I had a chance to briefly play the demo of Sin & Punishment 2 on the E3 showroom floor and, being a moderate fan of the N64 game through the Virtual Console, I am definitely looking forward to the full game.

Sin & Punishment 2 plays very similarly to the original, but its controls are far more approachable. This is the on-rails third-person shooter fans of the original were anticipating. The most notable difference is its use of the Wii Remote for aiming, which greatly reduces the confusion factor. The B trigger attacks: you hold it down for rapid fire, and you can tap it to slash enemies and projectiles nearby. The A button allows you to lock on, and Z allows you to dodge to the side. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though!

Interestingly, the double-jump has been replaced with a jet pack with (seemingly) unlimited fuel. When on the ground, you can jump with C, and then jump again to activate the jet pack. In other sections of the demo you are combating while flying with your jet pack. Not every projectile can be knocked back with your sword, but this trademark Sin & Punishment mechanic was vital to defeating the giant (mechanical?) chicken boss in the level on display.

In true Treasure form, S&P2 is a very busy game. Enemies and their bullets fill the screen, from swarms of flying eyeballs to mechanical enemies. Overall the game looks fairly fluid (there were some minor hiccups) and the environment on display was detailed. As with the original, a lot of the challenge is in attacking while dodging, often under time limit constraints. The demo on display seemed very generous with health, but the final game will surely be brutal, at least on higher difficulty settings. I was unable to make out much of the audio on the noisy showroom floor, so I cannot confirm if the sequel retains the cheesy voice acting (though it’s likely).

If you liked the first game, or wanted to like it but couldn’t due to its cumbersome controls, Sin & Punishment 2 should definitely be on your radar.