Gimmick! 2

Gimmick! 2
Official artwork
DeveloperBitwave Games
PublishersSunsoft
Clear River Games
DirectorNiklas Istenes
ProducersMarcus Ingvarsson
Marco Podda
ComposersDavid Wise
Joel Bille
SeriesGimmick!
EngineUnreal Engine 5[1]
PlatformsMicrosoft Windows
Linux
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
Release
  • PC, Switch
    • WW: September 5, 2024
  • PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
    • JP: December 19, 2024[2]
    • WW: January 30, 2025
GenresPlatformer, action-adventure
Mode

Gimmick! 2[a] is a 2024 platform game developed by Bitwave Games and published by Sunsoft and Clear River Games. Gimmick! 2 was released on September 5, 2024, for Windows, Linux, and Nintendo Switch, with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions releasing in Japan on December 19, 2024, and worldwide on January 30, 2025. It is the sequel to Gimmick!, a platform game released in 1992 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game follows Yumetaro in a magical journey to rescue the young daughter of his former companion, a girl who has since grown up and passed Yumetaro to her child.

The game was conceived by Niklas Istenes, a devoted fan of the original game, who founded the Swedish video game company Bitwave Games to introduce the series to modern audiences. It later got acquired by Embracer Group, which partnered with Sunsoft, following their initial resistance to make the game due to Bitwave's lack of industry experience. Gimmick! 2 received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the preservation of its difficulty.

Gameplay

Gimmick! 2 is a 2D action-adventure platform game that follows the protagonist Yumetaro[b], who embarks on a magical journey to rescue the young daughter of his former companion, a girl who has since grown up and passed Yumetaro to her child. When the child is mysteriously taken away, Yumetaro leaps through a portal to save her.[3]

The game retains much of the original game's mechanics, though the classic sprite-based visuals have been upgraded to high-resolution graphics and the removal of the score, item, and life systems.[4] The core gameplay revolves around mastering star-conjuring techniques, allowing the player to take down enemies, turn switches, and also ride on it to reach hidden collectibles that require precise timing and aiming. Yumetaro can also jump, and run.[5]

The game can be played in an easier "assisted mode" or, in the more challenging "Gimmick!" mode, which stays true to the original game's level of difficulty.[6]

Development

Gimmick! 2 was developed by Bitwave Games and published by Sunsoft and Clear River Games.[7] 1992's Gimmick! originally gained limited recognition due to its restricted release in Japan and Scandinavia, but it became highly regarded by NES enthusiasts and industry figures like Shigeru Miyamoto and Masahiro Sakurai for its advanced mechanics, unique level design, and the technical feat of its physics-based star mechanic.[8][9]

30 years after the release of Gimmick!, Swedish developer and game director Niklas Istenes—a devoted fan of the original game—has been dedicated to reviving the classic by creating a sequel. Istenes founded Bitwave Games with the ambition of reintroducing Gimmick! to modern audiences. Initially, however, his efforts to acquire the rights from Sunsoft were met with resistance, largely due to Bitwave's lack of industry experience. The opportunity for a renewed partnership with Sunsoft arose after Embracer Group, a prominent Swedish video game company acquired Bitwave, which pitched the game. This acquisition strengthened Bitwave's credibility and allowed Istenes to approach Sunsoft once more, this time successfully securing the rights to develop Gimmick! 2. Many of Bitwave's staff had not known about the original game when it was developed, due to its obscurity. During Embracer's significant restructuring in 2023, layoffs threatened the project's continuity. Lead programmer Olof Karlsson, who had previously taken leave due to burnout, returned to the team, motivated by their collective dedication to bring the sequel to life. In an effort to stay true to Gimmick!'s core experience, the team chose to streamline gameplay, focusing on the essential elements that defined the original and reducing any extraneous features.[8][9]

