Spolous II could be the 2.5D shoot ’em up fans have been waiting for

Spolous II is shaping up as a broader follow-up to Spolous EX, keeping the side-scrolling shooting at its centre but moving the presentation into 2.5D. It’s still recognisably Spolous. Ships move across horizontal stages, enemies arrive in waves and capsules feed an upgrade gauge at the bottom of the screen. The sequel adds polygonal graphics, a larger selection of ships and a longer-term progression system, giving the familiar setup more room to grow.

Spolous started with a simpler 2D setup

The first game, later presented as Spolous EX, used a straightforward 2D format. Players moved through side-scrolling stages, collected capsules and spent them on upgrades selected from a gauge. Five routes gave the game a spread of stages, and several difficulty settings changed the challenge from run to run. Credits earned during play opened extra ships. It gave Spolous a reason to keep going beyond a single clear, without turning the game into a menu-heavy progression exercise.

Spolous II keeps most of this structure intact. The big visual change is the switch to polygon-based graphics. Stages still scroll from side to side, so the sequel doesn’t turn into a free-roaming 3D shooter. Instead, ships, enemies and scenery use three-dimensional models inside the familiar horizontal format.

Capsules still drive the upgrade system

Capsules remain a central part of play. Pick one up and the upgrade gauge advances. Players can activate the selected option with a dedicated button, letting them decide when to spend what they’ve collected.

It’s a small mechanic, yet it gives each run an extra decision point. You’re moving, firing, reading enemy patterns and keeping an eye on the gauge at the same time. Spend early and you get an immediate benefit. Hold out for a later option and the risk rises.

This system carries over directly from the earlier game and gives Spolous II one of its clearest links to Spolous EX. It doesn’t overcomplicate the shooting. It adds a layer of timing and choice on top of it.

Fourteen ships are planned

Spolous II begins with three available ships. More can be opened using credits earned through normal play, bringing the planned roster to 14. Two ships are new for the sequel.

The larger roster adds another reason to replay stages, since each craft changes the way a run develops. Route difficulty and upgrade timing already create variation, and the ship selection gives players another variable without changing the basic rules.

Keyboard, mouse and gamepad are covered

Spolous II supports gamepad, keyboard and mouse controls on Windows. Inputs can be changed through the configuration menu, which matters for a shooter built around quick movement and several separate actions.

Gamepad is the recommended setup. Keyboard works with the arrow keys for movement and dedicated keys for shooting, special attacks and upgrades. Mouse control is available too, giving PC players a third option.

The sequel is still changing

Development hasn’t stopped at adding ships and new graphics. Version 0.508 adjusts parts of Stage A6, changes missile collision behaviour for certain ships and revises projectile interaction with terrain in Stage A5. Music comes from sound creator Naoya Kamisaka, giving the sequel its own soundtrack alongside the new 2.5D presentation.

The planned 1.0 release goes further. Route B, ship customisation and a stage-select practice mode are listed for the finished version. Practice mode should make it easier to replay individual sections without running through an entire route first, and ship customisation adds another progression layer beyond opening craft.

For now, Spolous II is a work in progress with a clear direction. It keeps the capsule-driven shooting and credit-based ship progression from Spolous EX, shifts the visuals into 2.5D and builds a larger structure around the same core idea. The current build shows where the sequel is heading, with Route A serving as the main playable slice ahead of the planned 1.0 release.

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