After the considerable success the first Guns, Gore & Cannoli had amongst critics and players alike, Crazy Monkey Studios repeated the winning formula and delivered an unexpected sequel in the shape of another quirky, fun and fast paced 2D side-scrolling run-and-gun game. Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 is a direct sequel and, to some extent, a very simple one. The developers did not try to reinvent the game or its core mechanics; basically, everything that made Guns, Gore & Cannoli great in the first place is back and, while some things here and there are polished, the game feels like a direct continuation of its predecessor. But, hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

16 years have passed since the events of the first game, the roaring 20’s lay far behind and our hardboiled Italian antihero gangster is back. Now, it is up to him to uncover the malevolent plans of the ominously called “Dark Don”. Trying to make it through the end in one piece, Vinnie finds himself back in the middle of the zombie infested Chicagoesque city Thugtown, and even makes it to Europe just in time to storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. The game knows what it is and relies on this honesty. This over the top narrative is simply the byproduct of the same quirkiness the first game delivered. After all, it’s not every day that you get to control the caricature of an Italian mobster fighting cops, thugs, zombies and Nazis in the same game. To be fair, one does not stick around for the story in the Guns, Gore & Cannoli series, but for its amazingly crafted gameplay. Actually, sometimes, the story just gets in the middle and, thankfully, there is an option to skip cutscenes which, although beautifully animated, just feel a little bit flat in the narrative and creative department. Vinnie’s one liners are fun and witty, but the dialogue falls short and there is definitively room for improvement differentiating and fleshing out characters.

Being a run-and-gun 2D side-scrolling one, comparisons to staples of the genre, such as Contra and the Metal Slug series are impossible to avoid. Just like these games, Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 keeps it simple. The game mechanics are few but feel very natural to get used to. You get to move around, duck, jump, double jump, midair somersault and roll in order to dodge but those movements are more than enough to give total control over your character and the environment. Similarly, when it comes to attacking, controls are rather simple and very well-conceived. Your arsenal will just keep getting bigger as the game progresses. You start with only a baseball bat, which quickly becomes a very opportune chainsaw, and, before you know it, you’re navigating through a very elegant and simple pop-up wheel in order to choose from a wide variety of fire arms: from handguns to Tommy guns, from shotguns to flamethrowers and everything in between. These weapons tend to be very versatile and can serve to any playstyle, although some of the weaker weapons will prove themselves useless once the big guns are in play. Still, the comedic effect and the mayhem the weapons create are appreciated. Furthermore, Vinnie can also kick doors open and apply the same treatment to his foes, sending them flying.

It is worth noting that the environment responds heavily to all the gunning Vinnie does. Most buildings feature a lot of destructible parts. You can, for examples, destroy chandeliers or AC units for them to fall on your enemies or make holes in the ground. This also serves as a way of traversing the levels with guns blazing.

Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2’s comic book style is very charismatic and visually impressive. The animations are not only well crafted but also serve the comedic tone of the game. The levels have a lot of tiny details that really make you feel like part of a bigger world. In the audio department, the music featured in the game helps create the atmosphere of the decade. Some radios in the levels will sometimes play tunes reminiscing of that period, such as Big Band jazz. The weapons’ audio effects, the dismemberment and even the enemies’ shouts have been given enough attention to slot perfectly into their places.

Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 is worth playing because of its amazing gameplay and, although the campaign only lasts for about 4 hours, its replay value is prominent. The game leaves you wanting more and it is possible for you to dive back in the action. There’s also a drop-in drop-out co-op mode available both locally and online. Up to four gangsters can play the campaign together with no significant reduction on frame rate or any other obstacle present. That being said, it’s ideally experienced with two or three players, as when four people blow stuff up, things can get a bit too chaotic.

Simply put, Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 brings a lot of fun to the table. In between its tight mechanics and the possibility to play with others, it’s an excellent candidate to become a go-to party game. 

Sarwar Ron, NoobFeed
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