Turrets let you juggle numerous foes…before they explode.Only Shank could slice through an airborne helicopter (pilot and all), dive into a lake below, rip the jaws from a shark, and then emerge coolly onto a nearby shore with a straight face. That’s part of why we dig this series so much: it’s so serious about its grindhouse-inspired brand of ultraviolence that we can’t help but crack up and have a great time.
It doesn’t hurt that this slick sequel maintains much of what made the original a Live Arcade standout, with wickedly fluid 2D combat that lets you effortlessly swap between dual blades, pistols, and a chainsaw — or our favorite, the body-shredding shotgun. Little tweaks like 360-degree firearm aiming and amusing found weapons (including a fish and a kitchen sink) help keep this second go-round from feeling stale, and bless developer Klei Entertainment for implementing a separate button this time for picking up items, alleviating the problem Shank had with multiple actions assigned to one button.
The meat grinder (bottom middle) makes this Survival map especially fun. Open the hatch so foes fall in; just make sure you don’t fall in yourself!Shank 2’s hand-drawn visuals impress throughout, even if the hero’s quest to decimate an evil militia isn’t quite as compelling as the first game’s twisted revenge tale. Whereas Shank offered separate solo and co-op campaigns, though, this sequel replaces the latter with a wave-based Survival mode in which a local or online pal can help you protect ammo crates by slaughtering baddies and spending funds on crucial power-ups. We miss the co-op missions, but the three Survival maps are a light, thrillingly tense, and hilarious addition.
Shank 2 isn’t quite as robust or refreshing as its predecessor, but it’s another damn fine (and fun!) downloadable adventure. At $10 (five bucks less than the original Shank), it’s well worth buying.
PUBLISHER: EA • DEVELOPER: Klei Entertainment • ESRB: Mature • MULTIPLAYER: 2 on same screen or Xbox Live • ACHIEVEMENTS: Intense • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)
+ Immensely satisfying combat oozes style; dazzling visuals; avoids Shank’s control issues.
+ Survival mode is entertainingly frantic (and funny).
– No co-op campaign this time; solo story lacks punch.
? Zombies in survival mode? Why? (Then again, why not?)
