When you leap into ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard, the promise of something brighter and more inventive than the original is undeniable – and much of that promise is delivered. Developed by Pixel Maniacs and published by PM Studios, this PlayStation 5 sequel expands on the spot-of-paint, physics-driven puzzle formula introduced in the first game, sending us back into the cold, gleaming laboratories of the ChromaTec testing facility with a gun that doesn’t just fire color, but invites us to think in it. From the outset, we’re once again a test subject caught between corporate spiel and cold, calculated logic puzzles, and while this setup wears familiar clothes – often reminiscent of the genre’s giants – what unfolds is consistently clever and thoughtfully constructed.
Mechanically, Dye Hard thrives on its central hook: Magnetoid Chromatism, wherein painting objects with the appropriate hues causes them to magnetically attract matching surfaces and other objects; these interactions form the backbone of each room’s challenge. The move to a fully three-dimensional puzzle space, plus the introduction of color removal and more complex color mixing, gives this sequel the space to breathe in ways its predecessor only hinted at. Early puzzles lean on simple color matching and moving WorkerDroids into place, but quickly introduce layered constraints – added environmental hazards, moving platforms, and more dynamic spatial relationships – that keep even veteran players thinking.
Where the game shines most brightly is in how it balances that expansion with a gentle hand-hold for newcomers. The controls feel grounded and intuitive on PS5, with no extraneous actions like sprinting or crouching that might distract from brain-first engagement, and the color wheel itself becomes almost a character in its own right – both a tool and a teacher. Puzzles rarely hinge on reflexes, instead rewarding thoughtful planning, experimentation, and a willingness to rework or sometimes even abandon an initial approach. However, it’s also fair to say that Dye Hard doesn’t always make us feel like geniuses – some rooms succumb to a sense of trial-and-error rather than elegant deduction, and the solution occasionally feels more like persistence than ingenuity.
That said, there’s tangible satisfaction in solving a well-crafted chamber, especially when multiple systems – colored droids, angled platforms, and environmental hazards – combine to create a solution that only works when everything clicks. The introduction of alternate dimensions and physics quirks adds variety to setups that might otherwise feel repetitive, and the addition of collectibles and hidden touches gives completionists a reason to poke around outside the obvious paths.
Narratively, Dye Hard isn’t the star of the show, but it’s far from perfunctory. The game injects a satirical corporate tone into its writing, producing moments of dry humor and benign absurdity as we’re prodded through test after test. This flavor lifts the experience above mere mechanics without ever trying to be a deep or dramatic story – what storytelling it has serves to humanize the world just enough to make us care about progressing, and helps knit the varied dimensions together into something resembling a coherent arc.
Visually and sonically, the game does solid work on the PS5. Its clean, brightly colored fields sit in stark contrast to the sterile lab environments they inhabit, and lighting and textures help maintain clarity even in more intricate rooms. Ambient audio cues and subtle sound design underscore color interactions and puzzle feedback, bringing a rhythmic flow to exploration and command without ever overwhelming the core gameplay loop.
Ultimately, ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard is a thoughtful, often delightful entry in the first-person puzzle genre that doesn’t always reach the heights of the masterpieces that inspired it, but more than earns its place at the table. A few missteps in difficulty pacing and occasional reliance on trial more than insight don’t overshadow the broader achievement here: a game that continually pushes its own systems further, invites experimentation, and delivers a rewarding cerebral experience on PS5. For fans of color-driven logic puzzles and spatial problem-solving with a twist, it’s a bright, compelling journey worth taking.
Score: 7.5/10
Press Play Media 