Developer Monomi Park has returned to its slime-tastic origins, greater than 9 years after the Early Entry launch of Slime Rancher, with its much-anticipated follow-up, Slime Rancher 2. The sport’s developer first launched Slime Rancher 2 by way of Early Entry in 2022, and after three years, it bid farewell because it lastly slime dunked its means onto consoles and PCs.
Slime Rancher 2 units out to proceed the epic adventures of rancher and protagonist, Beatrix “Bea” LeBeau, however this time round, in a model new location, the Rainbow Island. This new location is stuffed to the brim with new slimes to look after, mysteries to uncover, and areas to discover as Slime Rancher 2 goals to ship an even bigger, slime-filled journey, one thing the developer has lengthy sought to offer because the authentic sport’s launch.
A Courageous New Slime-tastic World
This much-anticipated sequel to the 2016 farming sim sport from indie studio Monomi Park continues the story as our protagonist, Beatrix “Bea” LeBeau, heads off to Rainbow Island for a model new journey and extra slimes to wrangle! Whereas the journey that introduced her to this new location is considerably cloaked in thriller, equally intriguing are the secrets and techniques that Bea will uncover throughout her keep on Rainbow Island.
As talked about earlier, Slime Rancher 2 spent three years in Early Entry, permitting the developer to proceed creating the sport, hearken to group suggestions, and patch up much-needed fixes earlier than transport its 1.0 model to consoles and PCs. Now, prepared in its closing jiggly type, gamers can lastly decide up the story of Bea as she units off to unknown territory with a brand new journey awaiting her on Rainbow Island!
A lot of what many beloved about Slime Rancher is current in its sequel, like its gameplay loop of wrangling new squishing slimes, farming Plorts, exchanging them for foreign money, and upgrading Bea’s tech to discover the island additional. By the best way, there are a couple of new slimes, options, and many extra for brand new and returning gamers to wrangle with when leaping into Slime Rancher 2.
It is Plortin’ Time!
Let’s be sincere: one has by no means performed Slime Rancher, and to at least one’s shock and horror, it is actually a very good factor we received to expertise this sport by way of its sequel. On this open-world simulation sequel, Bea boards a mysterious boat that crosses the Slime Sea, escorting her to Rainbow Island, the place not solely will she encounter new and returning slimes and distinctive assets to gather, but in addition uncover historic know-how that she will be able to be taught and use to navigate her new environment.
From the get-go, gamers are given the choice to activate or off a couple of gameplay settings to make their time and experiences on Rainbow Island smoother. The largest gameplay choice is concerning the Tarr and Feral Slimes spawning on the island, as these slimes are extremely hostile and is usually a nuisance to cope with when exploring, so for a extra cozy gameplay expertise, turning them off can be smart.
Every new space on the Rainbow Island is generally straightforward to entry, with exceptions for the Powderfall Bluffs and the Gray Labyrinth, which have particular necessities wanted to unlock. It is attainable for gamers to unlock them fairly simply; nevertheless, unlocking the Gray Labyrinth would require gamers to accumulate a specific gadget from a buddy and clear up some puzzles earlier than this space opens its doorways to Bea.
Upon arriving on Rainbow Island, Bea will achieve a brand new house, the Conservatory, the sequel’s counterpart to the Ranch from the primary sport, which serves because the central hub, boasting numerous services to make use of to earn a dwelling as a Rancher. Whereas the sport does not adequately clarify how gamers can use these services, the Fabricator and the Refinery being such examples, it took till reaching Day 43 to determine learn how to use them each.
The Refinery capabilities as a deposit for numerous assets like Plorts and different useful gadgets earlier than they can be utilized for crafting devices through the Fabricator, the latter permitting Bea to craft utilizing blueprints earlier than she will be able to equip and use them. Our picks for devices to prioritize first are the Useful resource Harvester, Jetpack, and the Tank Booster, which the harvester lets Bea purchase gadgets from nodes discovered all through the island, the Jetpack for simpler traversal, and the Tank Booster to hold and retailer extra assets in stock slots.
Exploration in Slime Rancher 2 is your greatest buddy, and understanding every space and its biome, and detailing what assets might be acquired, will go a good distance. It is value stating that for every day spent on Rainbow Island, acquire as many assets as attainable, particularly if Bea cannot place them within the Backyard to develop, as Bea might have them to feed numerous Plorts, just like the Cuberries for the Phosphor Slime.
