Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sunsoft released Gimmick! on the NES in 1992, and over the years, it's built up a following that considers it to be one of the best games on the system (if not the best). Now, 32 years later, Bitwave, Clear River Games, and Sunsoft have gotten together to make a sequel for modern platforms.
I had never played the original Gimmick myself (I have watched a lot of streams of it, though), but I was still looking forward to trying this out given the reputation of the original. It always looked like an interesting game - the combination of the star, physics, and momentum-based platforming always looked fun to me. Gimmick 2 goes all in on those ideas, but they changed the game structure from the more classic arcade-like design of the original, to be more in line with today's popular platformer design. Meaning there's more focus on optional exploration (hidden areas you have to do some star tricks to reach), challenge rooms, and difficulty designed around checkpoints and infinite lives. If you know me, you know I always prefer traditional game design, but modern stuff can still be fun too when it's done well, and I had a great time playing Gimmick 2. The base mechanics are perfectly executed, and they make good use of them with all of the collectibles you can find. Most of them are totally optional cosmetic items, but there are 9 "stickers" hidden in secret rooms that you have to get if you want to get the real ending and the complete version of the last stage.
It was kinda hard figuring out how to make a video for this though. I figured my best bet was to just clear it without going out of my way for any collectibles, aside from the essential ones you need for the true end. At first, I was thinking I'd like to do each level from start to finish without a death, but by the time I got to the end, I knew that wasn't happening without practicing more than I have time for. So I ended up making use of a lot of the checkpoints in the last couple of stages. Sad! (I also used footage from a separate save file when collecting each sticker, because all progress is permanent in this game - meaning if I redid it in my main file, there would be nothing there to get, and it'd look silly).
I don't know if the super fans of the original game will like this one, but I thought it was a great platformer, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in trying it out. I don't think I've ever played anything like this, with the way it uses the star as a universal attack and traversal option etc. It's still pretty unique to me, although I don't play a lot of platformers.
Gimmick! 2 is available on Steam, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X for $24.99.
Thanks to Bitwave for providing me with a key! It took me a while to get this video done tbh, but better late than never, right?
0:00 Intro
1:13 Stage 1 - Midsummer Meadow
6:40 Sticker 1 - Daisy
7:38 Stage 2 - Tadpole Temple
16:11 Sticker 2 - Fruit Basket
19:34 Sticker 3 - Kholrabi's Broom
21:15 Stage 3 - Arctic Ascent
24:00 Sticker 4 - Cartridge
31:20 Sticker 5 - Cake
35:00 Stage 4 - Fishy Factory
37:55 Sticker 6 - Horse Adornment
45:28 Sticker 7 - Pickled Herring
52:40 Stage 5 - Cloud Castle
55:44 Sticker 8 - Tiny Cow
1:00:59 Sticker 9 - Crayons
1:05:48 Stage 6 - Sorcerer's Sanctuary
1:15:08 Ending & Credits
-----
Beat 'em Ups (e.g. Final Fight): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfI6IYca_kvMhpG1GR9sk8OYiWQMZZTgl
2D Action (e.g. Metal Slug): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfI6IYca_kvNFjpnJ59Th6N0IU1PSpD3d
STG/Shmups (e.g. Dodonpachi): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE6B3779BE759F71
Sunsoft released Gimmick! on the NES in 1992, and over the years, it's built up a following that considers it to be one of the best games on the system (if not the best). Now, 32 years later, Bitwave, Clear River Games, and Sunsoft have gotten together to make a sequel for modern platforms.
I had never played the original Gimmick myself (I have watched a lot of streams of it, though), but I was still looking forward to trying this out given the reputation of the original. It always looked like an interesting game - the combination of the star, physics, and momentum-based platforming always looked fun to me. Gimmick 2 goes all in on those ideas, but they changed the game structure from the more classic arcade-like design of the original, to be more in line with today's popular platformer design. Meaning there's more focus on optional exploration (hidden areas you have to do some star tricks to reach), challenge rooms, and difficulty designed around checkpoints and infinite lives. If you know me, you know I always prefer traditional game design, but modern stuff can still be fun too when it's done well, and I had a great time playing Gimmick 2. The base mechanics are perfectly executed, and they make good use of them with all of the collectibles you can find. Most of them are totally optional cosmetic items, but there are 9 "stickers" hidden in secret rooms that you have to get if you want to get the real ending and the complete version of the last stage.
It was kinda hard figuring out how to make a video for this though. I figured my best bet was to just clear it without going out of my way for any collectibles, aside from the essential ones you need for the true end. At first, I was thinking I'd like to do each level from start to finish without a death, but by the time I got to the end, I knew that wasn't happening without practicing more than I have time for. So I ended up making use of a lot of the checkpoints in the last couple of stages. Sad! (I also used footage from a separate save file when collecting each sticker, because all progress is permanent in this game - meaning if I redid it in my main file, there would be nothing there to get, and it'd look silly).
I don't know if the super fans of the original game will like this one, but I thought it was a great platformer, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in trying it out. I don't think I've ever played anything like this, with the way it uses the star as a universal attack and traversal option etc. It's still pretty unique to me, although I don't play a lot of platformers.
Gimmick! 2 is available on Steam, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X for $24.99.
Thanks to Bitwave for providing me with a key! It took me a while to get this video done tbh, but better late than never, right?
0:00 Intro
1:13 Stage 1 - Midsummer Meadow
6:40 Sticker 1 - Daisy
7:38 Stage 2 - Tadpole Temple
16:11 Sticker 2 - Fruit Basket
19:34 Sticker 3 - Kholrabi's Broom
21:15 Stage 3 - Arctic Ascent
24:00 Sticker 4 - Cartridge
31:20 Sticker 5 - Cake
35:00 Stage 4 - Fishy Factory
37:55 Sticker 6 - Horse Adornment
45:28 Sticker 7 - Pickled Herring
52:40 Stage 5 - Cloud Castle
55:44 Sticker 8 - Tiny Cow
1:00:59 Sticker 9 - Crayons
1:05:48 Stage 6 - Sorcerer's Sanctuary
1:15:08 Ending & Credits
-----
Beat 'em Ups (e.g. Final Fight): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfI6IYca_kvMhpG1GR9sk8OYiWQMZZTgl
2D Action (e.g. Metal Slug): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfI6IYca_kvNFjpnJ59Th6N0IU1PSpD3d
STG/Shmups (e.g. Dodonpachi): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE6B3779BE759F71
