Totally fine sequel to this long running franchise with a big new gameplay element that really doesn’t change too much but adds slightly more gameplay elements. The gear system allows for slowing time or powering up attacks and it works great when the levels are throwing obstacles that make you use it. My issue is that it almost felt like cheating on bosses but you are clearly meant to use it.

The strength of these games is in the level design and I just felt some of them had too many annoying sections, there are so many aids you can buy to make the actual dying part semi trivial so I guess they decided to up some of the instant deaths, or maybe I was just rusty. It nails the feeling of MM and it looks nice with its new graphics.

The added challenges is a nice touch and really I feel that’s when the game comes alive. Just going through it once felt like I was going through the motions, not bad in any way just not the top tier MM. I enjoyed it, it’s MM, it’s firmly in the middle of the pack to me.

Score: 6.8