Should I buy this or the first game?

[LagiLos14]

I don't know anything about these games, I've just heard they're really fun. I just don't know if I should get the first one and then try this one or if I should start with this one from the get-go. What do you think?

[Oooska]

The first one - it's easier (which is not to say it is easy - far from it).
The second has far more content, but you're not going to be able to enjoy much of any of it if you don't have the skills to beat the first game.

[Leviathan]

Originally posted by Oooska:

The first one - it's easier (which is not to say it is easy - far from it).
The second has far more content, but you're not going to be able to enjoy much of any of it if you don't have the skills to beat the first game.

Not really true. In fact, the skills to beat the first game may sometimes get in your way to beat this one. And viceversa. I started with this game and the skills I had when I tried HD allowed me to beat it easily, but they also got in the way. A lot. And when I returned to this one... the same happened again.

I mean, once you get the idea of how to play any extra knowledge you get from HD is unnecessary, and sometimes even detrimental.

If you play HD first for a while, you'll learn a lot of useful stuff for this one, along with a lot of noise. If you play this one instead you'll also learn that stuff. Without the noise.

[Herr Quezt]

Spelunky HD

• More time friendly
  
• Cheaper
  
• Easier
  
• Jazz soundtrack

Spelunky 2

• Better end game goals/more to do
  
• Polished
  
• Online multiplayer
  
• Atmospheric soundtrack

Originally posted by Leviathan:

Not really true. In fact, the skills to beat the first game may sometimes get in your way to beat this one. And viceversa. I started with this game and the skills I had when I tried HD allowed me to beat it easily, but they also got in the way. A lot. And when I returned to this one... the same happened again.

Stuff like this is always interesting to read. It's also kind of how I feel about the whole skill carries over business. How you tackle the different areas is completely different from HD to 2 so I could see how some whip & movement mechanics would carry over but area muscle memory will just mess with you.

2 is the better game imo but HD is far from a bad game if you want a "more relaxing" experience.

[LagiLos14]

Ok, thanks, I guess I'll go for the second one then, based on what you're telling me.

[guts' theme (Cut & Looped)]

As someone that went straight from beating King Yama for the first time in HD to playing Spelunky 2 I'd say you can definitely skip playing HD without missing anything.

[peremptor]

First game on sale enjoy that then pick this one up. Both are great for genre fans.

[KingUrameshi]

I was the greatest in the world at the first game, I'm hot garbage on toast in the second.

[fxequals]

You can play either the first or second one without much worry. I would highly recommend the first one as a intro to the Spelunky series, as it serves as more of a entry point to the series (there is a free version available just called Spelunky you can find online if you REALLY want to do a "try before you buy" thing ... https://www.spelunkyworld.com/original.html)

The 2nd one is MUCH harder than the first, and the first one is very difficult. You will get the same experience and feel for the game if you play either one, but just know the 2nd one is really for those that conquered the first game and wanted to really test themselves.

For example, I have over 400+ hours in the first Spelunky and can probably beat it on every 1 out of 10 runs, but it took me near 2 hours to get off the first 4 levels of Spelunky 2 reliably. Your choice, I recommend the Spelunky HD version to jump in, but you won't be disappointed if you enjoy hard roguelites and challenging yet rewarding gameplay