Pixeljunk Shooter is one of the best pick up and play games on the PSN. The graphics were distinctive, the gameplay fun, and the liquid effects were some of the best out there. It wasn’t the longest game, but the cliffhanger ending promised that more would be on the way. The question is whether Pixeljunk Shooter 2 would live up to the pure fun of the first. After playing the PAX demo, I’m positive that it will.

To be honest, there wasn’t a whole lot that was new in the demo. The graphics were the same, and it was still your mission to save scientists and collect diamonds. Controls worked the same way and the enemies were essentially identical to the ones before. This may seem like a bad thing but Pixeljunk Shooter 2 also had the same sense of fun as the original while offering enough new content in the first level that I’m curious about what else will be introduced as the game goes on.

The first game ended with your ship swallowed by a giant monster and the sequel picks up with you working your way through its body while rescuing the scientists. Everything has an organic appearance though levels are still constructed in the same style as before. This new location actually introduces the newest liquid in the game as well: stomach acid. The stomach acid increases your ship’s temperature and keeps it there until washed off with water. It makes your ship much more vulnerable to enemy attacks or other hazards. The acid also takes the form of bubbles, which causes the ship to spin and bounce around haphazardly until free. This was one of the toughest parts in the demo as you had to set yourself up at the proper angle to bounce out of the trap. The level itself also felt longer than before, equal to the later levels in the original game.

Based on this small taste, I’m certain Pixeljunk Shooter 2 will be every bit as fun as the original. The creativity is just as vibrant as ever, and I can’t wait to see what else the full game has to offer.