Gunman Clive is back, this time in a globe-trotting adventure.  He’ll face a mixture of new and returning foes in this challenging sequel.  The original was a very good action game, but Gunman Clive 2 surpasses it in nearly every way!

Clive and Mrs. Johansen return as playable characters, each bringing their own unique feel.  Mrs. Johansen is an ideal starter, especially for those who missed the first game.  Her floaty jump will frequently come in handy.  New addition Chieftan Bob is for those craving a real challenge. His spear is very powerful, but the close quarter combat makes things even more difficult.  There is one more, unlockable character (accessible upon beating the game) that should bring a smile to vets of the original.

Level design is a major area where Gunman Clive 2 excels, with much more creativity shown this time around.  One of the first things to grab your attention is the changing environments.  Straight paths will suddenly become blocked, or walkways will quickly collapse.  Surprises such as these make the levels feel alive.  There’s also a number of 3D sections where you’ll ride a plane, horse, and so forth.  The camera angles sacrifice optimal target views for the sake of visual flair, however they’re manageable with practice.  More importantly, they offer some nice diversity between the 2D action.  There are more bosses this time around also, and most have multiple forms.  They are challenging, but through observation and patience their patterns are discerned.  The last boss is especially cool but I won’t spoil the memorable encounter.

One of my favorite things about this game is that it has fully embraced a campy atmosphere.  The original had flashes, but played it fairly straight for the most part.  This sequel however is filled with comical elements right from the start.  Jumping up a series of falling Tetris pieces, battling cowboys riding sleds through the snow, hanging on the back of a confused panda, etc., makes for entertaining fun!  At 25 stages, Gunman Clive is only a modest increase over the original’s 20.  But the key here isn’t quantity, but quality.  These stages are more exciting, more varied, and will leave a greater lasting impression.  You can’t beat riding a mine cart over a dinosaurs back!

Small though it may be, Gunman Clive is a game you’ll want to replay.  Besides the four unique characters, each level keeps track of your completion times.  For me, this is only a mild draw (there’s no leaderboards, local or otherwise) but it’s a solid incentive.  Better is finishing levels without getting hit for “No Damage” – I’ve done this in just over half the levels, and it gives a real feeling of accomplishment.

Gunman Clive 2 retains its predecessors unique style, while adding much more in the way of color. The original’s largely sepia tone look is gone, and the sequel is the better for it.  Admittedly the color use is slightly odd – it reminds me of when old black and white programs were recolored – but it works.  Kudos to the soundtrack also – there’s a more robust score here, with catchy new tunes and remixes of old favorites.

Even though it’s a small game, there’s much more I could say about Gunman Clive 2.  But all that really remains is for me to give a strong recommendation to download it.  It’s $2.99 well spent. Gunman Clive is classic platforming at it’s best!

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