with challenges and unlockable skins posted front and center to gun for over the course of the game it will keep bringing you back for more.

However, if you're still wondering what I meant by the game becoming less charming in the sequel let me explain. As I stated atop Shank is emulating a sort of gritty B movie from the 80’s. Something Stallone or Schwarzenegger would star in to pay off a parking ticket. A masculine power fantasy complete with intimidating villains and witty one-liners. Done well, like in the original, can be fun, letting us live out our inner 12-year-old in a safe environment. Not to say Shank 2 has done a bad job, its just done a mediocre job. It lacks the same spark and spirit the first one had now going for a grittier continuation. Just take the bosses for example in the first game, we had: two pro wrestlers, one of which you fight in a meat packing plant, a samurai stripper, a berserk gimp, a gun-toting priest and the most exciting man alive with flintlocks. Shank 2, on the other hand, has an assortment of blank military leaders that don’t really leave much of an impression. And I won’t try and defend Shank one as a native master piece no, cause that’s not what it's trying to be.

However, it has enough character to ensure the player knows who these people are, why your there, and why you want them dead. In Shank one, almost every boss was one of the people who killed Shanks girlfriend and left him for dead. And that’s kind of the problem of Shank 2, it doesn’t have a clear path for Shank to follow. He has a goal, rescue his foster mother, but the road there doesn’t make much sense. Aside from the first two levels which take place in Shanks birth town we go through jungles, temples, military boats, and resorts without much connecting the levels together. In the original, each level was tied together because that’s where Shank needed to go to either get to or find info on the next boss. First Shank went to a wrestling match to find the Bucher, when he doesn’t he takes the train to the meat packing plant where he works, where he finds and kills the Bucher. Hear in Shank 2, Shank is dumped into each level with no real purpose but reconnect with the plot. Bottom line is that there’s nothing driving the plot through these levels, nothing connecting them to the larger story ahead save the first two and the last three, leaving four missions alone to do there own thing.

That rant aside you should still play Shank 2. It’s a fun as hell 2D beat em up with great combo centered game play, tons of things to unlock, and even a two-player control mode that’s pretty fun even on your own. And if you feel like it, check out the original Shank, while it's not as polished as its predecessor, both games are a well worth your time.