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2 7 3 0 |
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 Excellent  Good  Mediocre  Poor |
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Platform: |
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Xbox 360 |
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Genre: |
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Platformer |
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Developer: |
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Klei Entertainment |
ESRB: |
Mature |
Release: |
February 8, 2012 |
Publisher: |
Electronic Arts |
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Critic Reviews The following reviews are used to calculate the overall reception for this game. All applicable scores are converted to our simplified rating system based on the specifics offered by each publication or the tone of each review. You can read more about how we do this here.
February 7, 2012 - Excellent - The combat and visuals -- which are what Shank has always been about -- have taken big steps forward to the point that I'm not sure the original Shank even needs to exist at this point. Except for historical value, perhaps.
February 16, 2012 - Excellent - Just because Shank 2 isn't terribly innovative doesn't mean it's a bad game. In fact, it's a total blast. It's ridiculous and goofy and completely over-the-top. If you want something that delivers a totally original gameplay experience, don't bother. But, if you want something that's just a lot of fun, look no further: This little gem will keep you grinning like a maniac.
February 14, 2012 - Good - Shank 2 stays safely in the bounds of a typical side-scrolling action title. It never takes any chances but delivers an overall solid beat 'em up. Inconsistent difficulty, nonexistent story and a lack of gameplay variety hold Shank 2 back, but those looking for a better playing experience from Shank's last outing might want to give the sequel a try.
February 6, 2012 - Good - Shank 2 is the embodiment of grand change on a small scale. Developer Klei was aggressive about smoothing rougher edges, and the minor tweaks in Shank 2 make a major difference. It's a more responsive, faster action title that does away with the damning side of its dazzling animation.
May 14, 2012 - Good - Shank 2 is high energy, gleeful violence. Over the top perhaps, but it's a game that knows what it is and revels in it. Blood sprays, bad guys get chucked into meat grinders, people don't just get stabbed, they get stabbed in the face, and then get a solid kicking on top of that.
February 7, 2012 - Good - We miss the co-op missions, but the three Survival maps are a light, thrillingly tense, and hilarious addition. Shank 2 isn't quite as robust or refreshing as its predecessor, but it's another damn fine downloadable adventure. At $10, it's well worth buying.
February 9, 2012 - Good - It's still the same brutal, dismembering game. But Shank 2 no longer feels like a game that's in thrall to an imaginary crowd of cannabis-addled teenagers. This is a story of redemption. Of violent, eviscerating redemption.
March 20, 2012 - Good - Shank 2 is a great grindhouse game, not quite as glorious as House of the Dead: Overkill, but far better than the guilty pleasure of the latest Splatterhouse game.
February 22, 2012 - Good - If you're after an old-school brawler it's definitely still worth your consideration - but absolutely keep in mind that this offers frustration as well as fun.
February 10, 2012 - Mediocre - While I continue to respect Klei Entertainment's art style and devotion to bloody fantasy above all else, it needs to design less frustrating levels and encounters before its games truly click for me. The upgrades in Shank 2 are a lot like the act of revenge: It feels satisfying in the short term, but in the end you're left with the empty feeling that maybe it didn't improve that much at all.
February 14, 2012 - Mediocre - Combat has been neutered with the inability to swap primary weapons at will, and the primarily flat level layouts feel bland compared to Shank's parkour rooftop battles. Shank 2 is still a perfectly competent brawler, but it lacks that spark to make it stand out in the genre, even compared to its predecessor.
February 23, 2012 - Mediocre - Shank 2 is like uneven road. There are a number of moments where the asphalt is smooth and there's a chance to cut loose and have fun with the sophisticated combat options Klei has built. But there are so many potholes, cracks, and unlabeled sharp turns that it's difficult to find a good cruising speed.
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