Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans 2

Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans 2 is a side-scrolling beat ’em up brawler that continues the adventures of the iconic Italian comedy duo. Players control Bud Spencer and Terence Hill through various 2D scrolling environments, engaging in humorous combat with slaps, punches, and beans-based attacks. The game maintains the comedy narrative style of the films and serves as a loving tribute to these beloved characters, utilizing well-established brawler mechanics rather than innovating new gameplay systems.

Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans 2: Review

Introduction

In the pantheon of cinematic duos, few possess the effortless, slapstick chemistry of Italian icons Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. Their legacy of brawling comedy, built on a foundation of hearty slaps, full-bellied laughs, and a deep-seated sense of justice, found a surprising and welcome home in video games with 2017’s Slaps and Beans. Now, over half a decade later, developer Trinity Team returns with a direct sequel, Slaps and Beans 2. This is not a game that seeks to reinvent the wheel or shatter genre conventions. Instead, it operates with a singular, heartfelt mission: to serve as an interactive, playable love letter to two beloved film heroes. It is a sequel that confidently doubles down on the formula of its predecessor, offering more of the chaotic co-op brawling and filmic fan service that fans adored, for better and for worse.

Development History & Context

Developed by the Italian studio Trinity Team and published by Buddy Productions GmbH, Slaps and Beans 2 is a project born from clear passion and a successful crowdfunding campaign. Built on the Unity engine with FMOD handling audio, the game exists in a modern development landscape but is consciously crafting an experience that feels deliberately retro, hearkening back to the side-scrolling beat-’em-ups of the late 80s and early 90s.

The context for this sequel is crucial. The first game was a surprise hit, successfully translating the duo’s unique brand of physical comedy into a game format. For the sequel, the vision was evidently one of refinement and expansion rather than revolution. The developers, clearly ardent fans themselves, aimed to take players on a broader tour through the Spencer & Hill filmography. The technological constraints were likely less about hardware limitations and more about artistic choice—faithfully recreating the look and feel of the classic films within the framework of a 2D brawler. Released on September 22, 2023, across a staggering array of platforms from Windows and Nintendo Switch to PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the game launched into a market far more crowded with indie beat-’em-ups than its predecessor, making its reliance on licensed charm both its greatest strength and its potential weakness.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The plot of Slaps and Beans 2 is a delightful, nonsensical pastiche—a “greatest hits” compilation of the duo’s cinematic adventures woven into a single, chaotic road trip. Picking up after the shipwreck that concluded the first game, the narrative finds our heroes in Africa, saving a village from criminals before attempting to return home on a raft hilariously overloaded with bananas. As any fan would expect, nothing goes according to plan.

The story is less a coherent narrative and more a vehicle to transport players from one iconic film setting to the next, including a welcome segment inspired by Miami Supercops. The dialogue is packed with the kind of witty, simple, and instantly recognizable banter that defined the films. The themes are pure Spencer & Hill: the underdog triumphing over bullies through brute strength and cleverness, the importance of friendship and family (often found, not biological), and a timeless, almost childish sense of justice delivered by fist. The game understands that the appeal isn’t in a complex plot but in the vibes—the feeling of being in another one of their misadventures. It’s a thematic deep dive into nostalgia itself, prioritizing authenticity to its source material above all else.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Slaps and Beans 2 is a traditional side-scrolling beat-’em-up. The core gameplay loop is straightforward: walk to the right, encounter a group of thugs, and dispatch them using a combination of punches, kicks, grabs, and context-sensitive environmental attacks before moving on to the next scene. The combat system is serviceable but, as critics noted, can feel “unshakably repetitive” and “uninspired” when compared to the depth offered by genre leaders like Streets of Rage 4 or TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. Movesets, while functional, lack a sense of progression and unlockable depth that could have elevated the experience.

