Andro Dunos 2 Analysis

The shooting party returns thanks to Andro Dunos 2

If there was one genre that was oversaturating the 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade console market, it was ship shooters. Its easy development and simple gameplay have been cannon fodder for us to see a thousand similar proposals. Many of these games stood out, but others were instantly forgotten due to this massive surge. Among those relegated to the background is Andro Dunos, a side-scrolling direct-action proposition. Lucky last year just for games and Picorine Soft They took this IP out of the memory vault to make it a second part that pixel lovers will see.

Breaking the Highscore Barrier

From its origins in NEO-GEO, this old school shmup has expanded its realms through its continuation on various consoles throughout 2021. Luckily for Xbox users, since July of this year, we’ve been able to enjoy this kick pure and hard nostalgia that his proposal radiates. A full-fledged side-scrolling shooter, with eight phases to beat and with tough and rodent final enemies that will make things difficult for us. Or at least at first, until we internalize their attack patterns and everything is much more bearable.

Calm, Andro Dunos 2 is not a ball-hell

impossible to beat. In fact, with practice and knowing how to choose the type of move, you can finish the game in an hour. Of course, until we reach that point, we will surely bite the dust due to our little oversights or ignorance of the rival’s attack. And among many of its virtues, the main one for me is its accessibility, despite the sex to which he belongs. If we die, it will be our fault. Or for not having seen a stray bullet from the enemy, for not having chosen the right shot or for an imprudence committed on the screen. It makes you want to play again to improve your skills and not take the game for impossible.

Plasma to eradicate an alien legion

In our hands we will have an arsenal of the most common clichés in this type of spaceship shooters. Shots that only point forward, another type of bullet that spreads in a fan, a laser that emits its beams diagonally or another that protects our back by launching a burst of bullets backwards. Each of them accompanied by guided missiles which will also have their own behavior according to the plan we choose.

I said before that Dunos day 2 It was an accessible game and another reason for this qualification is because of the weapon upgrade systems. In many shooters of the same kind, if we die in advanced screens and we lose all the improvements obtained, we can be considered dead. Not here, since it’s quick to bring our favorite weapons to max level. All you have to do is collect the blue spheres the enemies drop and get the most points to redeem the upgrades at the end of each phase. And while we may not be well equipped at some point, this is not a title that taps into “brute force”, but rather into skill and know how to attack a specific enemy.

The ace up the sleeve of the ship Yellow Cherry

Of course, they couldn’t miss the special attacks, also adapted to the shot that we have selected at the time of executing it. Although we can use them relatively easily and regularly, one thing must be taken into account is that when using this devastating shot, the level of the weapon will drop to the minimum possible for a limited time. This is not very worrying since there will be other weapons at our disposal, but it gives a strategic touch to the skirmishes that will take place in space.

back to 1992

Graphically we find a classic product, with a pixelation that will undoubtedly remind us of those good arcade games of our childhood/adolescence. can choose either full screen or 4:3 with side stripes (for me the preferred option so that the pixels are not “expanded” more than necessary). We can even select a CTR filter that gives a more retro touch to the material.

Despite this trip to the past that Andro Dunos 2 offers us, it is true that they could have gone out of their way to include something more revolutionary. A visual element that would show us what can be done today without neglecting aesthetics pixel art. Without going any further, we saw it with the last match of the Ninja Turtles: You can revive a game from the past with a current facelift, and I’ve never seen that happen.

Conclusion of Andro Dunos 2

Those missing a side-scrolling ship shooter can be happy with the title the folks at Just for Games and Picorinne Soft have developed. Taking up the essence of the original game released in 1992, we will have to face several phases using only our ability, the different types of shots and the guided missiles that our ship has.

Andro Dunos 2 is very conservative, both in its playable scheme and in its graphics section. While no one is bothered by a return to arcade nostalgia, it’s true that there’s a lack of innovation or visuals that grab our attention. Fortunately, despite these shortcomings, we are faced with a shmup which does not become a hell and is accessible to all types of users. This does not mean that it is easy, but little by little we will assimilate patterns, combat strategies and the ability to defeat all the armies of evil that come our way.