Bud Spencer and Terence Hill – Slaps And Beans 2 picks up directly after the events of the first game, released in 2017. Our protagonists quickly find themselves embroiled in another predicament, facing new antagonists and challenges as they reluctantly embark on a new adventure.
Bud Spencer (1929-2016) and Terence Hill – known off-screen as Carlo Pedersoli and Mario Girotti, respectively – starred in 18 films together, starting in the early 1970s. While their films may not be cinematic masterpieces, the undeniable chemistry between Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, combined with their films’ unique humor, resonated strongly, particularly during childhood.
Revisiting their films as an adult reveals certain shortcomings. The dubbing can be subpar, the production values are often modest, and the narratives can be simplistic. However, the fight sequences retain a certain charm, and some films in their catalog are undeniably stronger than others.
Therefore, the existence of not one, but two video games based on these childhood icons was a pleasant surprise. Having not played the original 2017 release, I cannot offer a direct comparison between the two.
The game’s graphics offer a pleasing retro aesthetic, reminiscent of Double Dragon. The voice acting captures the essence of the characters, complemented by familiar music and sound effects. The game leverages nostalgia effectively, with the intro sequence – depicting our heroes traveling on a makeshift barge (presumably a continuation from the first game) – featuring nods to films like Cast Away. The initial impression is positive, and the tutorial provides comprehensive instruction on combat mechanics and character switching, mirroring the duo’s dynamic fighting style from the films.
However, issues arise soon after. Following several combat encounters and a brief lesson on throwing pots, the player encounters a banana-laden barge that requires protection. The method of protection, however, is not explained, leading to repeated failures. Restarting after a failed attempt forces the player to replay the entire level, including the tutorial section. This repetition becomes tedious and frustrating.
After numerous attempts and a significant time investment, the solution was discovered, but the enjoyment was significantly diminished by the repetitive nature of the level and the lack of clear guidance.
This is unfortunate, as the game’s initial presentation and aesthetic are appealing, but the game mechanics suffer from significant flaws.
In conclusion, Bud Spencer and Terence Hill – Slaps And Beans 2 leverages nostalgia effectively, but its frustrating game mechanics and repetitive combat, stemming from a limited move set for our heroes, detract significantly from the overall experience.
Inin Games provided a review code for this analysis. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial process.
