Shank 2 is the sequel to the original Shank game, and just like the previous game, it is a two-dimensional, side-scrolling platformer that focuses on combating several foes at once, along with features of jumping and climbing on various platforms. Following the occurrences of the first game, Shank takes a trip to a nation in South America to find Linda, the woman who cared for him when he was in the orphanage. Magnus currently presides over the country; he won the election after campaigning on a platform with a commitment to act against criminal organizations. However, he has a weak heart, and Linda is the only person who looks to be able to supply him with a viable heart transplant, so he kidnaps her. The events begin when Shank’s bus is detained, and because of his battles against Magnus’s henchmen, the town’s citizens believe he is a member of their uprising.
Combatants aim to string together a series of blows with various weapons, including revolvers, knives, a shotgun, a chainsaw, a baseball bat, grenades, and mines. The offensive attacks combine close-quarters battle with long-range attacks, and they always have an exaggerated, cartoonish sense of violence and gore. The ability to block spells, included in the first game, has been changed into a roll that can be used to avoid them. A counteraction is something completely new. A crimson exclamation mark will show above the enemy’s head whenever they attempt an assault. It is possible to put someone in a headlock, thwart their attack, and finish them off with an instant kill if the timing is right. The counterattack that can be performed varies depending on the type of weapon that is equipped. It is now possible to switch weapons in midair or more swiftly in the middle of a combo than before, and shooting has been made more fluid overall. During the levels, trading in weapons is no longer an option. It is set at the beginning of the game (with several weapons that need to be unlocked). However, the gear load-out can be altered after the player dies. It is possible to eliminate many foes all at once by employing certain materials in the environment and putting them into action. To make things more difficult for the adversary, other things like turrets, decoys, and even a wild boar may be brought into play.
In addition to the primary Campaign story mode, which features two different degrees of difficulty, there is also a Survival mode in which the objective is to endure as many waves of opponents as possible while playing on one of three different difficulty levels. Survival features a local cooperative campaign multiplayer option for two players, which can be played offline or online. This mode replaces the previous game’s locally suitable campaign multiplayer mode. In the multiplayer mode, players can choose from one of 16 unique characters, each with their own set of skills, health and item benefits, discounts, and damage modifiers. Unlocking the characters also allows you to use them in Campaign mode. Players can acquire several forms of enemy intelligence throughout the game, each of which can later be seen in its dedicated gallery.
