Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D, Action, Metroidvania, Soulslike

Developer Clover Bite’s new search action title Grime II may look heavily inspired by both Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the Dark Souls series mechanics and aesthetics-wise, it’s really just an extension of the first game’s criminally underrated-but-still-buggy abstract showing. The first Grime was a really solid yet methodical effort in putting you in this strange world as you discover its beauty and horror through the joys and tribulations of 2D platforming and Soulslike combat.

In Grime II, you’re getting a much more improved version than that.

Colour Me Bad

Grime II puts you in the shoes of a Formless, whose sole purpose is to steal shapes and whatnot to become an ultimate life form (I think?). Just like its From Software inspirations, the plot is vague and requires you to dig up in-game lore to find out what you’re about, who created you, and why the world you in is an abstract oil painting full of different stark colours and materials. Without spoiling much, there are a lot of themes at play involving creation, playing God, and accountability, given the fact you’re going in blind in the story and you have to discover most of it by absorbing entities usually by force. Bleak, but thematically so.

If anything, you won’t forget Grime II’s twisted yet pretty world full of danger, mystery, and obliqueness. I personally am a fan of the Faceless Mountains and the sandy area underneath, as well as the game’s cityscapes full of pottery and ceramic which is a stark contrast to the leaking oil paints in the catacombs & crevices. Just seeing the horizon of painted desert vista will take your breath away, right before a flying giant snake hand-hybrid pops out of the sands just to remind you how arduous your journey will be devolving to.

Grime II is pretty brutal in its difficulty and challenge, as both enemies and bosses will kill you in three hits or so if you’re careless with your moves. The bosses especially will have a set of attacks initially, then will change styles and mess up your rhythm when they’re down to half life, with dramatic background music change to signify this as subtly as a sledgehammer. Luckily, you gain plenty in the course of the 15+ hours of Metroidvania-ing. The Formless starts off with a parry and ground dash, which are important as you can counterattack enemy blows. Later on, you get a grapple tool that not only lets you grab onto ledges and grapple points for launching and traversing, but also to counterattack enemies when the prompts show up, usually right before a big swing. Grime II combines your search action movement with your attack toolset perfectly well, much like the concept of mixing painting mediums to make the best art possible.

The Formless can also steal moves and shapes of enemies, as well as map their skills onto your d-pad for easy usage. Killing prey also net you upgrades for your stats and your numerous abilities like your parries and dashes, making them cost less or even be harder to control while yielding better damage bonuses when pulled off right. There are a plethora of weapons at your disposal, be it melee axes and swords or “finger knives” projectiles that you can switch between since you can have two loadouts back-to-back. You also get hand, body, and legging equipment that not only boost your stats but also give you unique abilities if you match the set.

Yet Another Underrated Metroidvania Gem?

Grime II is clearly more ambitious and expansive than the first game, which is already a weird piece of interactive fiction. The sequel doubles down on its absurdity and surreal look -now more oil-based painting-esque- and is a lot richer for it. It’s a lot tougher, but it plays better and has more flexibility in its combat, platforming, and exploration.

Grime II does what a sequel should do: expand upon the first but not lose sight of its intended vision, which is to deliver a more weird-as-heck-but-memorable search action title that’ll absorb you for hours on end. This title strikes a perfect balance between customization freedom, exploration, and challenge levels, combining in harmony like a visually stark Picasso-esque expression.

Final Score: 90/100

Review copy provided by publisher.