As a kid, I remember attending before- and after-school care and was shocked to see that the facility had a Nintendo 64. They were new at the time, and my child brain couldn’t understand why a schooling-type place had a gaming console. But even more interesting was that many other kids had camped around the warm glow of Nintendo and were heaving as they played a multiplayer game.

One that would forever set the trend for games of this genre, including the one we’re reviewing today. The game was Mario Party. Once that launched, every board game and every previous multiplayer activity were briskly thrown out the proverbial window.  

One of our favourite developers here at MKAU Gaming, Devolver Digital, once again returns to the forefront with their new party-genre game, Heave Ho 2. Developed by Le Cartel Studio, Heave Ho 2, as you may have guessed from the name alone, is a sequel to Heave Ho (released in 2019), and it returns in an amazingly bright, thought-provoking, and time-consuming fashion. There’s no storyline or character investment narrative here; just pick a player, customise it to your liking, and strap in for the carnage!  

Heave Ho 2 sets the tone early with its loading screens and pre-game legal info screens, designed as fun, stop-motion-style cartoon animations. The background bounces and repeats movements à la drawings and squiggles. The object of the game is for you and up to 3 of your friends to link up and work together to traverse the challenging platforms placed before you. Each level is completely different from the last, and there are a multitude of different worlds to choose from, all of which have a different theme applied to them (e.g. one is Ice/snow, another is Film noir; there’s also one in space, etc).

The menu presents a variety of gaming options that, on the surface, appear limited. But once you dive in, you’ll quickly realise just how deep this party rabbit hole goes. You’ve got the standard Tutorial section (which we recommend doing) that will guide you through the controls, the overall objective of each level, and some other in-game character quirks/abilities that may become helpful during your run.  

What really stands out and boosts replayability is its approach to freedom of chaos. What that means is that this game will evolve into chaos and laughter as each player tries their best, not only to traverse the map but to balance, plan and eventually succumb to the inevitable fall of death.

Not one run is the same, and that’s what makes this game so addictive. There’s a strong sense of “just one more run” here. Every close call or failure pushes you to refine your strategy, experiment with different approaches, and watch as even your ever-so-detailed plan blows up due to a mistimed step, another player attempting to be brave, or not listening. Chaos, right?  

Also featured in the menu is an online mode, where you can test your luck by teaming up with 3 other internet party-players. You can also host or join a private game. Local co-op is also featured, plus a 4 player battle/elimination style mode, where maps/levels are presented with various ‘do this or perish’ style tasks, e.g., stay in the area until you hear a beep, or use this weapon to attack or distract other players. But let’s talk unlockable items for a moment.  

We, as gamers, love a good unlockable. Especially if there is a trophy or achievement attached to it. Heave Ho 2 has you covered, as each level has its own side-objectives to complete, ranging from ‘beat this level in this amount of time’ to ‘collect on-screen relics and carry them to the finish line’, even ‘find the hidden outline and pose’.

Wait, what? Yep, you read that right. Hidden in some levels is a character outline, striking a weird pose. Finding and completing said pose rewards you with a completed objective and a taste for searching out more hidden poses.

There are pages and pages of different objectives to complete, all categorised by each themed world that’s available. After doing a certain number of these objectives, you are rewarded with various in-game items. These can range from new skins or clothing items to even brand-new characters. We found that even completing the objectives together rewarded us individually with different unlockable items, which, once again, really ramp up the replayability!  

Note: It is extremely advisable to play this game on a controller. The keyboard will only drive you mad! Mad, I say!  

Controls are clean and functional, leaning more toward timing than button-bashing. The left joystick waves your characters’ arms around, whilst the right stick shuffles them along their way. Holding down the A button/X button charges and unleashes a fart. Yep, again, you read that right. Charging up for a while can send you, and others, flying around the map. Once again, chaos.  

The left and right bumpers/shoulder buttons are your true bread and butter here. This game will undoubtedly question whether you truly know your left from your right. As you traverse around, pressing and holding the right trigger will place and hold your in-game grip. Repeating the same function with the left hand and left trigger will do the same. Momentum is another factor to consider, as it holds the key to victory over many an obstacle.  

Fun, quirky, random, engaging. Four words to describe the graphics and overall tone of Heavy Ho 2. Its bright, cartoon-heavy approach is incredibly easy on the eyes. It’s inviting and very playful, with a dash of bold colouring and exaggeration that really sets it apart in the sea of party games.  

The details of the surrounding world are engaging and pleasant. As you swing, climb and traverse further, you reveal more obstacles, timed events, and designs that elevate the visuals. If you can’t tell already, it really is a struggle to think of something discouraging about this game.  

The sound design does a stellar job of creating a fun, engaging, almost childlike imagination experience. The sound effects are crisp. Each grab, swing, slip, shot, fart and fall delivers satisfying feedback.  

Music/soundtrack makes the chaos more light-hearted here, and it’s hard to get mad at your failed level attempt with upbeat, happy tunes blasting your way. It all just works, so very, very well.  

Heave Ho 2 is a smart, creative multiplayer party experience that rewards creativity and patience. It won’t grab everyone immediately, but if you enjoy the party-game genre and are interested in a new approach that relies heavily on those playing with you, there’s something genuinely compelling here. 

Written by: James Fraser-Smith