Delicious Fruit
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Speedrun Leaderboards Screenshots
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by DerpyHoovesIWBTG
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by DerpyHoovesIWBTG
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by Taprus
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by Raganoxer
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by P2shka
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by Raganoxer
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by ZeroG
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by 13007
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by P2shka
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by Taprus
Creator's Comments:
ActualKale [Creator]
Heya, we updated the game. The purpose of this update was initially to make the game a little smoother to speedrun but none of the changes me and Zero have done alters the game in a way we think is detrimental to the experience for anyone, thus we decided this should be the official version and public for everyone.
I won't go over all the changes, noteworthy ones include: new character, slight boss changes, new sprites (in a few places), an option to turn off the respawn fade effect, skipable credits, less dishwashing, platforming improvements throughout (primarily in the second half) and bug fixes.
[10] Likes
I won't go over all the changes, noteworthy ones include: new character, slight boss changes, new sprites (in a few places), an option to turn off the respawn fade effect, skipable credits, less dishwashing, platforming improvements throughout (primarily in the second half) and bug fixes.
Rating: N/A
Difficulty: 90 90
Feb 26, 2018
87 Reviews:
Anon70000
Game is hard, Game has a sense of joke, Game has a good boss.
[2] Likes
Rating: 9.0 90
Difficulty: 90 90
Sep 22, 2015
PerliousFalcon
The Second installment in the Crimson Needle series and one can see why this is likely the least memorable of them all. There is CN 1 which is in Kale's words "The most influential needle game" as it's his debut fangame and redefined what a 100 Floor game is after many being like the CTB trilogy prior. CN 3 was the gimmick revolution in where not only he has a much better grasp on Needle Design, he was more experimental gimmicks wise beyond the traditional Jtool gimmicks. And finally, CN 2.5 stands as the magnum opus that I don't believe I need to elaborate on why. Then we have CN 2.
CN 2 isn't necessarily a bad game. In fact it's solid vanilla Needle overall (aside from the final four which I'll talk about later). The problem is that at least to me, it doesn't strike out as being memorable and I do admit that me playing this on and off since 2017 did make it feel that way for the early game at least.
It was good for the most part until I reached the final four floors and these are the lowest point of the game, especially at Floor 98. To start off, 97-99 represents the extra nasty hard Needle stage and it delivers. A step up even compared to the earlier floors of the 90s. I did not enjoy them personally and Floor 98 was the worst offender as it had a move around plane 2/3rds of the way in on a single save screen that was unforgiving and left me burnt out for a while too. 99 gets a dishonorable mention too with having the hardest jump being towards the end.
Then we have the big Floor 100. I wanted to give it a fair chance after my poor experience with the past stage but it became such a slog to grind through 3 screens in one go. All those late deaths were so demoralizing as I was not good at long Needle saves like that. And don't get me started how stressful it was when I was reaching the final screen and had 10 deaths by the end. It didn't help that the Nikaple Engine bug made it feel worse knowing that I was having slight input lag that I can tell how slightly heavier the difference is compared to even Jtool practice.
Thankfully, despite that low point, the final boss made for an excellent conclusion and brought the game to end on a better note. I was told/heard it was going to be a hard boss, as in comparable to other FSR Legend Tier bosses and honestly, it's not that tough. Main gimmick of the boss is that you have to develop and refine a strategy in how you'll manage the gods. Once you find your method, it isn't too bad. For comparison, boss took me 2-3 hours whilst Floor 100 took over 7 hours. Nevertheless, still a nice cooldown and end to the years on and off grind.
I do recommend this game if you're looking for a classic Jtool/Vanilla Needle experience but once you reach the final 4, think about if you want to continue to the end or not depending on how you feel about them and if you want to commit.
[1] Like
CN 2 isn't necessarily a bad game. In fact it's solid vanilla Needle overall (aside from the final four which I'll talk about later). The problem is that at least to me, it doesn't strike out as being memorable and I do admit that me playing this on and off since 2017 did make it feel that way for the early game at least.
It was good for the most part until I reached the final four floors and these are the lowest point of the game, especially at Floor 98. To start off, 97-99 represents the extra nasty hard Needle stage and it delivers. A step up even compared to the earlier floors of the 90s. I did not enjoy them personally and Floor 98 was the worst offender as it had a move around plane 2/3rds of the way in on a single save screen that was unforgiving and left me burnt out for a while too. 99 gets a dishonorable mention too with having the hardest jump being towards the end.
