IOS Spotlight #76: Cally's Caves 2

Title: Cally's Caves 2
Developer: Jordan Pearson
Platforms: IOS Universal
Price: Free
---
Almost eight months ago, I wrote about the first Cally's Caves. It was a game I considered to be a great hidden gem, with a cute visual style and fun gameplay. Now the sequel was just released and it improved on everything that made the first game so fun, bigger and better in every way.

I can't really talk about Cally's Caves 2 without first commenting on the visuals. This is what the first game looked like:

It was certainly a game that put gameplay first, although I did find the art style quite charming. Cally's Caves 2 is a huge upgrade over the first game in terms of visuals, with a great pixel art style, a vibrant color scheme, and numerous enemies and weapons. Gameplay-wise, Cally's Caves 2 retains the same fun platformer-shooter action of the original, with a bigger emphasis on RPG elements and just more content.

Wielding an array of powerful weapons and your trusty sword, you journey through the caverns below your home to rescue your kidnapped parents. Make no mistake; Cally's Caves 2 is a difficult game. You'll need quick reflexes and a quick finger to evade enemies and projectiles and deliver your own firepower. From charging wolves and spiders to gun-wielding foes and tanks, the variety in enemies is pretty impressive. RPG elements such upgrades and leveling up add to the mechanics in cool ways; using a weapon upgrades that gun, which not only grows more powerful but also changes appearance. Collecting coins and gems from defeated enemies and chests allows you to purchase sword upgrades, increased your chance to dodge attacks, unlock a triple jump, and more.

Cally's Caves 2 takes what worked in the original - the challenging gameplay, the fun weapons and upgrades, the varied enemies - and makes a bigger and better sequel, with an new art style, more levels, and new secrets to uncover. And incredibly, the game is free to download, with the only IAP being a single $0.99 purchase to remove ads, equip poison bullets, and make enemies drop gems.

You can download the game here.