Before this review, I wasn’t familiar with Ganryu whatsoever and that is perhaps because the first title was available back in the 90s for the NEOGEO platform. So like with any other game I am picking up on a sequel with, I always like to do a little research before I dive into the experience. The original is very similar to this instalment in the fact it is a side-scrolling hack and slash platformer which takes some clear inspiration from classics such as Shinobi and Strider.

I am obsessed with anything that involves martial arts or ninjas to the point where my entire arm is covered with tattoos of samurais, dragons and lotus flowers. So I naturally gravitated toward Ganryu 2 and whilst it has retro visuals that mimic games of the early 90’s, some of the games in this genre filled my childhood with enjoyment so I was eager to see whether this game could scratch that itch.

Introduction

I can’t think of many people who would look at this title and remember the first one, but over two decades later and we have a follow-on. Because I haven’t played the first, there aren’t any direct comparisons that I can make both in story and gameplay. Ganryu 2 however, takes inspiration from the story of Takezo Musashi “The Stone And The Sword” which is according to what I’ve read, one of the most famous Japanese books in history from the 1930s. Here you’ll be traversing through the four seasons of the year in 17th Century Japan in an attempt to defeat the spirit of an already slain enemy.

Gameplay

The game starts off as any platformer from the 90s would and that is scrolling from left to right and tackling anything that the game throws at you. You do have to be on your toes though as this is one of the most difficult games I’ve played in a long while. There are no difficulty options to choose from and the game is punishing. You die on your level run and you start all over again, no checkpoints or get out of jail free cards here.

There aren’t a horde of ways to defeat enemies but there are some special abilities and other options other than your sword that you can use along the way. Throwing knives and a deadly dash that will glide through and damage enemies are the other possibilities you can utilise to attack your foe. Your sword can be used to block attacks and deflect projectiles that come towards you, this takes precision to get right though. There is a great variety of enemy types and they range in how hard they are to beat, but I found that whilst you can recover health from damage at times during a level, these opportunities are scarce so tread carefully.

Boss Fights Are Present

There are boss fights throughout the game and I found that you do need to perform well through the level prior to encountering them. The reason for this is that you’ll want all your health intact to give yourself the best possible chance to come out alive. These interactions are as you’d expect, it’s all about learning the placement of where you are required to be in with a chance of responsive attacks and strategising your movements.

Graphics & Audio

Ganryu 2 oozes nostalgia and takes us back to the late days of the cartridge era. Whilst most have moved on and may not be a fan of retro 16-bit visuals, this is one of the more beautifully presented ones in the bag. The backdrops are especially impressive and awash with both dark and vibrant shades replicating stunning sunsets and Japanese infrastructure and architecture. Character and enemy design is solid and the way they are constructed allows them to blend in with the atmosphere. It makes a very challenging game all the more aesthetically pleasing as a package and it’s a solid love letter to games of that past timeframe.

The audio is as you’d expect from a game of this style and setting. Any storytelling is text-based and there is no spoken narrative, the rest of the sound design is well-integrated music and the thrash of your blade.

In Conclusion

I have to admit that when I went into Ganryu 2 I immediately thought of playing Shinobi on the Sega Mega Drive. It has the same essence of quality in all areas, it appears similar in its presentation and it had a difficulty bar that is almost identical. I enjoyed my incredibly tough time with this one and whilst most levels took several attempts for me to master, that is what gave the adventure the longevity it deserves. Combat feels satisfying for the most part and you feel like you have really achieved something when you complete each level. Whilst the game is pretty short, it is quality more than quantity here and if you love games that are ruthless with no options to make things easier, then this is one for you. Ganryu 2 is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5 and Nintendo Switch.