Jetbox feels like dog-fighting. It's fast and loose, with the constant satisfaction of skimming your deadly jetstream with tight, swooping turns.
Jetbox 2 feels like dancing. At first, I was disappointed that it was so much slower than the first game. But as I began to wrap my head around the new mechanics, I fell in love with it.
The slower movement is accompanied by a greater sense of momentum and friction. You can no longer turn on a dime. Instead, every movement is a carefully choreographed acrobatic tumble between obstacles. Each new mechanic adds complexity and difficulty but also gives the player more options and strategies.
The enemy ship pushes through and clears the jetstream in its path. The screen wrapping clears a bit of jetstream on the opposite screen edge and makes soft-locking collectibles almost impossible. The combo and no-hit bonuses rewards players for improvising a plan at the start of each level and executing it quickly. And the new death mechanic turns the ponderous waltz into a frantic tango, with one last chance to save your run.
It's beautiful. It's perfect. I was worried that any follow-up to the original would be bloated or disappointing, and I was wrong on both counts.