Review: Aaero 2

Aaero 2 promised to be the next evolution of a rhythm shooter I’ve admired for years—but after spending several hours with it, I’ve come to a simple conclusion: it doesn’t really feel like a sequel. It looks better, sounds sharper, and yes, it still has that intense gameplay core, but Aaero 2 doesn’t bring the major changes or improvements that I was genuinely hoping for.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Graphically, Aaero 2 is stunning. The environments are more detailed, the lighting effects are crisper, and there’s a clear jump in production quality compared to the first game. Visually, it’s one of those sequels where you can tell right away that they took a lot of care to upgrade the experience. The game looks and runs beautifully. The enemy models, the bosses, and even the background effects during the music drops are all more immersive and dramatic. It really helps reinforce the feeling of syncing visuals with sound in a more cinematic way.

But that’s where the big leap ends. The gameplay itself? Basically the same. You’re still riding the ribbon, still dodging, still locking on and firing to the beat. That’s not a bad thing—Aaero’s core gameplay is fantastic. The problem is that Aaero 2 doesn’t do much to expand or evolve that foundation. It feels more like a polished remaster than a bold new step forward. There are a few small tweaks in difficulty and pacing, but nothing that reinvents the formula. If you played the first game a lot like I did, Aaero 2 will feel incredibly familiar, almost too familiar at times.

The new tracks included in Aaero 2 follow the same genre themes as before—plenty of drum and bass, dubstep, and electronic beats that match the gameplay. They’re good. They fit. But that’s just it: they fit. Nothing really blows your mind or makes you stop and replay the same level over and over just because you love the music. That was something the first game had—songs that hooked you instantly. In Aaero 2, I found myself moving from track to track without forming any strong musical attachment. For a rhythm game, that’s a bit disappointing.

And let’s talk about the tutorial. It’s long. For returning players, it honestly feels unnecessary. There should’ve been an option to skip it altogether. Instead, you’re forced through a very slow and drawn-out introduction that doesn’t really offer much beyond what we already know. It’s a small detail, but it affects first impressions—especially for fans who just want to dive into the action.

The biggest missed opportunity in Aaero 2, by far, is the lack of community features. There is still no Steam Workshop support. No mod tools. No user-generated track editor. In an era where games like Beat Saber, American Truck Simulator, and even indie hits like Celeste have built strong communities through mods and shared content, Aaero 2 feels stuck in the past. This is one of the most rhythm-heavy genres out there, and players LOVE customizing it. The absence of any tools for the community to participate is a huge reason why I think Aaero 2 will struggle to have a long shelf life.

Compare it to GTA V, for example. That game has lived for over a decade because of mods, roleplay servers, and the creativity of its community. The same applies to games like Euro Truck Simulator or even The Sims. Once players are given the tools, they extend the life of the game far beyond what the original developers could’ve imagined. With Aaero 2, there’s none of that. Once you finish the main content, there’s nothing else to keep you coming back unless you’re chasing leaderboard scores—and even then, it feels like a lonely pursuit.

Another thing that struck me as strange is how I found out about Aaero 2. There was no trailer in my YouTube feed. No promoted posts. No Steam banner or featured game list. The only reason I discovered it existed was because I opened the first Aaero and noticed an update log on the community page. That’s it. I wasn’t emailed, I didn’t see any social media buzz—it was completely by chance. And I follow indie games closely, so if it flew under my radar, it definitely missed many others.

This points to a marketing issue. Aaero 2 deserved a better launch push. With improved visuals and a solid existing fanbase, it could’ve attracted attention if people actually knew it was available. But it feels like the game was dropped silently, which never helps—even when the product is good. Indie studios especially need to find ways to energize their communities and make some noise, and unfortunately, I just didn’t see that happen here.

Let’s return to the gameplay for a moment. Aaero 2 adds a few extra elements during boss fights and more complex patterns during the ribbon sequences, but these changes are subtle. They don’t change the experience in a meaningful way. In fact, they reminded me of expansions rather than a true sequel’s evolution. Don’t get me wrong, the gameplay is still tight, responsive, and satisfying. But the moment you start expecting innovation, you realize this is more of the same.

I really believe Aaero 2 could’ve benefited from taking more risks. What if it had online multiplayer races through music tracks? What if it introduced rival battles or score-based challenges with friends? What if players could upload their favorite tracks and auto-generate ribbon layouts? Even basic features like visual customizations or unlockable skins would’ve added some extra layers of motivation to keep coming back.

Unfortunately, we don’t get any of that here. There’s no reason to personalize or make the experience your own. It’s all very contained. And again, in a genre that thrives on creativity and rhythm-driven freedom, that’s a major limitation. I know this all sounds critical, but it’s because I care. I loved the first Aaero. I wanted this to be a big moment for the franchise. I wanted to see it rise to the level of other genre favorites. But Aaero 2 plays it far too safe. It’s the same dish served on a nicer plate. Tastes good, looks better—but you’ve already eaten it before.