Yet another title we got to check out at Summer Game Fest was ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard. Sometimes described as “Portal with paint,” ChromaGun released in 2016 to fair reviews and was later followed by ChromaGun VR in 2019. With the sequel, a pleasant surprise given a near decade since its original release, developer Pixel Maniacs are aiming to greatly expand upon not only the gameplay but story elements as well.
For the uninitiated, ChromaGun is based around a paint gun that shoots the three primary colors which you then use to solve puzzles through progressively more challenging environments. By mixing the colors together, you can obviously create additional colors as well, thus broadening the combinations you’ll encounter throughout the game world. And yes, it will immediately make you think of Portal. But it also becomes clear rather quickly that it has its own flair.
Entering the lab, you’re greeted like a new employee and immediately provided the Chroma…Gun. It doesn’t take long to get into the flow of the game as you move spheres with color assignment and progress through rooms to find your way. While we’ve seen numerous puzzle games play into the theme of unlocking room by room, mixing platforming and paint shooting together definitely keeps you thinking.
What will probably excite puzzle aficionados the most is the progressive challenge that the team is looking to provide players. While shooting some paint and opening doors sounds easy in theory, and it can be, the possibilities when you throw in platforming, several combinations of colors and walls, timed gateways, and more, will likely challenge even the most seasoned player. I’m excited to see where Pixel Maniacs can take it in the latter parts of the game.
As discussed in the developer walkthrough from late last year, Pixel Maniacs are also aiming to expand the story in meaningful ways. What this exactly means at the moment isn’t necessarily clear, but given the title of the game and some of the gameplay we’ve seen, it will seemingly involve puns and a heavy dose of sarcasm (I mean, there’s a chicken in the key art…). Right from the outset, the “adminstrator” frequently quips over the speakers about what you’re doing and where you’re headed, as well. It’s a clever way to provide levity and direction to the player while remaining in-universe.
Playing ChromaGun 2 feels intuitive, with performance feeling rather solid. I had no issues shooting nor navigating the world, save for a few very minor framerate hiccups. With a release date planned for later this year, it isn’t necessarily surprising, but hopefully an indicator that the full game is ready for prime time.
ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard is an interesting title. It takes pieces of well-known formulas while adding unique layers to create something new. Whether it will find a broader audience than the original, we’ll see, but it has the pieces to leave its mark. Stay tuned for more on ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard later this year!
