Gunman Clive HD Collection (Wii U) Review

For those who haven't yet had the joy of experiencing Gunman Clive, the set-up is a simple damsel-in-distress story that sees the titular hero's lady friend, Ms. Johnson, kidnapped (although, in a nice genre-busting twist, the roles can be reversed). It's up to the gunman to run, jump, and shoot his way through the Wild West and beyond in order to get her back. The gameplay is incredibly simple: it's similar in style to the run-and-gun gameplay of the classic Mega Man titles and just as solid.

Clive 2 is similar in nature but adds further mechanics, as Clive leaves the West and travels the globe, with Space Harrier-style shoot 'em up sections, and even a reaction-testing auto-running level on the back of a panda. The game never ceases to surprise, and each stage is as good as the last, providing a fantastic few hours of gameplay.

However, what truly grabs the player's attention from the outset isn't the tight mechanics, but rather the gorgeous art style for which the series is known. The mostly-monochromatic sketchbook style looks even more gorgeous on the big screen than it did on the handheld, and the injection of colour that Clive 2 brings with it is nothing short of stunning. The music is also consistently fantastic, too, with a good number of catchy tunes that gamers will likely find themselves whistling long after the experience is over.

This is all fantastic for Clive newcomers, but what about for those who have already enjoyed the previous two instalments? Sadly, there's not a lot new on offer here - the only major change is the addition of the sequel's spear-wielding Chieftain Bob character to the first game, so veterans may want to think twice before double-dipping.

Gunman Clive HD Collection is a no-brainer: it's a collection of two of the finest platformers in recent memory and, even though they might be over far too quickly, stand up to multiple playthroughs with a total of four playable characters in each. Those who have already stepped into Clive's world may find themselves left with a bitter taste in their mouth, but for those who haven't, the time has never been better.