Shank 2

Bloody, brutal and utterly bad-ass, Shank 2 is an action/platforming spectacle that players won't soon forget. In spite of its disappointing length, no action fan should miss this one.

Not only does feel great just to hack away at your enemies with your knives, the finishers look absolutely fantastic. They look so good in fact that you'll want to try them out with every weapon and counter in the game. [March 2012, p.100]

This short, bloody roller-coaster really impresses. [Apr 2012, p.103]

It's a more responsive, faster action title that does away with the damning side of its dazzling animation. This is a smooth brawler with gorgeous spectacle, and its dedication to nailing its second chance makes it one of the best action games in recent memory.

Shank 2 isn't so much a sequel as it is a replacement for its slower, sloppier predecessor, and that seems to suit its style just fine.

Stabtastic. [Issue#216, p.85]

A slightly better game than its predecessor, primarily because the gameplay has been solidified. It feels faster and more reliable; by direct comparison, the first was just a little more irritating and not quite as sound.

Steps back were taken in some aspects but the most important element – the gameplay – was fine-tuned so all in all Shank 2 is a great beat 'em up dripping with fun. [April 2012, p.71]

Its vibrant and original art is slick and well animated, its excessive gore and cliche-action-movie-style cutscenes are funny and satisfying in equal measures, and its fast, challenging gameplay is suitably visceral and deeply satisfying. But it's way too short, and the lack of campaign co-op is an epic disappointment, especially considering its presence in the first game.

While the game is still quite short, the survival mode and the penchant for climbing leaderboards will have you playing for a bit longer. If you're looking for a quick platformer that offers plenty of carnage, then this is the game for you.

Shank 2 does what a good hack n' slash sequel should: it adapts a few things with the aim of improvement and it turns up the action.

Granted, its more iterative than innovative, but Shank 2 is a reasonably priced game with several fun elements that improve upon the original's formula while also scaling the game back in other areas.

Shank 2 doesn't do much that's new or original. It's a refinement of what came before it, from the original Shank to manic classics like Metal Slug. But there's a lot of quality fun packed into this inexpensive download, making it a perfect choice for simple, fast-paced action.

A significant improvement over its predecessor, and one that proves there are still a few developers out there willing to learn from their mistakes.

Shank 2 is definitely an improvement over the first game in the series, but the lack of innovation ultimately doesn't warrant a higher score.

An enjoyable little slice of action. There's certainly room for improvement, and a Hard mode that doesn't remove all the checkpoints would have been appreciated for those who mastered the harder original and will breeze through this one, but it provides enough moments of pure fun to warrant a look.

If you liked Shank before, you'll still get on alright with this. [May 2012, p.116]

While the predecessor was a solid albeit short outing with optional co-op, this sequel seems less polished. The backgrounds lack the eye-catching finish, the plot is just a discombobulated mess strewn together and while Klei Entertainment has evened out the difficulty spikes it lacks the charm of the original. [April 2012, p71]

While it's still a solid sequel, Shank 2 may have benefited from a less-is-more approach. [Apr 2012, p.81]

The meager eight stages are fun, but leave you very abruptly stranded at the end-credits and wishing for more areas, Bossfights and especially many more weapons.

With the additions and improvements, you can actually enjoy slicing up a few of the enemies for a while and attempt to enjoy the story line.

In the end, Shank 2 is a fun yet ultimately forgettable game which uses its over the top violence and retro presentation to create something different yet not that original either.

Shank 2 has better controls than its predecessor. But it's a big failure that the co-op function has been deleted and the current multiplayer mode isn't all that special. So in short, Shank 2 is a good game, but it could have been better.

While I continue to respect Klei Entertainment's art style and devotion to bloody fantasy above all else, it needs to design less frustrating levels and encounters before its games truly click for me. The upgrades in Shank 2 are a lot like the act of revenge: It feels satisfying in the short term, but in the end you're left with the empty feeling that maybe it didn't improve that much at all.

The single-player alone doesn't make Shank 2 a must buy, but if you enjoy horde modes with a spicy Mexican twist then Shank 2 is an unbelievably fun addition to your party game collection.