David Wise created the soundtrack for Gimmick! 2.[10][11][12] The soundtrack was recorded live in Sweden in collaboration with Joel Bille and creatively overseen by Pelle Cahndlerby.[11] The game's music features both remixes of tracks from the original Gimmick! and new compositions, incorporating live-recorded instruments that blend traditional Swedish sounds, like the nyckelharpa, with Japanese musical influences to honor the game's Japanese roots.[13][14]

Release

Gimmick! 2 was first revealed in June 2024,[15][16] also during the program "SUNSOFT is Back! Part 5!" that same month in Japan.[17] And later showcased at Gamescom in August 21–25.[18] The creator of the original Gimmick!, Tomomi Sakai, was not involved in the development of Gimmick! 2, since he had left Sunsoft years prior. He only learned about the project when it was publicly announced, for which Bitwave Games later issued an apology.[10][19] Despite the setbacks, Bitwave Games succeeded in releasing both a rerelease of the original Gimmick!, titled Gimmick! Special Edition on July 6, 2023,[20][21] and Gimmick! 2, on PC and Nintendo Switch on September 5, 2024.[21][22][23] It was also released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in Japan on December 19, 2024,[24][25][26] and worldwide on January 30, 2025.[3][24] Along with a physical release for PS5 and Switch.[3]

Reception

Much like its predecessor in retrospect, Gimmick! 2 was well received from critics, gaining "generally favorable" for the Nintendo Switch version, based on 7 reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[27] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received Strong approval, being recommended by 75% of critics.[28]

The game's presentation, especially its updated graphics and music, was generally praised by the reviewers.[6][30][31][32] Nile Bowie of Nintendo Life considered its art style to be clean and highly polished, while acknowledging its resemblance to Cut the Rope. Bowie also praised its soundtrack, adding to its ambience and immersion, without being "intrusive".[6] Alex Kidman of Digitally Downloaded called its soundtrack "jaunty", while he described the updated visuals compared to its predecessor as a change from "the best-the-hardware-could-do approach of its Famicom forebear to a gentler but quite nice hand drawn animated style."[32]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ギミック！ 2, Hepburn: Gimikku! 2
  2. ↑ Japanese: ゆめたろー, Hepburn: Yumetarō

