Publisher Clear River Games and developer Bitwave Games have revealed the first gameplay trailer for Gimmick! 2, the long-awaited (and somewhat surprising) sequel to Sunsoft’s 8-bit platformer.
Originally revealed with a teaser trailer at this year’s Limited Run Games showcase , this is our first look at what Gimmick! 2 has in store. Aside from the obvious visual overhaul, this sequel still looks to be jam-packed with platforming puzzles. There are star-chucking challenges, moving platforms, perilous lava pits – everything you’d expect a cute little guy to endure.
There’s also an extremely upbeat soundtrack from legendary composer David Wise, which had us tapping our toes from the get-go. Clear River Games also shared a quick video introduction from the legendary composer, which you can watch at the bottom of this article.
There’s no Kirby coming our way this year (as far as we know), but this looks like it might just scratch that itch while we wait for Nintendo to announce the pink orb next one inevitable remake.
Below is an overview of the game’s features and some screenshots from the Steam page.
A classic challenge modernized
In Gimmick! 2Meet the little green yokai Yumetaro again. Decades after his first adventure, he now embarks on a new mission in a world full of interesting challenges, dangerous enemies and hidden treasures. The game can be played in a friendlier assisted mode, or if you are up for a challenge, play in the faithful-to-the-original “Gimmick!” mode!
stellar physics
As a yokai, Yumetaro has the ability to summon and throw a powerful star that not only bounces, but also maintains the momentum of its movement. The star can be used to activate switches, defend against enemies, and even be ridden to reach those hard-to-reach places as you explore the world’s secrets. You can discover treasures, find shortcuts, or set speed records by mastering the star’s bouncing physics. Experiment with it to unlock its full potential. This is a game with real star power!
A legendary soundtrack
The composer David Wise hardly needs an introduction. In his work on the Gimmick! 2 soundtrack, he has written completely new melodies as well as re-created old classics. The soundtrack was creatively directed by Pelle Cahndlerby and recorded live in Sweden together with Joel Bille.
A blast from the past
The original Gimmick! game was released in 1992 for the Famicom™. It was localized and released in the West – but only in Scandinavia. This, combined with the fact that the game’s physics and gameplay mechanics were far ahead of their time, made the game both legendary and beloved. With Gimmick! 2But there is no doubt anymore: this is a game the whole world should be able to experience.
It all seems like it has the potential to be really good, even if we were hoping for a comeback of pixel art visuals. There’s still no exact release date for this game, other than “2024,” but we’ll keep an eye on the information in the coming months.
Following the announcement last month, the creator, director and designer of the NES original, Tomomi Saka, admitted that he had no knowledge of a sequel in the works and that he had not been consulted during the process. Bitwave Games later issued a formal apology, saying, “We have a lot of respect for Tomomi Sakai’s work—Gimmick! 2 wouldn’t exist without him. In hindsight, we should have done better.”
We last heard from the Gimmick series last year when little Yumetaro returned to our screens in Gimmick! Special Edition. We loved this piece of nostalgia and gave it an 8/10 in our review , calling it “a striking example of what made the 8-bit era so great.” Let’s hope the sequel can capture some of that magic.