The Firemen 2: Pete & Danny

About

Take control of Pete or Danny in this 1990s action-platformer where you battle blazing infernos with nothing but a water hose. The top-down perspective and split-screen co-op let you and a friend tackle fire-ravaged cityscapes side by side. Each level drops you into chaotic locations like a burning amusement park or a flaming aquarium while your radio dispatcher barks orders to rescue civilians and contain the spread. The Firemen 2 stands out for its over-the-top fire-fighting scenarios and surprisingly varied level design. Christmas Eve in New York becomes a playground of destruction as you juggle rescue missions with combat. While the pixel art and side-scrolling mechanics feel dated the sheer variety of environments from animatronic dinosaur exhibits to high-rise hotels keeps things engaging. A niche pick for fans of retro co-op action games.

Storyline

The Firemen 2 tells the story of two courageous firemen who are named Pete Grey and Danny McClean. They're busy keeping New York City safe from rampaging fires. The game takes place on Christmas Eve. Guided by their correspondent back at the station, Winona, Pete and Danny must visit multiple areas across the city, and put a stop to a series of mysterious fires that have been popping up all over. You (or you and a friend in 2 player mode) guide Pete and Danny in a traditional bird's eye view format. The game plays like a standard old-school 2D shooter game, like Commando or Contra. The only difference is, instead of guns, you're armed with hoses. And instead of seemingly endless military and/or alien drones, you battle the most malicious fire to ever walk the face of the earth. The areas that our heroes explore include a wide variety of locations around New York City. These places include a theme park, a giant aquarium, a hotel, and even an animatronic dinosaur exhibit. In each level, you are given a mission. (Rescue Pete's daughter, who got caught in one of the fires, rescue the penguins in a zoo before the fire gets to them, etc.)