References

  1. ↑ Max (September 6, 2024). "On a joué à Gimmick! 2, le grand retour de Yumetaro!" [We played Gimmick! 2, the big return of Yumetaro!]. Xbox Mag. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ Tokunagi, Hirotaki (December 19, 2024). "高難易度の物理アクションゲーム「ギミック! 2」家庭用ゲーム機版が発売" [Highly difficult physics action game "Gimmick! 2" home console version released]. Impress Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Happy New Cheer! Gimmick! 2 Leaps onto PlayStation and Xbox, As Well as Nintendo Switch Physical Starting January 30, 2025". Game Developer (Press Release). December 11, 2024. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  4. ↑ Toshin, Kagami (October 3, 2024). "桜井政博も認めたファミコンの傑作が令和に蘇る！ 色褪せない名シリーズ『Gimmick! Special Edition』＆『Gimmick! 2』レビュー" [A Famicom masterpiece recognized by Masahiro Sakurai is reborn in the Reiwa era! A review of the timeless classic series "Gimmick! Special Edition" and "Gimmick! 2"]. Real Sound｜リアルサウンド テック (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Phillips, Kara (September 5, 2024). "Gimmick 2's platforming offers a satisfying frustration I haven't felt since Celeste". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bowie, Nile (September 14, 2024). "Review: Gimmick! 2 (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gimmick! 2 launches September 5 for Switch and PC, "shortly after" for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, and Xbox One". Gematsu. August 14, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Driver, Dale (September 1, 2024). "The Best Nintendo Game You've Never Heard of and Its 2024 Sequel". IGN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  9. 1 2 IGN (September 1, 2024), The Best Nintendo Game You've Never Heard of | IGN Inside Stories (Video), archived from the original on August 29, 2024, retrieved May 4, 2025 – via YouTube
  10. 1 2 Hagues, Alana (August 14, 2024). "Surprise Sequel 'Gimmick! 2' Bounces Towards Release Next Month". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Norman, Jim (July 18, 2024). "Gimmick! 2's First Gameplay Trailer Is Packed With Platforming Puzzles And Toe-Tapping Tunes". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  12. ↑ Luster, Joseph (July 18, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 Shows Off First Gameplay, David Wise Soundtrack". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  13. ↑ Pernecker, Luca (September 4, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 - Interview mit David Wise und Pelle Cahndlerby" [Gimmick! 2 - Interview with David Wise and Pelle Cahndlerby]. NRWision (in German). Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  14. ↑ Mitch (September 2, 2024). "Interview met David Wise over gamemuziek, Gimmick 2, Donkey Kong Country en meer" [Interview with David Wise on game music, Gimmick 2, Donkey Kong Country and more]. N1-UP (in Dutch). Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  15. ↑ Hagues, Alana (June 20, 2024). "Round Up: Limited Run Games Showcase 2024 - Every Switch Announcement & Physical". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  16. ↑ Mäki, Jonas (June 24, 2024). "Gimmick w końcu doczekał się kontynuacji po 32 latach" [Gimmick is finally getting a sequel after 32 years]. Gamereactor (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  17. ↑ Fujiwara, Hideaki (June 21, 2024). "サンソフト名作アクション続編『ギミック! 2』発表。約30年越しのシリーズ新作、星を駆使する「ゆめたろー」の新たな冒険到来". AUTOMATON (in Japanese). Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 18, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 'Gameplay Reveal' trailer, screenshots". Gematsu. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  19. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (June 24, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 Devs Issue Apology To Game's Original Creator". Time Extension. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ Massey, Tom (July 6, 2023). "Review: Gimmick! Special Edition (Switch) - A Rare And Wonderful 8-Bit Gem". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Thorn, Ed (September 5, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 is out now, which is great news for fans of difficult platformers starring fun lil' green guys". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  22. ↑ Vahlström, Johan (August 15, 2024). "Gimmick 2 ukaże się we wrześniu" [Gimmick 2 Will come out in September]. Gamereactor (in Polish). Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ "サンソフトの名作ACT続編『ギミック!2』Steam版リリース―星を投げたり乗ったりしながら大冒険！初心者向けのアシストモードも搭載" [SUNSOFT's classic action sequel "Gimmick! 2" released on Steam - A great adventure while throwing and riding stars! Includes an assist mode for beginners]. Game*Spark (in Japanese). September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Romano, Sal (December 11, 2024). "Gimmick! 2 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, and Xbox One launches December 19 in Japan, January 30, 2025 in the west". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  25. ↑ Aetas (December 19, 2024). "サンソフトの高難度物理アクションゲームの続編が登場。「ギミック! 2」，コンシューマ機向けに本日発売" [The sequel to Sunsoft's highly challenging physics action game has arrived. "Gimmick! 2" is out today for consoles.]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  26. ↑ "【新発売セール】超激レアなレトロゲームの完全新作 『ギミック! 2』が家庭用ゲーム機にて本日発売☆DL版（Switch、PS4/PS5）は20%OFF！" [[New Release Sale] The brand new, super rare retro game "Gimmick! 2" is out today for home consoles ☆ The download version (Switch, PS4/PS5) is 20% off!]. プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES (in Japanese). December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Gimmick! 2 Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  28. 1 2 "Gimmick! 2 Critic Reviews". OpenCritic. Archived from the original on July 31, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  29. ↑ Romano, Sal (December 11, 2024). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1878". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  30. 1 2 "ギミック！ 2 (Switch)のレビュー・評価・感想 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com" [Gimmick! 2 (Switch) review, ratings and impressions - Famitsu.com for the latest game and entertainment news]. Famitsu (in Japanese). December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  31. 1 2 Musgrave, Shaun (September 4, 2024). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Ace Attorney Investigations Collection', Plus New Releases and Sales". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  32. 1 2 3 Kidman, Alex (January 23, 2025). "Review: Gimmick! 2 Review (Nintendo Switch)". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
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