Hylics 2
{{Short description|2020 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Hylics 2
| developer = Mason Lindroth
| platforms = Microsoft Windows, MacOS
| genre = Role-playing, platformer
| released = June 22, 2020
| engine = Unity
| artist = Mason Lindroth
| designer = Mason Lindroth
| composer = Mason Lindroth, Chuck Salamone
| image = Hylics-2-cover-art.webp
}}
Hylics 2 is a 2020 role-playing video game developed by Mason Lindroth. It is the sequel to the 2015 game Hylics. Set in a surreal and intentionally absurd world, the protagonist Wayne must stop the resurrection of the tyrant king Gibby by his minions. Battles take place in a turn-based RPG format, similarly to its predecessor, but gameplay in the overworld is expanded upon, prominently featuring platforming elements. The game was acclaimed for its unique claymation visuals and psychedelic funk score composed by Lindroth and Chuck Salamone.
Gameplay
File:Hylics 2 Battle screen.webp
Hylics 2 is a turn-based RPG with similarities to traditional JRPGs.{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=James |date=2020-06-22 |title=Hylics 2 feels like a long-lost RPG from the 1970s |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hylics-2-feels-like-a-long-lost-rpg-from-the-1970s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053606/https://www.pcgamer.com/hylics-2-feels-like-a-long-lost-rpg-from-the-1970s/ |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2020-06-22 |title=Claymation RPG Hylics 2 is out now |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/claymation-rpg-hylics-2-is-out-now |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127101748/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/claymation-rpg-hylics-2-is-out-now |archive-date=2023-11-27 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} It takes place in a surreal and absurd world,{{Cite news |last=Macgregor |first=Jody |date=2020-06-22 |title=Absurdist RPG Hylics 2 will be out tomorrow, here's a weird trailer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/absurdist-rpg-hylics-2-will-be-out-tomorrow-heres-a-weird-trailer/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} with some horror elements.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Allisa |date=2022-10-22 |title=This week's top PC games are made of fever dreams and horrifying retro reality |url=https://www.techradar.com/features/this-weeks-top-pc-games-are-made-of-fever-dreams-and-horrifying-retro-reality |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} The player character Wayne assembles a party of characters, fights enemies, and explore a 3D world, finding hidden treasure. Exploration is sometimes done in an airship, which has been compared to Final Fantasy.{{Cite web |last=Devore |first=Jordan |date=2020-06-22 |title=Hylics 2 is out on Steam and I can't look away |url=https://www.destructoid.com/hylics-2-is-out-on-steam-and-i-cant-look-away/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US}} Unlike the first game, the sequel contains 3D platforming elements, and contains a segment of dungeon-crawling in first-person. The player can dodge enemies with a variety of moves. The plot of the game involves Wayne attempting to stop the resurrection of the first game's antagonist, the tyrant king Gibby, by his minions. There are many versions of Wayne in the world, of various shapes and designs. The player characters gain more flesh (hit points) by putting the meat of dead enemies and Waynes in a meat grinder. When all party members' flesh hits 0, the player and their reality dissolve.
Development
{{See also|Hylics}}
The game is a sequel to the 2015 RPG Hylics, both developed by Mason Lindroth.{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=2018-01-18 |title=Claymation JRPG Hylics 2 Is Looking Twisted As Heck |url=https://kotaku.com/claymation-jrpg-hylics-2-is-looking-twisted-as-heck-1822166645 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118053605/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/01/claymation-jrpg-hylics-2-is-looking-twisted-as-heck/ |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Kotaku |language=en-AU}} The sequel's plot contains motifs of the first game, but can be understood without playing the first game. While the first game was developed in RPG Maker, the sequel was developed in the Unity engine, allowing for the visuals and gameplay to be further fleshed out. Hylics 2 uses a psychedelic claymation visual style, a relatively rare animation technique in games.{{Cite news |last=Zavarise |first=Giada |date=2018-03-31 |title=Remembering Hylics, the surreal art RPG |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/remembering-hylics-the-surreal-art-rpg/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} Behind-the-scenes photos of the process were released in 2023.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2023-01-18 |title=I adore these Hylics secrets of handcrafted art and actual hands |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-adore-these-hylics-secrets-of-handcrafted-art-and-actual-hands |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053607/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-adore-these-hylics-secrets-of-handcrafted-art-and-actual-hands |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} Lindroth supported the sequel's development with a public fundraising campaign.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2018-11-06 |title=Hylics 2 continues to look chuffing gorgeous |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hylics-2-trailer-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053606/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hylics-2-trailer-2 |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} The game's psychedelic funk score was made by Mason Lindroth and Chuck Salamone.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2021-10-01 |title=Our video game music recommendations for Bandcamp Friday |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/our-video-game-music-recommendations-for-bandcamp-friday |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053608/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/our-video-game-music-recommendations-for-bandcamp-friday |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}}
The game was announced with a trailer in January 2018, with a planned release date for later that year.{{Cite web |last=Ruppert |first=Liana |date=4 February 2018 |title=Hylics 2's Preview Trailer is Bizarrely Perfect and Just as Trippy as its Predecessor |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/hylics-2-psychedelic-game-steam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053606/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/hylics-2-psychedelic-game-steam/ |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Devore |first=Jordan |date=2018-01-20 |title=Hylics 2 is a total fever dream and I love it |url=https://www.destructoid.com/hylics-2-is-a-total-fever-dream-and-i-love-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053606/https://www.destructoid.com/hylics-2-is-a-total-fever-dream-and-i-love-it/ |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US}} Another trailer was released in November, and by then, the release date had shifted to summer 2019. The game was released on June 22, 2020 on the Steam and Itch.io platforms for Microsoft Windows and MacOS.{{Cite web |title=Hylics 2 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hylics-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202053606/https://www.metacritic.com/game/hylics-2/ |archive-date=2024-02-02 |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}
Reception
The game was acclaimed upon its release, with significant praise being given to its visual style. Rock Paper Shotgun writer Alice O'Connor claimed the game had some of the best visuals and music in gaming. The visuals were compared to the video game Clayfighter, artist Bruce Bickford's works, and the movie Fantastic Planet, while the score was compared to Frank Zappa's music. The in-game models, animations, and battles were considered improved from the first game. In 2021, PC Gamer named Hylics 2 as having one of their favorite title screens in gaming.{{Cite news |last=Macgregor |first=Jody |date=2021-01-06 |title=Our favorite title screens and main menus in PC gaming |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/our-favorite-title-screens-and-main-menus-in-pc-gaming/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415102411/https://www.pcgamer.com/our-favorite-title-screens-and-main-menus-in-pc-gaming/ |archive-date=2024-04-15 |access-date=2024-02-02 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} Early user reviews criticized elements of the platforming, and the length of battles.