DrinkBox Studios’s Guacamelee! was one of the first indie titles to properly utilize the “metroidvania” formula and become a successful game because of it. Five years later, enough games have turned to “metroidvania” progression to make a path to Pluto and back, and Guacamelee! 2 is launching into a market that is much more satiated.

Will that affect the game’s performance when it launches on the PlayStation 4 and PC next month on Aug. 21? We’ll see, but DrinkBox has a whole lineup of new additions to help its highly anticipated sequel stand out.

Drink Box designer Gary Corriveau’s extensive write-up on all these improvements over at PlayStation Blog goes a long way in reintroducing the game and helping it stand apart from its predecessor and the games that have come out since.

Guacamelee! 2 is an epic adventure that can be experienced alone or co-operatively with three of your closest amigos. Explore hundreds of new platforming and combat challenges. New abilities such as Eagle Boost, Rocket Kick, GOOOTCHA! and more add to Juan’s awesome arsenal of luchador moves. Upgrade your pollo form with Pollo Shot, Pollo Slide and a plethora of new chicken abilities (some secret, some not so secret). Select strategically from dozens of new skill upgrades to maximize your lucha potential.

Plus, DrinkBox is just a plain, great indie studio. No getting around that! If its designers tap into the variety that they showed when they developed Severed, one of our very favorite games of 2016, I have no problems believing Guacamelee! 2 to be a worthy sequel.

Check it out when it launches for the PlayStation 4 and PC on Aug. 21.

Use a chess clock to keep track of move and play times
Tick tock

Use a chess clock to keep track of move and play times

These chess clocks feature dual clocks for players to control their own timers, and loud alarms so everyone knows when time is up. These clocks can be used for other 2-person games, like checkers, that may benefit from a game timer.