Slime Rancher 2 is the long-anticipated sequel of the incredible hit Slime Rancher, and it picks up the mantle fantastically. In this rendition, you’ll be exploring the gorgeous yet deeply mysterious lands of the Rainbow Isles. Exciting new slimes and secrets await you as you traverse the largely unknown islands teaming with resources and slimes and perilous dangers. Being in Early Access, however, does mean that the game is not at its full extent, so does it fall short, or does it hint at a perfect game?
A stunning show of gorgeous graphics
The very first thing that hit me when within the first five minutes was the graphics. I was mesmerized. As if magic, it felt like I was stepping through a world so thick with atmospheric hues and colors and highlights that couldn’t get myself to stop staring.
And the slimes. My goodness, the slimes. Even the adorably squishy slimes from the first game don’t compare to the sheer wiggliness and squishiness that these slimes give off. The transition to Unreal Engine 5 has done the game wonders. The slimes look even more wobbly as they bound around.
Some players have complained about the sheer graphical overload, however, claiming that looking at the games actively makes their eyes hurt. If you are vulnerable to such a dramatic visual sensory overload, then taking breaks will be hugely advised.
Overall, however, the graphics are stunning. In the distance, you can see the magma flows of the Ember Valley and the glorious light display from the Starlight Strand. The detail in the visuals cannot be understated. This does make the game a little demanding, especially for weaker systems, but there are ways to mitigate the impact on your PC.
Slimes, slimes, and more slimes
The main event. The slimes. Alongside many familiar faces, six new slimes are joining the fray. All six slimes are adorable and have unique rancher risks. There are two slimes, in particular, the Ringtail slime and the Flutter slime that really add a lot to the game, aside from being so cute I wish I had a plush toy of them as I write.
The extremely unique behavior of the Ringtail slime and the unique diet of the Flutter slime hint at the creativity of the devs and foreshadow great new slimes in the future of the game.
Some players may be disappointed at the sheer number of familiar slimes that appear in Slime Rancher 2. However, we must remember that this game is in early access, and they want to hear from the community what works and what doesn’t before they add the rest of the new slimes. Besides, some of the potential slimes may be unique to the potential future areas coming to the game.
So for now we can only enjoy the company of the six slimes, which honestly are so well-done I wouldn’t be too upset if they stopped there.
Related: All Slime Types in Slime Rancher 2
Some players have pointed out the problem with the sheer quantity of slimes in three relatively small areas: The Tarr. Many players have a problem with the huge Tarr outbreaks that frequently happen, wiping out whole areas and devouring dozens of slimes in an instant.
Although true, it doesn’t make the game unplayable as Slime Science and the Water Tank equip the player to stop Tarr outbreaks from happening. But it can be a little overwhelming and annoying.
Overall, I love the new slimes and greatly look forward to all the future slimes. They are cute, challenging, and fun to play with.
The Rainbow Isles
The Rainbow Isles themselves are beautiful. But only that, super diverse. The drama and immersion of having to activate the teleporters to unlock the islands is an insane feeling. I won’t spoil too much of what makes the two other islands so mysterious and intriguing, but I will say how awesome the environments are.
The Conservatory is where your ranch will be. And it is incredible. Never before have we had what is essentially an enclosure, but it works well and doesn’t impede anything. The ranch expansions are also unique and have their on thing going on, making unlocking new sections exciting.
The lab this time is under the conservatory and is unlocked right off the bat. This means that players can get stuck into slime science without a hitch whilst not disrupting the natural beauty of the Rainbow Isles.
The Rainbow Fields are the first area players will frolic on. The pastures of grass will change hue as if it were affected by a huge oil spill, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect. Only happiness will be the result of going through the open grass and mingling amongst the slimes.
The Ember valley is essentially a rocky volcanic, reefy island with many dangers. Staggering heights and dangerous magma sections make traveling exciting, as you search through caves and soar across rocky caverns.
The Starlight Strand is more magical as if a huge fantasy forest. Its main characteristic is that the island is ‘split’ between two colors, green and purple, but it doesn’t really affect the gameplay at the moment, it just makes it look awesome.
Throughout the Rainbow Isles are a lot of Gordos, unlocking new passages and secrets. These Gordos are somehow squishier and more huggable than their predecessors.
All things considered, the team has made an incredible landscape to really sink our teeth into, and they are just getting started.
Remixing the formula
Despite a lot of things being carried over from the first game, the team has remixed a core mechanic of the game. Slime Science.
No longer will players have to install extractors to get resources necessary for science. Now, the players have to upgrade their vacpac with a resource harvester and go out and find the Slime Science resources. From Jellystone to Primordy Oil, the player has to find the resources and deposit them into the refinery or a refinery link.
This is a lot more hands-on and enjoyable. I didn’t really like having to set up masses of extractors and wait for minutes on end to progress. Now I can just go out there and hunt for my resources like a true rancher.
Also, some of the Slime Science gadgets have ad a revamp, too. Teleporters don’t quite work in the same way, and there are a lot more upgrades to protect your resources upon being knocked-out as well increasing your capacity and actual slots.
Slime Science has made a huge step forwards, and I can’t wait for all the future content they’ll add to add more gadgets, as it is currently lacking in actual things to craft.
The plot thickens
The plot also is extremely interesting. I will hardly say a thing here, but I will mention that there is a lot more involvement from the other ranchers we know and love from the original game, as well as deep mysteries and secrets that keep you guessing.
However…
This game is in Early Access, meaning a lot of the stuff in the game is from the original game. A lot of the same resources, slimes, plots, and foods are all taken from Slime Rancher. Some twists are made here and there, but there is very little new actual content to play around with. But don’t let this disappoint you.
Monomi Park expects the game to be in Early Access for at least 18 months, and in the meantime they will be adding lots of more content tailored to the community. Being in Early Access means they can listen to us and fix and tweak things to make sure the full release of the game is met with open arms.
Keep an eye on Gamer Journalist for more gaming and Slime Rancher content, such as what to do with gordos.
Published: Sep 26, 2022 07:14 am