In a turn of events that no one saw coming, Drink Box Studios is officially working on Guacamelee! 2. The game will mark the return of Juan the Luchador, fighting for justice with a blue mask and a bare chest. The game takes places seven years after the original, following Juan as he is called back into action to save Mexico and the universe itself.
The announcement trailer shows off a very familiar art style and gameplay loop. Juan does have some new abilities up his sleeve, though, or hidden in a bowl of guacamole. A new grapple makes traversing areas much more convenient and gives way to ingenious new puzzles and challenges.
Another new power that will is already set to take the world by storm is a bizarre ability that transforms the muscular, barrel-chest Juan into a blue chicken wearing a Luchadore’s belt on its torso and a vacant expression on its face. If you were a fan of the original then there will be plenty for you here; fast platforming, raucous action, and a style that you won’t find anywhere else.
Since the release of Guacamelee! in 2013, the game has come to seemingly every platform on the market, but Drinkbox Studios also released the fantastic Severed, which originally released on PS Vita before coming to iOS platforms and Wii U. The studios trademark graphical style has been present across all of their releases, and still holds up incredibly well in 2017.
The original Guacamelee! was critically acclaimed for its unique take on the Metroidvania genre, and the sense of humor every corner of the game was imbued with, making it an instant classic.
Guacamelee! 2 will release first on PlayStation 4 before coming to other platforms. The current release window is ‘soon-ish’, so be prepared to wait for the release of the action-packed sequel.