However, where the game truly shines is in its frantic deviation from this core loop. Trinity Team wisely understood that a straight brawler would not be enough to carry the spirit of the films. Thus, the campaign is frequently and joyously interrupted by a plethora of mini-games and set-pieces. These range from rhythm-based button-mashing sequences and shoot-’em-up segments to physics-based puzzles and even full-blown racing levels. These diversions are the game’s lifeblood, capturing the unpredictable, comedic energy of the movies and effectively “keep things fresh,” as noted by reviewers.

The game is built from the ground up for cooperative play, and this is its definitive way to experience it. The two-player co-op allows for combined moves and chaotic teamwork that perfectly mirrors the on-screen chemistry of Bud and Terence. A competent AI partner fills in for solo players, but the absence of online multiplayer feels like a significant missed opportunity in the modern gaming landscape, limiting the experience to local couch co-op. A competitive multiplayer mode is also included, adding some replayability beyond the main campaign.

World-Building, Art & Sound

This is where Slaps and Beans 2 transforms from a simple brawler into a “vera e propria lettera d’amore” (a true love letter). The world-building is achieved through meticulous attention to detail and an overwhelming sense of affectionate fan service. Every pixel feels crafted by someone who genuinely loves the source material.

The visual direction employs a crisp, detailed 2D art style that beautifully renders the duo and their environments. The animation is sharp and full of personality, perfectly capturing Bud’s lumbering power and Terence’s agile flair. Each location is pulled directly from the films, painstakingly recreated to evoke specific cinematic memories for fans.

The sound design is equally triumphant. The soundtrack is “spirited,” featuring music that sounds ripped right from the Trinity films, complete with a catchy, memorable main theme. The sound effects are a highlight, utilizing loud, cartoony slaps, boings, and crashes that are absolutely crucial to nailing the comedy. The lack of voice acting is understandable, though one can’t help but wonder how iconic vocal clips might have elevated the experience even further. Together, the art and sound create an atmosphere that is “perfectly coherent with the cinematic productions,” making the game feel like a lost, playable Spencer & Hill movie.

Reception & Legacy

Critically, Slaps and Beans 2 received a mixed but leaning-positive reception, garnering an average score of 68% from critics on MobyGames. Reviews praised its overwhelming charm and fan service while critiquing its repetitive combat. Italian outlet GamerNews.it awarded it 85%, calling it a “true love letter” that “entertains without feeling the pressure of having to invent something new.” Games Freezer (75%) enjoyed its “uniquely slapstick approach” despite the repetition, while Complete Xbox (60%) found it “interesting, albeit bland” and hard to recommend outside of a sale. senses.se (50%) summed up the dichotomy perfectly, noting the “lovely nostalgia factor” was unfortunately paired with “irritating game mechanics.”

Commercially, it found its audience—the dedicated fans of the duo. Its legacy is unlikely to be one of industry-wide influence but of cult preservation. It will be remembered as the game that, alongside its predecessor, most authentically captured the spirit of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill in interactive form. It stands as a testament to the power of licensed games when handled by developers who are first and foremost fans, ensuring the legacy of these comedy titans continues to find new life and introduce their unique charm to new generations.

Conclusion

Bud Spencer & Terence Hill: Slaps and Beans 2 is a fascinating case study in licensed media. It is a game whose whole is both less and more than the sum of its parts. Judged purely as a beat-’em-up, its mechanics are competent but unremarkable, arguably outclassed by many contemporaries. Yet, judged as an interactive celebration of two cultural icons, it is an resounding, heartfelt success.

Its final verdict is not a score but a recommendation: If you have a fondness for Bud and Terence and a friend on the couch next to you, Slaps and Beans 2 is an easy, enjoyable recommendation—a banana-filled raft of nostalgic fun. For those seeking deep, innovative brawling mechanics alone, it might be best to wait for a sale. In the annals of video game history, its place is secure not as a genre-redefining classic, but as a perfectly crafted tribute—a game that understood its assignment completely and executed it with love, slaps, and beans.