Bleed 2

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Video Chums
    Feb 5, 2018
    69
    I know it sounds like I'm really down on Bleed 2 but there is definitely still some fun to be had. Shoot 'em up fans especially should love replaying the boss fights and they can work on perfecting their strategy and achieving an S/SSS rank on every level. However, I have to admit that it definitely didn't live up to the expectations I had after playing the fantastic original.
  2. Worth Playing
    Aug 6, 2018
    60
    While Bleed 2 is a romp that makes it feel good to shoot the bad guys, the experience fades quickly, and the player may not want to replay the game at all, losing the worth of the depth of abilities, characters, modes, and weapons. Can nostalgia be balanced with originality to create something fresh enough? Absolutely. However, Bleed 2 stretches itself too thin in both of these respects and ends up feeling less like a love letter and more like fan fiction.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PS4 Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 2 out of 9
  1. GBG_Jason
    Feb 6, 2018
    10
    When I (Chad) originally reviewed Bleed a few months ago, I hated it. It was not a complete disaster, but it was far from anythingWhen I (Chad) originally reviewed Bleed a few months ago, I hated it. It was not a complete disaster, but it was far from anything spectacular. Having spent a good deal of time with the sequel, Bleed 2, I feel like the complaints I had on the original were taken to heart and the follow-up was made specifically for me.

    The story picks up after the ending of the original, with an alien terror attacking the unnamed city that our heroine Wryn resides in. Quickly running head first into battle, she’s faced with 7 new levels of platforming and shooting shenanigans. Each level features a style reminiscent of the Super Nintendo era filled with bright colors and much more inspired enemies. While there’s not a huge selection of standard baddies to battle, there are a number of new boss battles which make up the meat of the game, as each level features a few bosses to tackle. This mode is much more accessible than the previous entry due to unlimited lives being offered and a very forgiving checkpoint system, with some boss battles featuring mid battle checkpoints. That being said, the normal difficulty here is more akin to the easy mode on the original. With a total of 4 difficulties, each with their own associated unlocks and leader boards, there is a decent amount of replay value here despite the short campaign which can be completed in under an hour.

    If you’re looking for more of a challenge there is an Arcade mode, which only offers one life; a 3 vs 1 boss battle option; and a rogue-lite mode that features randomized levels/enemies, each with a boss to finish them out. While some games shoe horn this mode in, with Bleed 2 it works beautifully, although it is a bit more difficult than the main game. These randomized levels look and feel like you are playing a Mega Man mod and feature traps that are nowhere to be found in the main game. This is by no means a bad thing, though it will take some serious practice to make any type of progress as there are no continues. Add in the ability to use different weapons or additional characters you unlock and the replay options are endless.

    The new characters and weapons that you’ll unlock change up the game in some pretty fun ways. Some characters are limited to their stock attack and feature new abilities, and there are new weapons that The Rival or Wryn can use. Each variation will require you to play a little differently, with each character or weapon excelling at specific situations and will make others a bit more difficult. I personally had a great deal of fun speed running through the game with the rocket launcher, which essentially makes most of the bosses powerless, even beating a few ignoring their battle specific mechanics entirely.

    Bleed 2 controls much better than the original, as I was able to easily get into the habit of jumping multiple times and was soon using the slow motion ability like a pro. I did struggle a bit at first, as the pop up tutorials are not always as in depth as I would prefer. My biggest issue is the requirement to go into the menu and manually change your character’s weapons, as there is no easy option to do so during gameplay. While this is not overly cumbersome, it does ruin the sense of momentum that shines throughout the rest of the title.

    Couch co-op is much more enjoyable than in the original game, partially due to the game being less reliant on the platforming aspect and focusing more on shooting, making it much easier to keep track of the second player. I did get mildly frustrated playing as one of the bosses, as it can be hard to determine which of the characters is the player and which is the boss. While these instances are few and far between, it does make the experience slightly less enjoyable.

    With Bleed 2 fixing a number of the annoying aspects from the original, I wholeheartedly recommend this title for anyone who is looking for a new bullet-hell type shooter with loads of replayability.    … Full Review »
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