It didn’t seem like I was missing much either, as the only collectibles don’t appear to have a mechanical purpose - something that drives the genre’s signature exploration. With how much the game relies on forward momentum, I was never moved to backtrack to an earlier part of the world and hunt for secrets once I gained a new power.
Its Metroidvania hook feels a little at odds with its speed-based gameplay. What I’m a little less enthused by is the overall framework that the core system finds itself in. The sequel feels more consistently enjoyable, but it’s a touch less memorable … In its best moments, it almost feels like a skateboarding game - last year’s standout OlliOlli World came to mind when I was grinding through icy caves and perfectly timing my jumps to avoid spiky vines. Basic movement feels satisfying, as the world is filled with roller coaster-like chunks that are satisfying when nailed in one or two tries. It’s a much different kind of game than the original, one that feels more in line with the kind of precise, speed-based platformer that’s having a moment right now. Other abilities had me zipping up wires and waterfalls, further capitalizing on that speed while adding some welcome verticality to the world. Suddenly, I was playing an electrified version of Sonic the Hedgehog where I was zooming around loop-the-loops and chaining that momentum into reflex-heavy platforming. That flow changed in a big way around the halfway point when I gained the ability to slide on surfaces at high speeds. Early on, I was zipping through obstacles with a spark dash and using magnetic surfaces to either stick onto walls or repel myself over obstacles. Detailed 2D landscapes that bring a lot of depth and detail to its world sell its steampunk setting and make for a colorful improvement over its more retro-styled predecessor. That hardly matters, though, as the setting acts as a good excuse to toss in some Nordic-inspired tunes and environments. Story is nestled firmly in the background here, wordlessly telling a vague Viking tale that I never really pieced together by the end. It’s a movement-heavy platformer that has players zipping around colorful Nordic landscapes with a slew of new powers. If the first Teslagrad felt like it was following in Braid’s footsteps, Teslagrad 2 almost feels closer to recent games like Celeste. It’s a well-executed twist that gets more out of the original’s magnet hook, though it makes for a sequel that’s caught somewhere between feeling modern and retro. Rather than serving up another puzzler built around magnet charges, the new installment takes its defining mechanic and uses it to create a speed-based platformer that feels like it was designed with speedrunners in mind. I can feel that change when playing Teslagrad 2, the freshly released sequel to Rain Games’ 2013 indie darling.
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