Bleed 2 (2017)

Fun, but short, 2D action-platformer.

While Bleed 2 offers all of these points of nostalgia, it still lacks the flourish to establish itself. It's a fun game, but it suffers from being pulled in two different directions — appealing to an older, nostalgic audience while adding new game modes and variants to keep it fresh and replayable.

Bleed 2 is a brilliant platformer which a lot of people may not have heard of. It's core mechanics as a side-scrolling action arcade game are pulled off perfectly and the balancing of the various difficulties have been implemented with just the right amount of challenge and skill. The game never gets boring or repetitive, it's always keeping you on your toes and if you do ever tire of the well constructed seven levels, you have the random endless mode to try and master. Not to mention the inclusion of the co-op mode and the 'just for fun' unbalanced boss arenas, there is more content here than a lot of the major AAA games out there.

Even the game knows how crazy this is stating the mode is “totally unbalanced – just for fun.” I think that sums much of the game, although the balance elsewhere is on point, Bleed 2 is simple, unadulterated fun.

Bleed 2 is an absolute blast to play, and I had an amazing time with it. Other than the button set for the jump (and double and triple jump), this was a very entertaining experience that improves on everything its prequel did right. If you're a fan of Bleed than getting Bleed 2 is a no-brainer, and you're probably already playing it. But if you haven't played its prequel, Bleed 2 is definitely going to win you over.