Among the carefree memories of adolescence, a prominent place is occupied by one of the arcades that, at the time, were present in my town. A magical place, when home gaming was still more immature than now, where i coin op represented the maximum possible for all fans. And it was there that, between a game of Mortal Kombat 2one a Metal Slug and one a Virtua Racing, could not miss the appointment with the digital version of a bizarre sport, in which two players competed for supremacy with Frisbee blows. It was the time when the branded cabinets NEOGEO they could not help but kidnap you, accomplices colorful and extremely peculiar experiences, capable of swallowing up a boy’s weekly allowance in a matter of minutes. Almost 27 years have passed since then, but the memory of those odd matches is still strong, as evidenced by the work done by the usual Dotemu (true masters in bringing back old videogame glories), who are ready to make us take a modern blast from the past thanks to Windjammers 2.
- Title: Windjammers 2
- Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch, PC / Steam
- Version analyzed: PlayStation 4 (EU)
- Gender: Arcade, Sports
- Players: 1-2
- Publisher: Dotemu
- Developer: Dotemu
- Tongue: English (lyrics), Japanese (dubbing)
- Exit date: January 20, 2022
- Availability: retail, digital delivery
- DLC: nobody
- Note: sequel to the 1994 title released on NEOGEO arcade and console
We reviewed Windjammers 2 with a PlayStation 4 code given to us free of charge by Dotemu.
Challenge to the last disc
For anyone who has never had the opportunity to throw money into the jaws of the aforementioned cabinet, it is perhaps worth briefly describing the gameplay of the production that was: merging together mechanics dear to air hockey and pong, the game sees two players compete in fields, similar to those of tennis, with the aim of throwing the Frisbee in question behind the opponent. Reached 15 points (12 in the original) you win the set, and you win the match once you have obtained two set wins.
On paper, extremely simple, although discreetly original, everything came (and also comes in this Windjammers 2) embellished with special shots, retakes, jumps and spin shots, so as to give life to a very dynamic and varied experience, as well as topped off with a welcome splash of strategy and tactics. Furthermore, the various selectable characters also take care of things a bit, which in this sequel, in addition to welcoming back the old glories, welcome a handful of unpublished characters. Each of them will be characterized, in addition to a peculiar aesthetic and dubbing, also by different levels of speed and power, which will be accompanied by distinct special moves. On the balance side, in this sense, there are no particular differences in height between the various athletes, with each player being able to easily find the one that best suits their style of play, and their very personal preferences..
Of course, it could be argued that, ultimately, the roster is somewhat compressed, given that we are talking about ten characters (no, no unlockable additions), devoid of any customization element. The same number is also overturned on the available arenas, which in addition to differing in staging, successfully reproduce the formula of in-game handicaps: in addition to the classic neutral fields, there will be stages characterized by obstacles capable of diverting the trajectory of the Frisbee , doors that will narrow or widen as a result of the points scored, as well as the casino, inside which the discs will be replaced by chips, each showing an always different score. From this point of view, the work done can only be praised, given the extreme variety and unpredictability guaranteed by the levels in question.
Can we give more?
Extremely reduced to the bone, however, is the playful offer of Windjammers 2which in addition to the classic local Versus mode (both against the AI and against a friend), features only a simple arcade mode divided into 5 stages, and the online experience. The latter will be characterized, in addition to quick matches and challenges with friends, by the inevitable ranked mode, flanked by online leaderboards. Given the absence of unlockable elements, whether they are secondary characters, or even simple aesthetic customizations for athletes, one cannot but remain baffled for a moment by the choice made by Dotemu: if it is true that, philologically speaking, this official sequel is effectively channeled into the history of the brand, given the evolution of the media, and also by virtue of the work done in the recent productions of the team (yes, I say to you Streets of Rage 4), it would have been more than logical to expect some further creative flicker.
The risk, therefore, is to see it run out quickly the appeal of the production which, being no longer linked to the small capacity of our youth purse, given the intensive use guaranteed by the current machines, could lead players to get bored extremely quickly. Of course, we are talking about a game that has always leveraged 1 vs 1 clashes, but it is enough for a moment to turn your gaze to other similar titles, to realize how the overall offer is simply sufficient.
Snappy line
Technically speaking, however, one can only be satisfied with the work done by the transalpine team, which has managed to preserve, making it current, the style that has always distinguished the series.: everything is extremely colorful and convincingly animated, not sparing a more than pleasant squeeze to the past signed NEOGEO. Rich in details, the aforementioned arenas stand out, capable of making the various matches even more lively and dynamic. The dubbing was also good, although limited to simple lines spoken in the language of the various players, it proved to be fitting. Just as good is the musical accompaniment, which even in the absence of songs capable of installing themselves in the minds of the players, manages to make his own with success. Being a competition-based title, I don’t deny that I had some reservations about the goodness of the netcode who, after an intensive weekend of testing, happily managed to dismantle my perplexities: regardless of the quick matches, classified or between friends, in fact, the game has always behaved very well, not showing any lag episodes that could compromise the success of the clashes. Of course, there remains a certain slowness in finding opponents, but it is likely that everything is due to a certain number of users at the time of the test.
Who do we recommend Windjammers 2 to?
If you are among those who have contracted multi-year debts to fatten the cabin of the past (and which unfortunately will never return), return to throw the Frisbee in Windjammers 2 it can only turn into a pleasant experience. The game Dotemu, in fact, he managed to effectively re-propose the original formula of the NEOGEO title, giving us a solid sequel in line with expectations, even if with a rather skimpy playful offer. If it is true, in fact, that the gameplay turned out to be solid and fun, now as then, it is really difficult to turn a blind eye to a set of modes that are too reduced to the bone, which could have been made more full-bodied thanks to some simple addition, such as accessory skins or a couple of secondary characters. Ultimately, what we are in our hands is a classic arcade experience from the hall, but which in the light of the contemporary offer, is a bit dated in its playful framework.
- Still fun and solid gameplay
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Stable netcode
- Few game modes
- No unlockable extras
Windjammers 2
Child of the past
Windjammers 2 is a solid sequel consistent with its past, with a gameplay that is as immediate as it is fun. Competing for matches with Frisbee shots, in fact, has not lost even a shred of its charm, and being able to treat yourself to hours and hours of fun with a single outlay, compared to the prohibitive costs of the cabinet, has its good reason. For a moment, therefore, it is his desire to be too tied to his origins, renouncing to offer a playful experience that is a minimum more multifaceted and stratified: limiting himself to offering one-on-one matches, in addition to a skimpy arcade mode, the title Dotemu runs the risk of boring players too quickly, once the enthusiasm of this very pleasant (and excellently packaged) return has been disposed of. If you are interested in buying, therefore, we can not help but invite you to consider what the title has to offer.
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