qomp2 is a puzzle arcade recreation developed by Graphite Lab and revealed by Atari. This sequel is the successor to qomp, which was initially launched in 2021. I by no means performed the primary recreation, so qomp2 is my introduction to this reimagining of Pong.
On this recreation, you play as Pong, the ball, trying to interrupt free from between the 2 paddles. Although it’s implied, there’s no dialogue or straight story to observe. The sport begins with Pong bouncing backwards and forwards between two paddles, introducing the sprint mechanic immediately. Controls are straightforward sufficient—maintain ZR to cost up Pong and launch to sprint. The A button adjustments Pong’s course, shifting up or down. Nevertheless, you could hit the wall if you wish to flip round. Whereas the controls are straightforward sufficient, that doesn’t imply the gameplay is easy.
Every degree is sort of a maze with gentle puzzles to resolve and different obstacles to bypass so you may get out and transfer on to the subsequent stage. These would possibly embody spinning levers, spikes, breakable partitions, wind tunnels, water, and extra. It took me a while to determine the mechanics to beat a few of these obstacles. For instance, when in water, Pong strikes slowly and sinks. In order for you the ball to maneuver barely sooner and upward, you could make it “swim” by tapping the A button. qomp2 does an excellent job personifying a ball.
The puzzles aren’t essentially the difficult half, although. It’s the motion. Two buttons are straightforward to recollect, however the gameplay is all about using angles to govern the place you need Pong to go. This implies you is likely to be caught in a single room for a while as you get the angle excellent so as to get the ball in a particular spot. It wasn’t at all times straightforward; geometry isn’t my sturdy swimsuit. Truthfully, if it weren’t for the accessibility choices, I most likely would have rage give up.
I turned off the fish eye and display screen shake as a result of I discovered these to be too jarring when enjoying the sport. Different choices for accessibility included hints (which I turned on, although I by no means seen what the hints have been) and raycast. I turned that on because it’ll present you the place your ball is headed. That helped me work out the angles and resolve the place I wished the ball to go.
It wasn’t till I acquired actually caught on a degree that I went again into the choices in a determined try and see if anything would assist. I’m glad I did as a result of an alternative choice was there: invincibility. By default, it was turned off. I don’t bear in mind seeing that possibility there earlier than, so I ponder if the sport did that on function to make sure you strive truly enjoying the sport first, which is intelligent. I turned invincibility on; positive sufficient, nothing within the ranges damage me. I may cruise by means of the half I used to be caught on, solely having to fret concerning the angles and my motion. I turned the choice on and off relying on once I was actually caught. I’ll admit, there was one degree in World Three the place I had it on for the entire degree. I might have been there for ages in any other case.
It feels like qomp2 is an extended recreation. It’s, and it isn’t. There are 30 ranges whole, however they’re comparatively brief. Typically, I by chance discovered a shortcut to the tip that allowed me to skip your entire degree. There are not any timers, and frequent checkpoints seem on the ranges. You’ll die loads, but it surely’s not unforgiving. The sport additionally autosaves in between ranges. So, you may simply decide up and play this title everytime you need. There’s one collectible in every degree, including some replayability for those who don’t acquire all of them the primary time.
After a couple of ranges, you’ll face boss fights, that are cleverly executed. For instance, the primary boss is a giant paddle that you’ll want to sprint into a couple of occasions to kill it. The bosses get extra in-depth and distinctive the deeper you get into the sport.
Total, qomp2 is a straightforward recreation, however it would maintain you considering. You’ll at all times should be one step forward to make sure the ball goes the place you want it to. It’s difficult however not unforgiving, permitting you to retry the degrees as many occasions as you may deal with. Or, for a extra informal expertise, undergo the entire recreation with invincibility on.