Mossmouth's sequel to Spelunky, the procedurally generated platformer from 2008, rightfully titled Spelunky 2 has finally released, to great critical acclaim, and players are already discovering the myriad of new features the tough-as-nails rogue-like has to offer. New items, characters, and environments are sure to entice players to spend countless hours combing through every nook and cranny for the game's many secrets, but one of the more curious features is the addition of an animal mount in the form of a turkey.
Once fans have found a turkey, taming the beast is a fairly simple, but solidly dangerous affair. The turkeys scare easily and approaching one incorrectly can wind up with players and their feathered friend on the wrong end of a spike trap. However, if players jump on the turkey while holding the jump button, the unbroken beast will flail about as it runs around until a splash of pink hearts emerge from it. This signifies a successful taming and players are ready to enjoy the various advantages the turkey has to offer.
In the real world, a turkey doesn't amount to much in terms of movement or navigational prowess, but the world of Spelunky 2 is much different. Turkeys can offer a double jump to help spelunkers reach those hard to reach areas in order to collect more gems or items. And they can even glide to allow a safe way fall from high distances, much like the cape item, though without the need to purchase one at the shop. The turkeys also have an attack, though it works similarly to the standard whip, so don't expect to be viciously plowing through enemies with the turkey friend.
Similarly to Yoshi and Super Mario World, the player can even hop off the turkeys mid-jump to reach even higher areas than ever before. That is, if one is willing to risk sending the new friend to its potential doom. Players need not worry though if the falling turkey's landing spot is safe, because taming a turkey means they are the player's to keep as long as they don't perish under their watch. Spelunkers can even bring turkeys with them from level to level as long as they're kept alive.
Occasionally, Spelunky 2 players may come across a friendly man named Yang who is all about turkeys. Bringing a turkey, sometimes two or more, to Yang will unlock a caged door within his turkey pen that players can then browse for the various treasures Yang offers for uniting him with more of his favorite birds.
Spelunky 2 is available now on PlayStation 4 and will release on Steam on September 29, 2020.