Bite-sized Review:
Aaero 2

By Chris Picone, 20 December 2024

Aaero 2 is a rail shooter; an unusual genre for me to cover - the last rail shooter I can remember playing was probably Deadly Tide (1996) and Star Goose (1988) before that.  To be fair, I've definitely played other rail shooters since. Almost definitely last year or the year before. But none immediately come to mind.  Aero 2, however, it's fun, I'll be keeping an eye out for another sequel. 

Aesthetics

The graphics are a weird mix of good but weirdly dated looking 3d levels and enemies that span a good range of biomes, and slick special effects.  The music, however, stands out. As it should; a core component of the game involves following the ribbons of light, which are linked to the music.  The higher the ribbon, the higher the pitch, and of course lower ribbons push you into bassier sections.  Miss a ribbon, the music stops until you catch it again.  I was definitely more fond of some tracks than others - the slower, more vocal-heavy tracks, I wasn't a huge fan of, although they did work well with the ribbons.  I guess my main complaint was that they gave off a bit of a chill vibe which was sometimes at odds with the gameplay, particularly in later levels.  Other levels features more techno-heavy tracks which I thought fit the ribbons even better but also helped give the levels a more intense, frantic feel.

Gameplay

Following the ribbons not only makes the music but it also replenishes your shields (or diminishes them whenever you miss the ribbon).  This is important because, as a shooter, Aaero 2 also has a combat element.  Usually this comes in the form of some sort of enemy drones flying in front of you, occasionally launching projectiles your way.  Your left stick lets you move to dodge their bullets while your right stick allows you to aim.  You have two weapons: A machine gun, which does minor damage, but rapid fires, although it is prone to overheating.  And a missile launcher, which does much more damage but is slightly trickier to use as you have to hold your reticle on target to lock and it needs to reload.  What makes this simple mechanism fun is that in later levels you're not only dodging enemy bullets but also trying to follow the music ribbons. Also, sometimes there are obstacles and traps in the way, and there are even boss fights. It can get intense. 

Verdict

Aaero 2's early levels are pretty chill, allowing you to learn the controls, but the later levels can get pretty challenging. It's a simple game with a fun gameplay loop and a (mostly) bangin' soundtrack.  Aaero 2 also features a 2 player mode.  If you're a fan of similar games, I expect you'll find this one enjoyable. 

Links: 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3010090/Aaero2/