Shank 2

 PC
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 143 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 143
  2. Mixed: 68 out of 143
  3. Negative: 22 out of 143

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  1. ZootMan
    Feb 25, 2012
    6
    Hmm....well, the animation IS worth a glimpse, if only to witness the variations in the characters at the outset. Honestly, if you play the first 20 minutes of the game, you're pretty much done on the mechanics at large. The rest of the game is an amalgamation of all the concepts and challenges developed in the first level or two. The combat is flashy...but not substantial. I would love toHmm....well, the animation IS worth a glimpse, if only to witness the variations in the characters at the outset. Honestly, if you play the first 20 minutes of the game, you're pretty much done on the mechanics at large. The rest of the game is an amalgamation of all the concepts and challenges developed in the first level or two. The combat is flashy...but not substantial. I would love to see a 2-d arkham asylum/city combat system translated, and i felt as if the developers wanted shank to be that kind of engaging action. As it stands, its a decent, if underwhelming experience.… Expand
  2. Funksatron
    Jul 30, 2014
    6
    It's about what you'd expect from playing the first game, but without the charm of being the first game. A solid follow-up, but gets old much faster. Turns out not to be fun enough to justify replay.
  3. AlanComek
    Jan 8, 2013
    6
    The slightly crippled remake of Shank. It's good, I'll give it that, but the gameplay just seems really icky when compared to its superior predecessor.
  4. Seryin
    Apr 1, 2013
    6
    It felt to me that while trying hard to step it up and out do the first Shank they ended up destroying the feel that I liked about the first game. I felt like instead of playing I new generation game in a classic style that I actually literally stepped back a few generations and was playing a classic game again. I do not feel the scheme needed to be changed so dramatically. They had theIt felt to me that while trying hard to step it up and out do the first Shank they ended up destroying the feel that I liked about the first game. I felt like instead of playing I new generation game in a classic style that I actually literally stepped back a few generations and was playing a classic game again. I do not feel the scheme needed to be changed so dramatically. They had the feel right before.… Expand
  5. MiyazuHime
    Feb 9, 2012
    7
    I didn't played the first Shank game, so I don't know in which ways the sequel differs. A trailer shows us a bloodbath action gameplay and everything seems so awesome, but after you play a few chapters it becomes a very boring, repetitive game. There is small variety of weapons, only three in each category, but the good thing is that every weapon has it's unique combination of hits andI didn't played the first Shank game, so I don't know in which ways the sequel differs. A trailer shows us a bloodbath action gameplay and everything seems so awesome, but after you play a few chapters it becomes a very boring, repetitive game. There is small variety of weapons, only three in each category, but the good thing is that every weapon has it's unique combination of hits and finishing moves, so you can choose what you like the most. As for enemies, there are few kinds, they use melee and ranged weapons, also there are "gorillas" - that's how I call these big guys, which are harder to kill. In some point you will have to use a minigun turret to kill incoming enemy and some other things to do, which I don't want to spoil. And the gameplay is based on the story, so it's not just a hit'n'smash game. Graphics are really nice, especially when you slice enemy with chainsaw or do counter-attack. But there is one problem with mouse cursor, somehow it won't disappear to some players and is visible in game, so I think there will be a patch to fix this. Despite that, it's not that bad game, which have a big potential, but in current time it lacks variety of gameplay and length of it. But worth the time to play it.… Expand
  6. Karlsefniy
    Aug 10, 2022
    7
    Mostly similar to the previous game, but total play time is shorter and more balanced imo.
  7. OrangeHeadset
    Jan 9, 2014
    6
    A completely average 2D platformer/brawler game. The cut scenes and the story is quite nice, but the game-play is repetitive and not very innovative. Overall opinion: bland, but worth a try!
  8. Dr_Radio
    May 12, 2013
    6
    What a massive let-down this was. I finished Shank 1 and went straight on to Shank 2, and i was dissapointed, Shank 1 had a weak but forgivable story, Shank 2 was not understandable. Shank 1 was frustrating but fair, Shank 2 was not very difficult, but some enemis could not be stunned, therefore leading to death. Speaking of death... Dying in Shank 1 gets you INSTANTLY back into action,What a massive let-down this was. I finished Shank 1 and went straight on to Shank 2, and i was dissapointed, Shank 1 had a weak but forgivable story, Shank 2 was not understandable. Shank 1 was frustrating but fair, Shank 2 was not very difficult, but some enemis could not be stunned, therefore leading to death. Speaking of death... Dying in Shank 1 gets you INSTANTLY back into action, but in 2, you have to sit through an annoying loading screen before going into action, and you will die, ALOT. Also, the guns don't auto-aim when launching enemies into the air, like they do in 1, Get Shank 1 instead… Expand
  9. grrrr
    Jun 18, 2014
    5
    Nice graphics. There is certain story. Sometimes controls feel really bad. This is kind of game you hate because you are death and it was not your fault.
  10. Gamer2014
    Feb 8, 2014
    6
    Great game good controls once you used to it you will feel like a real bad ass story line sucks i even thought i could think in other story when iam playing i never played shank 1 though
  11. Tomle1202
    May 31, 2016
    7
    Shank 2 is not an adventure to remember for long, but the experience it brings is undoubtedly bloody, crazy, weird and, best of all, entertaining like the first installment.
  12. jelikey
    Jun 29, 2018
    7
    Hmm....well, the animation IS worth a glimpse, if only to witness the variations in the characters at the outset. Honestly, if you play the first 20 minutes of the game, you're pretty much done on the mechanics at large. The rest of the game is an amalgamation of all the concepts and challenges developed in the first level or two. The combat is flashy...but not substantial.
  13. Melgacius
    Jan 8, 2018
    6
    1 – GENERAL

