Qomp2

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = qomp2 | image = Qomp2 Cover.jpg | developer = Graphite Lab | publisher = [[Atari, Inc. (formerly GT Interactive)|Atari]] | platforms = [[Atari VCS (2021 console)|Atari VCS]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series X/S]] | released = {{vgrelease|WW|February 20, 2024}} | genre = [[Puzzle-platform]] | modes = [[Single-player]] }}

'''''Qomp2''''' (stylized as '''''qomp2''''') is a 2024 [[puzzle-platform]] [[video game]] developed by Graphite Lab and published by [[Atari, Inc. (formerly GT Interactive)|Atari]]. It was released for [[Atari VCS (2021 console)|Atari VCS]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]] on February 20, 2024. The game is the sequel to the [[mobile game]] ''[[Qomp]]'', a platformer reinterpretation of ''[[Pong]]''. Upon release, the game received generally favorable reviews.

==Gameplay==

[[File:Qomp2 Gameplay.jpg|thumb|right|Gameplay screenshot]]

''Qomp2'' is a puzzle game that takes place across 30 levels. Players control a ball, constantly moving at an angle, by directing its upward or downward movement using a single button. A boost can accelerate the speed of the ball. Throughout the game, players navigate puzzles that require bypassing obstacles using the movement of the ball.<ref name=ND/>

==Development==

''Qomp2'' was developed by [[St. Louis]]-based studio Graphite Lab, who previously developed ''[[Mr. Run and Jump]]'' and ''Kombinera'' for Atari.<ref name="NL2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/01/over-50-years-after-the-original-pongs-sequel-gets-a-switch-release-date |title=Over 50 Years After The Original, Pong's Sequel Gets A Switch Release Date: Piddle-paddle |last=Reynolds |first=Ollie |date=22 January 2024 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> It is a sequel to the 2021 title ''[[Qomp]]'', developed by Stuffed Wombat, a studio unaffiliated with the sequel although supportive of the game.<ref name="GR" /><ref name="RPS" /> Publisher [[Atari]] announced the game in August 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/qomp2-is-a-pong-inspired-indie-that-lets-you-play-as-the-ball |title=Qomp2 is a Pong-inspired indie that lets you play as the ball |last=Lewis |first=Catherine |date=30 August 2023 |website=TechRadar |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> and marketed the game as a "creative sequel" to the title ''[[Pong (video game)|Pong]]''.<ref name=GR>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/ataris-making-a-sequel-to-pong-and-the-weirdest-part-is-that-it-looks-awesome/ |title=Atari's making a sequel to Pong, and the weirdest part is that it looks awesome |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=30 August 2023 |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> Lead designer Brad Austrin and executive producer Matt Raithel stated the vision of the game began on "expanding the narrative" of ''Qomp'', developing an initial pitch and game design document after researching the original title to create a faithful successor. From this, the creators conceived of a "standalone story" with a loose connection to the ending of the original game, imagining "a ball trapped in a timeless cycle of ''Pong'' eventually [manifesting] into a circular mutation".<ref name=GD>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/how-graphite-labs-created-a-pong-like-in-qomp2 |title=How Graphite Lab created a Pong-like in qomp2: For the sequel, our main vision was expanding the narrative of the original qomp |last1=Austrin |first1=Brad |last2=Raithel |first2=Matt |date=29 February 2024 |website=Game Developer |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> The game's announced relationship to ''Pong'' was met with a skeptical reception from critics: ''GamesRadar'' stated the connection "seems tangential at best",<ref name=GR/> and ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' considered the game more of a "thinly rebranded Qomp sequel", critiquing the "cynical handling" of the Atari license and back catalogue.<ref name=RPS>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pong-is-getting-a-creative-sequel-in-which-you-play-the-ball |title=Pong is getting a "creative sequel" in which you play the ball: That's a paddlin' |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=30 August 2023 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Expand section|date=September 2025}}{{ video game reviews

| MC = 85/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web|website=Metacritic|title=qomp2|date=2024|accessdate=4 September 2025|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/qomp2/}}</ref>

| OC = 57% recommend<ref name="opencritic">{{cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/16314/qomp2|title=''qomp2''|publisher=[[OpenCritic]]|access-date=May 11, 2026}}</ref>

| Gamezebo = 4.5/5<ref name=GZ>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/review-round-up-switch-march-2024/ |title=Switch Review Round-Up – Turok 3, Qomp2, and More |last=Reed |first=Simon |date=8 March 2024 |website=Gamezebo |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

| NLife = 6.4/10<ref name=NL>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/qomp2 |title=qomp2 Review (Switch eShop): Ping-Pong |last=Reynolds |first=Ollie |date=19 February 2024 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

| NWR = 7.5/10<ref name=NWR>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/66209/qomp2-switch-review |title=qomp2 (Switch) Review |last=Rudek |first=Jordan |date=19 February 2024 |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

| TA = 4.5/5<ref name=TA>{{Cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2024/02/26/splatoon-3-side-order-review-dlc-qomp-switch-eshop/ |title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Splatoon 3: Side Order’ & ‘qomp2’, Plus News, New Releases, and Sales |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=26 February 2024 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=29 August 2025 |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314101256/https://toucharcade.com/2024/02/26/splatoon-3-side-order-review-dlc-qomp-switch-eshop/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

| rev1 = ''Nintendojo'' | rev1Score = A−<ref name=ND>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendojo.com/reviews/review-qomp2-switch |title=Review: qomp2 (Switch): A delightful followup to Pong and the original qomp! |last=Nubin |first=Tyler |date=5 March 2024 |website=Nintendojo |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

}}

''Qomp2'' received "generally favorable" reviews, according to [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MC/><ref name=SN>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/138768/qomp2-review-score |title=Qomp2 review: Not one, but two buttons! Atari's self-referential sequel to an indie banger is ambitious in an odd way. But is it good? |last=White |first=Lucas |date=19 February 2024 |website=Shacknews |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> Fellow review aggregator [[OpenCritic]] assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 57% of critics.<ref name="opencritic"/>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

* {{mobygames|id=217986}}

[[Category:2024 video games]] [[Category:Atari games]] [[Category:Nintendo Switch games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Puzzle-platformers]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Sequel video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]] [[Category:Graphite Lab games]]