Heave Ho 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Review 9/10 "A sequel that (wonderfully clumsily) tosses the original into a cocked hat" 💪

Heave Ho 2 Is the Gold Standard for Modern Party Games

I covered the original Heave Ho back in 2019, and even then I was the steamboat captain of the good ship Le Cartel Studio. They had gifted the world Mother Russia Bleeds – an incredibly bleak and satisfying side-scrolling brawler that was not for the faint of heart (or stomach) – and whilst Heave Ho was very much a change in direction, I needn’t have worried, for their impeccable tastes meant that seemingly everything that they put their hands to turns to gold.

My incredibly devilish editor Rich ‘Show Me Your Passport First, Love’ Fotheringhay informed me that review codes were in for Heave Ho 2, and I knew instantly that my evening was a complete write-off, because I couldn’t not play it (great sentence, Britt – ed...also it’s Rich ‘9 Inches) (and I’m Not Talking About My Telly, Love) Fotheringham) until I blacked out from lack of sleep, for the Heave Ho series continues to be one of the most invigorating, infuriating, and hilarious co-op games of the last decade, and deserves to sell millions of copies.

For those not familiar with Heave Ho, it’s a game for up to four players that has you get from one side of a level to another, using the triggers as controllers for grip, with only the left analogue stick for limb-based movement. No legs, just swinging those skinny arms, and the occasional fart for a sad boost. Good.

As good as the original was, this sequel scrunches it into a ball and shoves it eye-wateringly up its own bum, tightening the physics, broadening the horizons, and generally improving on every aspect as it does so. The music has moved on from the farty orchestral bum-note-esque drunken vibe of the first game to instead feature music thematic to each stylised stage, from the noir-ish mystery levels through to the spacey, futuristic sections (a game highlight); every piece of music sits comfortably in the zone of the fistful of levels that you are currently making your way through.

I played through the original – many times – with various groups of friends, but this time out, I spent most of my time with my young son, who found Heave Ho 2 quite literally breath-takingly funny, and often had to leave the room, either to stop laughing and catch his breath, or dash to the toilet so that he didn't pee himself from the moment-to-moment antics that our characters were getting up to on screen as we threw and tossed each other around increasingly elaborate stages– what higher accolade could there possibly be for a comedic party game?

Adding to this beautiful level of accessibility for all levels of skill is the fact that those players that initially complete the level can guide a drone to assist fellow players, as well as a magical cat – natch – appearing after the ten-minute mark to offer flotation devices to all players so that the level can be completed en masse.

SUMMARY

Heave Ho is a high watermark in the party game genre, and whilst it stings a touch that there aren't any single player modes, that’s really not Heave Ho’s forte. Its forte is having the players shout and giggle at each other as you delve further and further into its increasingly challenging stages that will have you laughing out loud and creaking the controller in frustration in equal measure. 

Heave Ho should absolutely be in the running for game of the year, and if you don’t think so, Papa Otis needs to punch you in the face...or at the very least grab you by the mouth and throw you into space.

9/10

🧊ICE COOL🧊

(also available on PC, Switch)