    Shank 2 is a 2D side scrolling beat'em-up. We play as Shank when he tries to return home but just to find out that everything was messy, their friends were then rebels and his preceptor was kidnapped. Yep, the script is not always very original, but most times there's no need for that when our sole purpose is to hack and slash. The story is told in cutscenes whit interesting    1 – GENERAL

    Shank 2 is a 2D side scrolling beat'em-up. We play as Shank when he tries to return home but just to find out that everything was messy, their friends were then rebels and his preceptor was kidnapped. Yep, the script is not always very original, but most times there's no need for that when our sole purpose is to hack and slash. The story is told in cutscenes whit interesting artstyle.

    Graphics are very cartoonish, and I admit I like the style. Sometimes is hard to see where to grab, or where does a staircase start, but that does not ruin the immersion, it's just some details.

    Every sound is quite well made. The slashing, shooting and even the voice acting is well made. So far, so good.

    2 – GAMEPLAY

    Let's start to take the elephant out of the room. I hate the controls. I hate that even if I'm facing left, my character shoots right because the mouse pointer is facing that direction. I know it's the best way to emulate the double thumbstick, and I also assume it works better than the controller version, but when the screen is packed full of opponents you have no idea where the damn mouse pointer is and is on those situations you need it the most! In a 2D game, if I'm facing right, I want to shoot right!

    Despite that, it's quite fun to slash and shoot all the opponents. You are able to do huge combos that will keep you motivated for a while, scaling up the violence and gore, but then you realize that is enough to spam the swords or the guns to just breeze through every level.

    Every boss may take some tries to defeat at first, but after you understand the weak spots they become easy to kill. Afterall they are just bullet sponges.

    There's a multiplayer mode that seems quite fun but is now empty, and I do not take any joy by playing it alone.

    The campaign is quite short, it took me about 4h to finish and I do not want to go back to the game so, imo, there's not much replay value also.

    3 – CONCLUSION

    I feel that this is not a great game, but is not bad also. Is fun and challenging for a while, but it never gave me that feeling of pride and accomplishment for beating it. I do not understand also why there's no co-op option in it, it would be a blast.

    Since the game is cheap and so easy to find in a sale, I'll give it a thumbs up.    … Expand
  14. shkipermann
    Feb 25, 2023
    7
    {__/}
    ( • - •)
    /つ☕______________________________________________________________________
  15. Amiko_Novich
    Dec 26, 2022
    6
    Shank 2 (2002, PC - Steam) - 6,5/10
    A mediocre beat 'em up with comic book stylisation and plenty of blood. The gameplay is ok, it can be completed in one evening, and there is nothing remarkable about it. On the negative side, there is some disbalance of weaponry: the shotgun and sledgehammer demolishes enemies very easily, including the bosses. And if you are given a sledgehammer only    Shank 2 (2002, PC - Steam) - 6,5/10
    A mediocre beat 'em up with comic book stylisation and plenty of blood. The gameplay is ok, it can be completed in one evening, and there is nothing remarkable about it. On the negative side, there is some disbalance of weaponry: the shotgun and sledgehammer demolishes enemies very easily, including the bosses. And if you are given a sledgehammer only on the last level of the campaign, the shotgun appears in the middle of the game, so the melee fighting loses all meaning. Overall, it's playable, but you won't lose anything by passing over it.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. GamingTrend
    Jan 14, 2013
    68
    I would only recommend this game to those who have attached themselves to Shank's story from the first game, or perhaps the hardcore gamer that enjoys a challenge. The art is good, the mayhem is there: too bad it sometimes feels like you're bringing a knife to a gunfight.
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  2. PC Master (Greece)
    May 16, 2012
    77
    A worthy sequel that handles most of the original's shortcomings and adds a wonderful survival mode… but would have made a more appealing offer, if there was more content and co-op support. [May 2012]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Mar 22, 2012
    70
    Shank 2 is an interesting platformer with a unique visual style, but gets tired pretty quickly. Extreme difficulty will probably discourage many gamers. [March 2012]
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