Playing Heave Ho 2 is akin to moving a sofa via the stairwell. But in this case, the whole point is to turn the frustration of getting from here to there into a co-op party game. Whether it succeeds depends upon the dependability of your fellow movers.

In Heave Ho 2, you and up to three others (local or online) control candy-like blobs with long arms. You control both arms in much the same way your brain controls both legs when you’re drunk; movement is wobbly and imprecise, so doing something as simple as reaching for a finger hold can be pretty chaotic.

Thankfully, your grip is tight. You’ll use the left and right shoulder buttons to clamp down on objects, ledges, or the head/hands of your fellow players, and that grip won’t release until you release it. This becomes a key part of the gameplay as you work your way across and around the various obstacles that aid you in or prevent you from reaching the goal. This is also where your brain will betray you; I would often release the wrong hand, and chaos would ensue.

But that, of course, provides the fun. Working out a plan with your gaming buddies isn’t difficult. Executing and timing the plan to reach the goal is another matter, especially considering the eventual need to fling one another across gaps, escort various critters along the way, reach and transport items, and master the fart technique.

Yes, despite being nothing more than a head with arms, you can fart, and will occasionally need to for extra propulsion.

The developers at Le Cartel Studio got a lot right when putting this together, not the least of which is the game’s diversity. The visuals change up considerably as you move from world to world (complete with some fun collaborations), so design fatigue never really sets in.

More importantly, the goals shift constantly from level to level. Rather than slowly build up to varying objectives with increasing difficulty, the game flips its approach with neither rhyme nor reason. You never know what you’re going to get next, and that keeps players engaged, especially once elements such as anti-gravity and puzzle mechanics are introduced. It also allows you to catch your breath; considerably difficult challenges were often followed by very simple levels to help you regain your confidence.

Unfortunately, there’s one inherent problem in all of this. Although the control difficulty is part of the fun, it’s also the key element of frustration. This is fine if you and your friends are working through it at the same speed. But once you’ve mastered the controls, playing with a newbie requires more patience than is currently possible in this period of human evolution. To take on the more complex levels, you and everyone you’re playing with have to be really good at the game’s mechanics. And if you’re not, there’s no solo option to help you get there.

There is a drone that a player who reaches the goal can use to rescue those having trouble, but it won’t do much good if no one can reach the goal.

The great party games allow players at all skill levels to be competitive. Heave Ho 2 most assuredly does not. This is especially an issue if you want to try the game’s competitive Showdown and Matches modes.

It can still be plenty of fun, though, with the right crowd. It’s also available for both Switch and Switch 2, making it easier to find that crowd. In fact, at press time, it’s on sale for Switch 2 and free for Switch. Grab it and a few friends, and give it a heave-go. At least you won’t have to pay the movers.