Chris InglisThe highly anticipated sequel to the 2017 rhythm-action game Aaero has landed on the Xbox Series X, bringing with it a wave of excitement and expectations. Aaero2 by Mad Fellows builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor while leveraging the power of the Xbox Series X to deliver an engaging and addictive experience. The game is still in development for Steam with a December 2024 release window, so this review will focus on enhancements that the Xbox Series X brings to Aaero2.
Aaero2 maintains the core gameplay mechanics that made the original game a standout in the rhythm-action genre but also adds co-op to the mix. You and a friend can navigate spacecraft through visually stunning environments while synchronising your movements with a high energy soundtrack. The fusion of music and gameplay is at the heart of Aaero2 as you are required to trace ribbons of light with the controller and engage in intense combat sequences that are perfectly timed to the beats of the music.
The gameplay experience is seamless with fluid controls that allows you to become fully immersed in the rhythm and surrounding environments, with bonuses flying past if you are not watching closely enough. The intuitive design ensures that both newcomers and seasoned players from the original game can quickly grasp the mechanics, though I did struggle at times when there were a heap of enemies or big boss parts on the screen at once, whilst also trying to hit the music tracks. The introduction of new power-ups and abilities in this sequel adds an extra layer of depth, allowing you to experiment with different strategies and approaches to each level.
While Aaero2 retains the essence of the original game, it introduces several notable differences that enhance the overall experience. One of the most significant changes is the expanded soundtrack provided by Monstercat. They have curated a diverse selection of tracks from various genres, including electronic, rock, and classical, ensuring that there is some variety from song to song. They weren’t all to my taste, but the gameplay more than makes up for that and there’s plenty of replayability as you compete with yourself to earn more stars per song.
The level design has also seen significant improvements. Aaero2 features a wider variety of environments, each with its own unique visual style and challenges. From neon-lit cityscapes to serene landscapes, the game offers a visually impressive experience while you try to keep the ship on track and shooting bonuses and enemies. The levels are meticulously crafted, with intricate details that make each environment feel alive and vibrant. There are also daily and weekly challenges to complete that earn you XP which raises your overall level, and each song has global and friend’s leaderboard to measure yourself against.
Overall, the core mechanics of Aaero2 of navigating a spacecraft through visually stunning environments, while synchronizing with an eclectic soundtrack, is super engaging and addictive. The expanded soundtrack, ability to play co-op in both couch and online, and improved level design makes it bigger and better than the original. Whether you are a fan of rhythm-action games or a newcomer to the series, Aaero2 on the Xbox Series X is a must-play game.
This review utilised a key provided by Pirate PR and Aaero 2 is out now on Xbox and is coming to Steam in December 2024.
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