Series ambition.
Written by Jason Venter
Published Jul. 18, 2024
If you like your Metroidvania games with a hint of flame, you'll no doubt be pleased to hear that Sunnyside Gams is prepping Nocturnal 2 for release on Nintendo Switch and PC in 2025. It's being called fast-paced and juggle-based and, as its title makes apparent, is the sequel to Nocturnal.
Released in mid-2023 and also developed by Sunnyside Games, the original Nocturnal currently enjoys an average rating of 81/100 on Metacritic. It presented players with a soldier named Ardeshir, who used fire to find his way through a mysterious mist that enshrouded the island of Nahran.
In Nocturnal 2, players encounter hand-drawn visuals and a run-time the developer warns will be somewhat brief. However, the adventure is set to offer “many surprises” and rewards for those who “seek different paths.” Also, there's a note in the press release about “true revelations.” It all sounds very mysterious, doesn't it?
“We were pleased with the reception to Nocturnal, but wanted to do more with the series,” explains Sunnyside Games co-founder Gabriel Sonderegger. “This time we're expanding the cope into a full-blown Metroidvania, full of non-linear gameplay, secrets, all new enemies, and an expanded arsenal of fire-based abilities.”
Flame is a cool weapon in many games, but in Nocturnal 2, it sounds like it will play an especially vital role. Here is a list of the game's key features:
My impression is that the Metroidvania genre is becoming slightly saturated, and that a lot of developers have moved on from it, so it's neat to see developers still trying to do new things within that space. 2025 will come along sooner than we all realize, but in the meantime, it might not be a bad time to buy Nocturnal: Enhanced Edition on Steam, which is available at a 60% discount through July 22, 2024.
