Luxor 2
2006
Has it aged?Why ↓
Luxor 2 is an Egyptian-themed colour-matching puzzle game: you slide a winged scarab along the bottom of the screen, firing balls into winding chains to clear groups of three before they advance too far. Setting off a cascade is the attraction; dragging that trick through a long journey along the Nile is the mistake.
The much anticipated sequel to the #1 casual game of 2005, LUXOR 2 sets the new standard for action-puzzlers. LUXOR 2 takes you on a beautiful voyage through 88 all-new, gorgeously rendered levels set amongst the pyramids of ancient Egypt.
The publisher’s description, from its Steam store page.
What it looks like
the store's own shots
The verdict
Play Luxor 2 for its single-map Survival mode, not the long Adventure campaign. Shooting from the bottom gives you a clear job: line up colours and arrange the next collapse. Adventure stretches that job across repeating maps, while bridges and tunnels can make shots harder to read rather than more interesting. The basic puzzle needs no elaborate excuse; the campaign gives it too much ceremony.
Play it if
You enjoy lining up a shot that clears one colour and brings another matching group together. You chase points and happily replay a board to squeeze more out of the same rules.
Skip it if
You need fresh layouts to keep playing, or you cannot tolerate uncertainty about where a shot will land. Adventure repeats maps, and its overlapping paths can obscure which balls your shot will reach.
Common questions
- How is the scarab different from Zuma's launcher?
- It slides along the bottom of the screen rather than rotating in the centre. You choose your firing position by moving sideways.
- What do combos give me in Luxor 2?
- Linked combos produce power-ups that can freeze or slow the advancing balls, or destroy some of them. Falling treasure also awards points or extra lives.
- What is Pharaoh's Challenge?
- It is a separate mode built around firing daggers rather than matching coloured balls. Adventure also includes dagger-firing bonus rounds.
- Can I choose a harder route through the Nile?
- There are four difficulty levels. Adventure also adds colours, faster-moving balls and more complicated paths as you progress.
What everyone else said
we link, we don't reprintHas it aged?
How does it hold up today? Based on recent reviews, how opinions have changed since launch, player activity and updates.
Too few recent reviews to stand alone, so this leans on its all-time rating.
Reviews via Steam ↗Peak: 4 in Jul 2012.
Player counts via SteamCharts ↗Too few recent reviews to compare with its launch.
The developer posts no update notes on Steam, so we can't tell.