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Gimmick! 2 is a platform video game developed by Bitwave Games and published by Sunsoft and Clear River Games. Gimmick! 2 released in September 2024 for the Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.[1] It is the sequel to the game Gimmick!, released in 1992 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
| Gimmick! 2 | |
|---|---|
 Box art | |
| Developer(s) | Bitwave Games |
| Publisher(s) | Sunsoft Clear River Games |
| Director(s) | Niklas Istenes |
| Producer(s) | Marcus Ingvarsson Marco Podda |
| Composer(s) | David Wise Joel Bille |
| Series | Gimmick! |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S |
| Release | September 5, 2024 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer, Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | |
The game is light on story, centering on the yōkai protagonist Yumetaro, who embarks on a magical journey to rescue the young daughter of his former companion, a girl who has since grown up and passed Yumetaro to her child. When the child is mysteriously taken away, Yumetaro leaps through a portal into challenging, spike-filled levels where he can skip, jump, and run. Gimmick! 2 retains much of the original game's mechanics, though the classic sprite-based visuals have been upgraded to high-resolution graphics. The core gameplay revolves around mastering star-conjuring techniques, letting players ride stars to reach hidden collectibles that require precise timing and aim.[2]
Gimmick! 2 can be played in an easier "assisted mode" or, in the more challenging "Gimmick!" mode which stays true to the original game's level of difficulty.[3]
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1992's Gimmick! originally gained limited recognition due to its restricted release in Japan and Scandinavia, but it became highly regarded by NES enthusiasts and industry figures like Shigeru Miyamoto and Masahiro Sakurai for its advanced mechanics, unique level design, and the technical feat of its physics-based star mechanic.[4]
Decades after the release of Gimmick!, Swedish developer and game director Niklas Istenes—a devoted fan of the original game—was dedicated to revive the classic by creating a sequel. Istenes founded Bitwave Games with the ambition of reintroducing Gimmick! to modern audiences. Initially, however, his efforts to acquire the rights from Sunsoft were met with resistance, largely due to Bitwave's lack of industry experience.[4]
The opportunity for a renewed partnership with Sunsoft arose after Embracer Group, a prominent Swedish video game company, acquired Bitwave. This acquisition strengthened Bitwave's credibility and allowed Istenes to approach Sunsoft once more, this time successfully securing the rights to develop Gimmick! 2.[4]
During Embracer's significant restructuring in 2023, layoffs threatened the project's continuity. Lead programmer Olof Karlsson, who had previously taken leave due to burnout, returned to the team, motivated by their collective dedication to bring the sequel to life. In an effort to stay true to Gimmick!'s core experience, the team chose to streamline gameplay, focusing on the essential elements that defined the original and reducing any extraneous features.[4]
Despite the setbacks, Bitwave Games succeeded in releasing both a rerelease of the original Gimmick!, titled Gimmick! Special Edition on July 6, 2023,[5] as well as a sequel, Gimmick! 2, on September 5, 2024.
Tomomi Sakai, the developer of the original Gimmick!, was not involved in the development of Gimmick! 2, since he had left Sunsoft years prior. Tomomi only learned about the project when it was publicly announced, for which Bitwave Games later issued an apology.[6]
The game was developed using Unreal Engine 5.[7]
Music
David Wise created the soundtrack for Gimmick! 2.[3] The soundtrack was recorded live in Sweden in collaboration with Joel Bille and creatively overseen by Pelle Cahndlerby.[3]
The game's music features both remixes of tracks from the original Gimmick! and new compositions, incorporating live-recorded instruments that blend traditional Swedish sounds, like the nyckelharpa, with Japanese musical influences to honor the game's Japanese roots.[8]
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