Andro Dunos II (2022)

Andro Dunos II is a solid side-scrolling shoot ‘em up that should please any fan of the original but one that also doesn’t have a lot going for it. It is very light on content in terms of modes and without it even having online leaderboards, you’ll probably be done with it in a couple hours. My overall stance on it is that it was fun while it lasted but I don’t think you need to rush out and play this shoot ‘em up right away.

Andro Dunos II carries on the old-school Neo-Geo classic; almost to a fault. Its varied weaponry keeps things fresh, but there are far too many cheap shots for our liking.

Overall, Andro Dunos 2 is genuinely a brilliant shmup that feels like something that was released during this genre’s 90s heyday. From the gameplay, to the graphics and the music, Andro Dunos 2 is a pixel perfect shmup.

Unfortunately, the general package leaves a lot to be desired, as a good shooter is dragged down by a lack of options, with no local co-op, (despite the original game having it, oddly the only major thing from the OG game to not be improved on here) no border options, no visual display modes, and most disappointingly, no online leaderboards, which for a shooter in 2022 is a sad exclusion. Yeah, the main game has some minor frustrations such as enemies that surprise you from behind, and the latter half of the game leaning a bit too hard in the Bullet Hell realm, but all in all, you’ll still have a fun time with Andro Dunos II, and if you somehow grew up with the first game, this absolutely surpasses it in every possible way!

Small indie studio Picorinne Soft has made a sequel to a thirty-year-old game that feels faithful but original --one in which nostalgia or the passing of time never feel like a burden.