Your devices are equally vital, too, particularly the Jetpack, which permits Bea to cowl larger distances and discover gadgets which are more durable to achieve by leaping increased and gliding for a quick time. The Jetpack might be an ideal gadget for exploration, however a drive have to be discovered first, after which its improve have to be bought earlier than crafting it on the Fabricator with the required assets and spending Newbucks.
The sport’s UI design is easy, clear, and really legible, which is agreeable to the attention, particularly since each sport factor, such because the stock slots, in-game prompts, and the Well being and Power meters, is clearly identifiable. Moreover, all gadgets held within the stock slots are clearly and largely displayed, which is a major UI enchancment and certainly user-friendly.
Slimed Out!
With huge enhancements and overhauls to the sport’s visuals and UI designs, a enjoyable and comfy gameplay loop, and a brand new location to discover to at least one’s content material, some sport features do maintain the sport again from being an ideal sequel. Without having performed the unique sport and placing within the work and hours wrangling slimes and establishing the Ranch, the general story is much less compelling to observe alongside.
It does closely depend on numerous NPCs that Bea established connections with from the primary sport, and communication with these characters is proscribed to video name messages. Their messages do not contribute a lot to the continued story, however equally disappointing is that these characters’ tales do not progress or broaden within the sequel, and at instances, their look might be nonsensical or overbearing, however we love the presents they share with Bea.
Staying with acquainted NPCs that Bea reconnects with within the sequel, the sport does not introduce new characters for her to satisfy that might contribute one thing significant to her journey and exploration on Rainbow Island. This excludes the brand new Analysis Drones that present Bea with new lore for the brand new location that Bea can discover in most areas, excluding the Gray Labyrinth and the Slime Sea, besides, it takes some time for the lore drops to be paid off.
Whereas the sport’s story is not closely emphasised, the exploration is, as there’s a lot of the world that may be explored, and it does not want each gadget to advance to the following space. Nonetheless, whereas unlocking these new areas is gated by Gordo Slimes that Bea should feed to unblock the passages, it is reaching the endgame areas which are restricted by particular necessities, and farming for these supplies might be fairly time-consuming and irritating.
This could take up a lot of gamers’ time finding the assets required and crafting particular devices to progress, earlier than discovering the hidden gates to resolve the door’s puzzles. Grinding for these assets makes Slime Rancher 2’s endgame really feel tedious and fewer thrilling, particularly for these wanting to achieve the sport’s finish and to see the large story/lore payoff, however for others who benefit from the exploration and ranching extra, this may not be a serious concern, as there’s loads of content material to take pleasure in till reaching these closing moments.
Slime Rancher 2 Overview | Remaining Ideas
Developer Monomi Park had the blueprint to construct Slime Rancher’s sequel, leaving room to create new, revolutionary options and content material that might broaden on what that they had first achieved with the unique sport. They did not want to alter a lot of the system, just like the gameplay loop, as most of the enhancements noticed huge overhauls to its visuals, because the environments really feel extra lush and vibrant, and the textures are exquisitely clear, particularly with extra biome varieties current in Slime Rancher 2.
All in all, what the developer got down to obtain with Slime Rancher 2 ought to be extensively praised for, because the huge adjustments to the sport’s visuals are completely beautiful and vibrant, from the vistas to the wiggly slimes we encounter. The enhancements to the UI are enormously appreciated, and the range of biomes and areas makes exploration extraordinarily rewarding and thrilling, as no two areas really feel or look the identical, even when the gameplay loop might be repetitive for gamers.
The place the sport lacks is the chance to flesh out additional or broaden the story, leaving a lot to be desired. Certain, now we have a few of our returning companions to help Bea throughout her adventures on Rainbow Island, however at instances, they add or provide so little that it makes their presence really feel extra like fan service than certainly one of substance, and their interactions one thing that may be averted when there’s a lot of the world and gameplay content material extra worthwhile to discover.
Slime Rancher 2 was reviewed on PC through Steam for 38 hours with a key supplied by the writer. All screenshots had been taken through the course of the evaluation.
