Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tough but rewarding luchador adventure through dimensions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Guacamelee! 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
What’s It About?
GUACAMELEE! 2 picks up with our hero, a luchador named Juan -- champion of the Mexiverse -- a few years older than when we last saw him. He's a loving father and husband who's a little bit past his prime, having put on a few pounds and lost his fighting edge. But he's called back to action when a new dark force intent on ruling both the living and dead worlds begins causing havoc across all the Mexiverse's timelines, forcing Juan to once again don his mask and take up the fight against evil. He explores various temples and dimensions in search of relics and abilities that will help him defeat his enemies, becoming better equipped with each passing stage as he learns to break through obstacles, climb walls, navigate multiple dimensions in real time, and even transform into a powerful chicken. His skills, health, and stamina grow as the game progresses, as does his selection of luchador costumes -- some of which serve as completely different characters for players to try. Up to four players can play cooperatively at the same time, each with their own character as well.
Is It Any Good?
As a hardcore action platformer, there's very little that this sequel does wrong. Guacamelee! 2 gives us a wealth of finely tuned combat options and special abilities that must be wisely used in a variety of challenging and sometimes ingenious scenarios. Some of these are scenes where various dimensions scroll across the screen, altering the type and lethality of foes and hazards in the environment. New types of challenges and abilities pop up so frequently that there's little time to grow bored. And it has style to spare, thanks to its colorful Mexican luchador theme, as well as a heaping helping of pop culture references to everything from indie darling game Limbo to cult hit TV show Community. For the right player -- that is, someone who relishes a challenge, enjoys spending hours mastering unusual game mechanics, and likes to have a good giggle along the way -- it's an utter joy from start to finish.
For others, though, it could prove more frustrating than fun. Guacamelee! 2 does a good job teaching players the ins and outs of various skills, but eventually you'll have to use them with expert timing and in rapid succession in exceedingly harder situations. Some scenarios and bosses will probably take dozens of attempts before you successfully beat them. And you can also expect to do lots of backtracking through completed areas as you return to obstacles you couldn't move through because you lacked the proper ability or technique. It can get repetitive. But that's exactly the sort of game that the developers wanted to create. And for players of a similar mindset, Guacamelee! 2 could prove one of the most satisfying such games they've played in a long time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Guacamelee! 2 affected by the cartoonish visuals and the lack of graphic content? Could there be another means to address the issues in the game apart from violence?
Guacamelee! 2 forces players to become experts with its fighting and traversal systems in order to achieve success, but does mastering these skills make you feel more satisfied when you eventually win, or just frustrated?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4 , Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Drinkbox Studios
- Release date: August 21, 2018
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures , Holidays
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Last updated: September 30, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Play Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate