“Teslagrad” is quickly becoming a franchise to keep an eye on, with this new “Teslagrad 2” (a side-scrolling puzzle-platform game) developed by Rain Games, the same team behind the first game has once again created a thing of beauty and the love of the game shows all over it. While it could be initially be perceived as a Metroidvania style game, which it does some elements of, it’s certainly much more of a puzzle platformer. The game was shadow dropped during the Nintendo Indie World Showcase last week, and it has quickly become one of the most interesting and beautiful releases of the year. Not only did Rain and Modus Games release this sequel, but also a remaster of the first. I took a moment to check out the first game once again, and it does look a bit better with some upgraded graphics, but nothing jaw-droppingly different. They also did add some quality-of-life improvements and 10 additional challenge levels which certainly were challenging.
Back to “Teslagrad 2,” One of the defining traits of this franchise is the electromagnetic physics-based gameplay. In this one, you play as Lumina, a nice redheaded young woman who is also a Teslamancer, if you don’t know what that is it’s essentially a being with electricity powers. After her airship gets destroyed and crashes, she finds herself in Wyrmheim. Lumina uses her electromagnetic powers that are really fun to use and are primarily what the puzzles around these maps are based on. As you progress through the levels, you will discover more pieces to Lumina’s outfit which help her regain more of her powers.
The graphics have a unique look of 2D animated characters in a more detailed 3D environment, and they look fantastic. The use of Norse mythology is another great advantage of “Teslagrad 2,” and it’s used to tell a really intriguing story. The music is also fantastic, and it’s one of the best game soundtracks I’ve heard this year. The puzzle-like obstacles you need to overcome are very creative and just clever enough to make you feel smart for figuring them out, and not too difficult for you to be completely stumped and frustrated. During the boss fights, you are given a shield that gives you an extra hit before you die, which is very helpful. The boss fights are really fun, and the creatures are steeped in Norse mythology.
The platforming is done very well, and it’s fun to do things only a Teslamancer can do, such as briefly turning into electricity to travel on wires or to quickly teleport from either side of an obstacle. Unlike the boss fights where you have a shield that lets you receive one extra hit, you normally won’t have a shield and there is no health bar in the game so when fighting enemies, you will often just try to stun your enemies or run away from them, because after a single hit, you’re done for. Failing to do the platforming correctly and landing on a dangerous surface will also render you dead instantly, and dying has you respawn back to the beginning of the section. It tends to feel like a dated way to play a game, with rules similar to the original Mario games. Dying and needing to restart can be frustratingly tedious.
The game does a great job of telling its story through visuals instead of dialogue, and it’s an excellent way to immerse yourself in the game world. There are ton of things to collect and there will be a lot of backtracking, because once you gain new powers, more areas open up for you to check out, so depending on how much of a completionist you are you can dump several hours here exploring. “Teslagrad 2” is a fantastic sequel that builds on the original game’s strengths, and it’s definitely worth checking out. The game’s visuals, music, and use of Norse mythology are all great, and the puzzles and platforming are done incredibly well. A must for platform gamers!
8.5/10
For more information, visit https://teslagrad2.com/
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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