Sludge Life 2 Review (PC)

I jump from somewhere on the fifth floor after spraying my nice, green tag on yet another wall. I take a look around as I deploy my glider and make it to the big, pink, and rotating ciggy mascot. There are a few people around, watching it spin and sparkle, and I use my character’s camera to snap a few beautiful images of the mascot that’s trying to sell cigarettes to everyone, including all the kids running around.

I’ve explored most of the hotel but so far neglected to go to the very top. There’s a beach there, complete with a small lake and some good tagging locations. I jump around until I reach them, shake the cans, and do the deed before talking to all the people up here. Someone asks for a ciggy in exchange for a secret, and I once again have to grapple with one of the toughest choices in the game: am I willing to part with one of my precious nicotine sources? I’ve just raided a room full of half-empty packs, so I decide to say Yes.

The secret is funny and weird but not worth the investment in nicotine delivery sticks. I still have no idea where to search for Big Mud. He’s on the cusp of breaking out, but after a night of heavy drinking, he has disappeared. The hotel is big enough, and tagging and exploration are often more interesting than searching for the musician.

Sludge Life 2 is developed by Terri Vellmann and Doseone, with publishing handled by Devolver Digital. I played it on the PC via Steam. The experience blends narrative, adventure, platforming, and some very sick beats.

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Players will move through the world as Ghost, tasked with investigating the disappearance of Big Mud. The grog rapper is on the cusp of stardom, hosted with his entourage at the Ciggy City Suites. He is supposed to record a track that will help the company sell more cigarettes (now with vitamins!) but is gone after a night of heavy drinking.

The hotel is pretty big but compact, with a beach up top and plenty of sludge to swim through at the bottom. Every area is filled with characters, many of them Big Mud fans, who are ready to maybe offer a clue about his disappearance but are much more interested in talking about their lives, their philosophical outlook, or simply asking if they can get a ciggy. Make sure to raid all areas that feature that bouncing mascot to get a solid supply. Always carefully consider before you choose to give one away.

The game’s world is fun and weird in good ways, with writing that comments on real-world themes without feeling preachy or didactic. Ghost, true to his name, doesn’t talk much, allowing players to inhale the many cool narrative moments. If you do nothing else in Sludge Life 2, try to talk to anyone and find the characters hidden in the sludgier corners of the world.

Exploration and light platforming are the main gameplay elements. Ghost will jump, climb, glide, double jump, and more to traverse the many levels of the hotel and the adjacent areas. Enter all rooms to find items that open up extra options and meet the many characters. Find all teleporters to move quickly from one big area to another. Find the edges of the world and discover what extra-weird scenarios take place there.

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While doing all that, keep an eye out (there’s also a very good audio cue) for the many spots where gamers can take out their spray cans and tag. There are 100 of them spread around the world, some incredibly accessible, others designed to pose a challenge. Sludge Life 2 features other taggers, their work visible in some areas, but they don’t compete for spots, just express admiration for Ghost.

I love the sense of surprise created by the game’s exploration mechanics. The new items, especially a special pair of sneakers mentioned fairly early, contribute to it, as does the general weirdness of this universe. Completing a decent platforming challenge to get to a new tag spot after 10 or 15 tries is as fun as moving towards a vague shape on the horizon to discover someone new to interact with.

The search for Big Mud often fades into the background. It’s far more interesting to look around and wonder if there’s anyone you’ve not talked to or if there’s a secret spot around to explore. The biggest issue with the game is the largely static world. I really wanted another tagger to challenge Ghost to a race to some spots.

Sludge Life 2 has the same gritty but fun look as the first installment in the series. There’s not one character in the entire world that looks generic, and it’s a pleasure to constantly discover how each new friend is unique. The Ciggy mascots are eminently punch-able. It’s always easy to see locations that can be tagged and far away places that can be challenging to reach. Take the right drugs to experience the world in an entirely new way and enjoy the retro weirdness of the Pause interface and its options.

The game’s soundtrack is very good, delivered diegetically using sound sources spread throughout the world. Players can explore to get five master tapes that feature full new tracks from Big Mud himself. Characters chirp, a good choice given the complexities of a voice acting so many lines, and the rest of the sound design is equally well handled.

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The Good

The Bad

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