On paper, this is a pretty typical metroidvania: start out with basic movement and abilities, get a handful of upgrades - yes, there's a crucial double-jump - and overcome obstacles to find new areas, clear out dungeons and their bosses, and then, um find Teddy. There's the retro pixel art style, simple backgrounds, and mysterious world with secrets to uncover.

In execution, Finding Teddy 2 is a special game. It has an ethereal, odd tone about it throughout, with lots of space in the audio for silence and ambiance. It refuses to explain itself: you get items, but are not told what to do with them. Figuring out mechanics, story and where to go next is never spoon-fed to the player. Even understanding basic mechanics requires keen observation of the environmental details.

Beneath all that opaqueness, there is a whimsy fluttering along the edges. Some decidedly comic characters are found in dire straits, for instance. And there are some terrific mechanics, such as the crucial musical tone system and how that can lead to multiple discoveries.

I plan to revisit this one soon; it left a lasting impression on me.