Guacamelee! 2
A luchador's journey through the Mexiverse to save all timelines.
Guacamelee! 2 is a Metroidvania-style platformer from DrinkBox Studios, following up on the original Guacamelee!. It launched for PlayStation 4 and Windows in August 2018, reached Nintendo Switch on December 10 of that year, and arrived on Xbox One on January 18, 2019. Critics generally gave it positive marks.
In terms of gameplay, players control Juan Aguacate, a luchador who relies on punches, kicks, and wrestling grapples. Over the adventure, he regains many abilities from the first game, each tied to a specific color—like the red Rooster Uppercut, which boosts him upward, damages enemies above, and breaks red obstacles. Using a move makes Juan’s outline flash that color. He also picks up new skills—like stronger attacks or extra health—by completing challenges set by trainers scattered around the world. A major change is the chicken form: previously only for squeezing through tight spaces, it now has its own full combat moveset and special abilities. The game includes challenge rooms, supports solo play or co-op with up to three others, and offers more enemy types, abilities, and larger maps than its predecessor.
The story opens with a simplified recap of the first game’s final battle against Calaca, then jumps to the true ending where Juan saves Lupita, El Presidente’s Daughter. Seven years later, Juan and Lupita are married with two kids, but Juan has let himself go. Black clouds appear, and his mentor Uay Chivo warns him that the entire “Mexiverse” is in danger, pulling him through a portal to “The Darkest Timeline.” In that timeline, Calaca killed Juan and Lupita, and another luchador named Salvador defeated Calaca. Over seven years, Salvador’s mask corrupted him, and he now seeks three relics with help from his assistants: El Muñeco, Uay Pek, and the duo Zope and Cactuardo. Salvador aims to reach the Sacred Guacamole in El Otromundo and become all-powerful, but collecting the relics destabilizes all timelines. Juan reunites with Tostada, the Guardian of the Mask, to get back in fighting shape. They try to stop Salvador but fail; Salvador reaches the Sacred Guacamole. Juan defeats him, destroying the mask and killing Salvador, which restores the timelines but strands Juan in the Darkest Timeline. Remembering that El Otromundo connects all timelines, he jumps back in before it closes, gazing at countless portals.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Guacamelee! 2
- Developer
- DrinkBox Studios
- Series
- Guacamelee!
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Windows · Nintendo Switch · Xbox One
- Genre
- Metroidvania, platformer
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Released
- PlayStation 4, Windows / August 21, 2018 / Nintendo Switch / December 10, 2018 / Xbox One / January 18, 2019
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game begins with a simplified version of the first game's final confrontation, leading to the true ending where Juan saves Lupita. Seven years later, Juan is married with two children and out of shape. Black clouds appear, and his mentor Uay Chivo warns that the entire Mexiverse is in danger, bringing Juan to the Darkest Timeline where Salvador, corrupted by his mask, seeks three relics to access the Sacred Guacamole and become all-powerful. Juan reunites with Tostada to restore his fighting form, but ultimately fails to stop Salvador, who reaches the Sacred Guacamole. Juan defeats Salvador, destroying his mask and killing him, but cannot return to his own timeline until he leaps back into El Otromundo. In the normal ending, Juan's family waits years for his return; in the true ending, he removes his mask and identifies the correct portal to return immediately.
Reader's Guide
Guacamelee! 2 builds on its predecessor with more enemy types, abilities, and larger maps. It retains all moves from the original, such as the Rooster Uppercut, which provides vertical mobility and combat utility, and introduces a full chicken transformation with its own fighting moveset. The game can be played solo or cooperatively with up to three other players. Two downloadable content packs were released: Three Enemigos Pack (November 27, 2018) adds three character costumes with unique abilities and disadvantages, and The Proving Grounds (December 7, 2018) includes 15 challenge levels with bronze, silver, and gold medals, rewarding costumes including the Salvador costume. All DLC was later included in Guacamelee 2! Complete Edition. The game was nominated for Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D and Game, Franchise Action at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.
Did You Know?
- The game was not released for PlayStation Vita because DrinkBox used PlayStation 4 as the base platform for a new rendering engine.
- The chicken transformation in Guacamelee! 2 has its own full fighting moveset, unlike the first game where it was only for traversing small corridors.
- The Proving Grounds DLC includes 15 challenge levels with bronze, silver, and gold medals, and rewards the Salvador costume for completing all challenges with gold medals.
- The Three Enemigos Pack includes costumes for El Muñeco, Uay Pek, and Jaguar Javier, each with unique abilities and disadvantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Guacamelee! 2?
It is a Metroidvania-style platformer developed and published by DrinkBox Studios, serving as the sequel to the original Guacamelee!. Players follow Juan Aguacate, a luchador, on a journey through the Mexiverse to save all timelines.
What abilities does Juan Aguacate have in Guacamelee! 2?
Juan fights with punches, kicks, and wrestling grapples, and he gradually regains color-coded powers from the first game as he progresses. One example is the red Rooster Uppercut, which boosts him upward while dealing damage to enemies.
How does the story of Guacamelee! 2 end?
Juan ultimately completes his quest to restore the fractured timelines of the Mexiverse, fulfilling his role as a luchador protecting the multiverse. The narrative wraps up his arc as the champion who put everything on the line to save every version of reality.
Why is Guacamelee! 2 notable in the platforming genre?
It paired a tightly designed 2D combat system with a fully interconnected Metroidvania map, all wrapped in a lucha libre and Mexican mythological setting. Critics generally awarded it favorable reviews, reinforcing DrinkBox Studios' standing in the indie platformer space.
When and on which platforms was Guacamelee! 2 released?
The game launched on PlayStation 4 and Windows in August 2018, arrived on Nintendo Switch on December 10, 2018, and reached Xbox One on January 18, 2019. DrinkBox Studios handled both development and publishing across all four platforms.
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