In the realm of retro-inspired gaming, Storybird Studio delivers Ganryu 2 to us — a 2D action platformer drawing from one of Japan’s most fascinating historical figures, Miyamoto Musashi, set against the backdrop of a fantasy-rendered, 17th-century Japan. Released on April 22, 2022, Ganryu 2 attempts to honor its roots whilst catering to the gaming pleasures of the present day with mixed results.
Story & Characters
Starting with the story, Ganryu 2 follows Takezo Musashi’s journey, inspired by the novel The Stone and the Sword. Armed with his blade, he fights enemies of different skill levels across various locations, leading to the final battle at Ganryu-jima. While the plot isn’t entirely new, the historical Asian setting adds a unique touch.
Gameplay Mechanics
The gameplay, however, gets mixed reviews. Ganryu 2 mainly appeals to platformer fans who enjoy classic mechanics and levels that require memorization. Musashi’s moves—double jumps, sword attacks, and ninja-style dashes—are easy to execute. But the dash function sometimes fails, and a recurring bug can disable jumping, disrupting the flow and frustrating players.
Enemy AI varies—some stick to predictable patterns, while others offer a tougher challenge. While this doesn’t ruin the fun, it clearly reflects the game’s retro inspiration. Boss fights, though creatively designed, suffer from simple and predictable attack patterns, making them less thrilling than expected.
Visuals & Graphics
The visuals and graphics of Ganryu 2 strongly resonate to a time where pixel art ruled the gaming arena. Characters, particularly, are designed with an intricate and appealing detailing, a tribute to the game’s inspiration era. However, the resolution dangles disappointingly into the arena of the low resolution, and for those equipped with an ultrawide screen, beware for the game does not fully support such advanced technology.
Sound & Music
For the music, Ganryu 2 uses traditional Japanese elements to enrich the gaming experience. The presence of these sound layers enhances the atmospheric cultural immersion, forming a significant component of the gameplay enjoyment.
Difficulty & Replayability
Shockingly, for a platformer game whose design ethos harks back to an era when games were gruelingly challenging, the difficulty scaled oddly for Ganryu 2. Players note an ease through the initial three stages, with sudden and steep spikes from stage four onward, creating an unsettling gameplay imbalance. Yet, it seems an experienced platformer may still find the challenge level lingering at the lower end.
In terms of replayability, while there is little variety in the gameplay fundamentals to urge a devout return, the desire to master the stages and achieve a flawless run might be a driving force for some players. The presence of notable bugs, such as a soft lock at the end of stage four, is a deterrent potent enough to mar this otherwise attractive proposition.
Conclusion
Ganryu 2 bears all hallmarks of classic side-scrolling action with a sprinkling of Japanese history, yet it is marred by modern-day execution flaws. A patch addressing control bindings and bug issues could shape Ganryu 2 into a fuller, more satisfying experience. I give it 3/5 stars.
