A Retro-Platformer’s Sequel: Magic or Malfunction?

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Introduction

The isometric puzzle-platformer has always occupied a niche. Lumo 2 is not merely a game; it is a full-throated, nostalgic love letter to that era, specifically the 8-bit and 16-bit microcomputer days. Released on 17 October 2025, this sequel to the 2016 original builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, promising a larger, richer, and more varied experience across its journey through shifting dimensions. It is an experience designed to evoke the mystery and uncompromising challenge of the past. The central question remains: does this passionate tribute successfully modernise a classic genre, or does it cling too tightly to the frustrations of old-school design? Read on to find out!

Rewind the Cassette

The narrative is a simple but charmingly weird setup: a game developer, tinkering with their computer, finds themselves sucked into the digital world and transformed into a mysterious dark wizard, which is low-key awesome. From there, the story is largely told through the environment and the pure act of exploration. The game structure is reminiscent of a Metroidvania, where the initial area is a greyscale room leading to portals that unlock new themed worlds. You navigate interconnected rooms, each functioning as a self-contained puzzle box. The developer has packed in over 100 rooms, and the variety is genuinely impressive! One minute you might be dealing with collapsing floors and dodging lasers; the next you are solving a top-down logic puzzle or pushing a small vacuum cleaner to hit a switch (yes, seriously!). The adventure structure organically introduces new abilities, like a double jump or a staff that reveals hidden platforms, which then allow you to revisit and unlock new paths in earlier areas, feeding into that satisfying exploration loop. Overall, it’s a very rewarding experience.

The Wizard’s Wits and Worries

Lumo 2 adheres to a philosophy of “old-school design done right,” meaning it offers no tutorials, hints, or hand-holding. The basic mechanics involve movement, jumping, and a float ability used to break your fall, all designed for full controller support. However, this commitment to authenticity becomes a double-edged sword. The core isometric platforming, which involves precision jumping and tight movement, is hampered by the fixed camera angle, which really is a bit of a shame. This makes judging jumps and lining up movements unexpectedly difficult and often frustrating. The wizard’s movement is intentionally slow and cumbersome, which can feel tedious in larger rooms. That said, the death mechanic is extremely forgiving: you instantly respawn at the entrance of the room you were in, meaning failure only costs a small amount of time, allowing you to try again immediately. The game’s mechanical depth is found in its puzzle variety, which constantly introduces evolving elements and unique room gimmicks, ensuring you are always learning and adapting.

Pixel-Perfect Portals

Visually, Lumo 2 embraces a full 3D aesthetic, significantly expanding on the look of the original, while retaining a strong nostalgic flair. The environments are beautiful – vibrant, colourful, and varied, ranging from sci-fi spaceships to dark castles, with awesome lighting effects that make each puzzle box feel distinct and alive. It looks lovely, offering a modern polish to the retro-inspired art style. Lumo 2 also cleverly throws in different perspectives and genre twists, where a room can suddenly become a side-scrolling platformer or an arcade-style flying section – it’s great! On the audio side, Lumo 2 is i mpressive, aiming for (and hitting) a lo-fi, nostalgic vibe, fitting the overall retro theme.

Hunting Hidden Ducks

The replay value of Lumo 2 is significant, driven primarily by its rich array of collectibles and the metroidvania-style structure. There are 25 hidden cassette tapes to hunt down, which activate mini-games requiring you to collect icons within a time limit. Additionally, there are 20 elusive rubber ducks to find, which often require mastery of the controls and leaving a room without dying to acquire (ducks aren’t easy to catch even in real life, so that makes sense). The structure of Lumo 2 rewards thorough exploration, with a clear icon that fills up and ticks when you have found all collectibles in a specific room. The inclusion of three standalone mini-games further diversifies the content. The forgiving death mechanic also allows for constant experimentation and retries, making the pursuit of these optional challenges addictive.

Conclusion

Lumo 2 is a heartfelt and beautifully crafted homage to a classic era of British gaming. Its passion for the genre is evident in every one of the 100+ inventive rooms, every well-placed reference, and every shifting perspective. The sheer variety of the puzzles and the rewarding feeling of unlocking new abilities make the core adventure engaging and, at times, brilliant. However, Lumo 2’s commitment to retro fidelity, particularly the slow, slightly clunky movement and the challenging isometric camera, may prove frustrating for players expecting modern platforming precision. When Lumo 2 leans into its inventive puzzles and genre-flipping surprises, its charm shines brightest. When it demands flawless, high-precision jumping, the experience can become exasperating, sometimes teetering on the edge of becoming tedious. Lumo 2 is a game for a particular type of player: one who appreciates the uncompromising challenge of the past and is willing to wrestle with the platforming quirks for the sake of an inventive and surprising puzzle-platforming journey.

Grade: 7.5/10 – Good