The Hammerin’ Harry/Daiku no Gen-San collection continued from 1990 to the final sport, Hammerin’ Hero, in 2009. Nevertheless, solely the primary sport was launched in arcades. After the unique Hammerin’ Harry, the collection shifted fully to house platforms.

Whether or not or not a sport within the collection can be launched within the West, nonetheless, was one other matter. In actual fact, solely the arcade authentic and the aforementioned Hammerin’ Hero would attain North America, although two different titles would at the very least discover their solution to Europe. The second Famicom/NES title, 1993’s Daiku no Gen-san 2: Akage no Dan no Gyakushō was not one among them.

That’s till Retro-Bit translated and reissued it. It was given to me as a part of the Hammerin’ Harry Concrete Assortment, which I used to be fairly excited to strive. I lined the primary Hammerin’ Harry final week, so now it’s time to dive into the extra elusive sequel.

Robo-fitness

Hammerin’ Harry 2: Dan the Pink Strikes Again looks like a reasonably easy sequel while you begin out. You as soon as once more play because the eponymous carpenter, and his sprite, moveset, and even powerups are the identical as they have been within the first sport. The primary stage even takes place on the Pointless Markup Mall, which was beneath development within the authentic sport. Nevertheless, it doesn’t keep all that reminiscent.

The story this time round is that the ti… the sub-titular Dan the Pink is harassing Harry to try to get revenge, whereas Dr. Parallel appears to drag the strings within the background. Apparently, Harry’s girlfriend, Donna, has been kidnapped, however I don’t keep in mind it developing very a lot. I believe she was in misery within the first sport, as nicely, however that type of simply felt like a formality in mimicking the standard ‘80s protagonist motivation.

After going by some development areas, Hammerin’ Harry 2 begins to shift increasingly into sci-fi. There’s a manufacturing facility, then you definitely’re on some practice in an underground tunnel, then there’s a bunch of secret base stuff. The bosses are sometimes Dan driving on some type of large robotic formed like an animal. However that’s actually solely the beginning of the place issues differ.

What struck me most is that Hammerin’ Harry 2 locations extra emphasis on platforming than fight. Whereas there was a stability of this within the earlier sport, a variety of its focus was positioned on enduring assaults from enemies. With the sequel, you’re extra prone to be killed by the sting of the display screen than waves of foes.

It’s fantastic. The controls are strong sufficient to make platforming fulfilling, however I really feel that while you’re wielding a giant hammer, the sport needs to be extra targeted on offering nails. Towards the top of the sport, there have been only a few enemies, leaving you to hop round in full isolation. If there was something that may merely take a chip off your well being bar, it was often lasers or spikes; issues that aren’t as receptive to a blunt weapon. I really feel like among the identification is changed by one thing much less satisfying.

Quite a lot of the expressiveness of the primary sport isn’t there, both. I remarked that the artwork in Hammerin’ Harry, whereas clearly affected by the NES’ limitations, may be very detailed, however a lot of that’s misplaced within the sequel. It’s not utterly devoid of life, nor does it look unhealthy, however as compared, there’s lots much less love in its presentation. 

All the pieces seems like a nail

However, it nonetheless will get fairly artistic at instances. I discussed the tunnel practice earlier on, and the quickest method for a sport to succeed in my coronary heart is by practice. For some cause, transferring trains are my favourite stage setting, whether or not you’re on them, in them, or driving them. This one has robots on it. They do sit-ups and shoot lasers like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots engaged on their seashore bods. It’s simply too unhealthy the extent isn’t that a lot enjoyable.

In a while, there’s a pair of scrolling shoot-’em-up phases the place Harry hops in a rocket mallet. It’s a charmingly amusing phase, however sadly, they’re not a lot enjoyable both. There’s solely a handful of poorly thought-out weapons, and enemies will solely spawn in at perhaps two at a time, assumedly to not push the sprites numbers into flicker territory. They’re fairly boring.

To its credit score, Hammerin’ Harry 2 is a bit longer at eight ranges over the earlier sport’s 5. The truth that it’s additionally not as a lot enjoyable as its predecessor implies that, by the point it’s throughout, you’re not precisely hungry for extra. That’s damning with reward, so I’ll try to lighten that assertion by saying it’s not all that unhealthy. It’s simply whereas Hammerin’ Harry had a variety of appeal that made it stand out regardless of its weaknesses, Hammerin’ Harry 2 simply doesn’t.

Stable

Retro-Bit’s translation is fairly strong, however there wasn’t a tonne of textual content to vary to start with. It sticks fairly near the beforehand current one of many first sport. What I did discover bizarre is that they left the voice clips of their authentic Japanese as a substitute of fixing them to be just like the localization of the primary sport. So, as a substitute of his trademark “Let’s get busy,” Harry says “Ikuze!” like a big portion of Japan’s early online game protagonists. Extra confusingly, nonetheless, is that the top stage voice screams “GEN-SAAAAN!” as a substitute of “H’MM’RNHRY.” I suppose for those who’re shopping for this sport, Harry’s authentic title, nevertheless it feels a bit misplaced.

If it was as straightforward as merely altering the voice clips, I assume that Retro-Bit would have simply performed it, so there’s seemingly a cause why they have been left as is. To make up for it, the textual content does comprise a heaping of hammer puns. A+ proper there.

The manufacturing of the bodily cartridge is nearly as good because it was with Hammerin’ Harry. You’ll be able to reference that article for a broader overview. This time round, the cartridge is made to appear like concrete, and it’s a bit extra convincing than the woodgrain of the primary sport. Each are fairly fantastic bodily reissues. The duvet for Hammerin’ Harry 2 isn’t actually nice, nevertheless it’s just about what the Famicom model seemed like, so it’s what it’s.

Dangit!

It’s good to have the ability to play a localized Hammerin’ Harry 2 in an official capability, however the sport itself is lower than spectacular. I believe my primary problem is that, only a week in the past, I mentioned that the primary Hammerin’ Harry “may not be the console’s greatest sidescroller, nevertheless it’s positively not boring.” This time round, I’m extra of the opinion that Hammerin’ Harry 2 is likely to be removed from the console’s worst sidescroller, nevertheless it’s positively boring.

It’s a disgrace, as a result of I hoped that the collection can be extra of a fixture for me on the console. I hoped for a extra Duck Tales/Duck Tales 2 state of affairs the place after taking part in one, the closeness in high quality makes taking part in by the second an apparent alternative. Right here, I’m not so certain. There’s extra of a gulf in enjoyment. I’ll, nonetheless, should look into the later video games within the collection. Particularly, maybe, the SNES and PSP video games that may observe. As for Hammerin’ Harry 2, it’s, sadly, not the sharpest instrument within the field.

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