Then we have the big Floor 100. I wanted to give it a fair chance after my poor experience with the past stage but it became such a slog to grind through 3 screens in one go. All those late deaths were so demoralizing as I was not good at long Needle saves like that. And don't get me started how stressful it was when I was reaching the final screen and had 10 deaths by the end. It didn't help that the Nikaple Engine bug made it feel worse knowing that I was having slight input lag that I can tell how slightly heavier the difference is compared to even Jtool practice.
Thankfully, despite that low point, the final boss made for an excellent conclusion and brought the game to end on a better note. I was told/heard it was going to be a hard boss, as in comparable to other FSR Legend Tier bosses and honestly, it's not that tough. Main gimmick of the boss is that you have to develop and refine a strategy in how you'll manage the gods. Once you find your method, it isn't too bad. For comparison, boss took me 2-3 hours whilst Floor 100 took over 7 hours. Nevertheless, still a nice cooldown and end to the years on and off grind.
I do recommend this game if you're looking for a classic Jtool/Vanilla Needle experience but once you reach the final 4, think about if you want to continue to the end or not depending on how you feel about them and if you want to commit.
Rating: 6.8 68
Difficulty: 86 86
Jul 8, 2025
Nearigami
When Kale published his CN3 commentary series, which I haven't finished because I have ADHD, he commented that his goal with CN3 wasn't to make a fun game. This sounds kind of backwards at first. Why would you not want to make a fun game? Isn't that what games are supposed to be? Well while fun is certainly an important factor, if that's all you aspire your game to be, you will probably end up creating a flatter and less memorable experience. If you've played CN3, there are some segments which will probably not ellicit pure joy from you. Something may be uncomfortable, extremely difficult, or leave you without information that would make your journey easier. These moments baked into the gameplay of CN3 add color to your experience. When you reach the end of floor 100, you remember so much of the journey it took to get there that it becomes an experience you will never be able to forget.
Back in 2020, Kale reviewed Save My Boy, and that was the first time that I saw this philosophy presented. Kale remarked that the game was super fun, but he believed that it was at times approaching forgettable simply because it was inoffensive. The screens blended together and they almost all require the same sort of skillset. The game was fun but in a predictable way. I didn't get it at first. I thought Save My Boy was a straightforward masterclass in gimmick needle design, and honestly I still believe that to be the case today. I get it though, the game doesn't have the amount of variety it could have had because Arzztt made the most comfortable and fun game he could. There's no sort of friction in the game at all. Instead of being a 4-course meal, it's a delicious, double deckered cake that you can chow on for hours.
Playing CN2 is fascinating because it feels like a version of Kale before he learned that lesson. CN2 is a game that was designed to be fun in a straightforward way and as a result, the floors kind of blend together. While the game gets harder, it doesn't ever really ask anything different from the player. The visuals and spike placements change, but the core design and style between them always feel similar. I'm never tested in new ways when playing CN2. The later floors are simply asking if I can beat the needle style from the earlier ones but with a higher difficulty. That's not a *bad* thing, but I noticed it for sure.
The boss oddly feels like it belongs though? I can't quite articulate why but I feel the final boss makes perfect sense for a game like CN2. Some people don't like the boss but I enjoyed it. It feels less like a boss and more like an extended needle save. No I will not elaborate, because I don't fully understand what I'm cooking myself.
CN2 is fun and that's it.
[1] Like
Back in 2020, Kale reviewed Save My Boy, and that was the first time that I saw this philosophy presented. Kale remarked that the game was super fun, but he believed that it was at times approaching forgettable simply because it was inoffensive. The screens blended together and they almost all require the same sort of skillset. The game was fun but in a predictable way. I didn't get it at first. I thought Save My Boy was a straightforward masterclass in gimmick needle design, and honestly I still believe that to be the case today. I get it though, the game doesn't have the amount of variety it could have had because Arzztt made the most comfortable and fun game he could. There's no sort of friction in the game at all. Instead of being a 4-course meal, it's a delicious, double deckered cake that you can chow on for hours.
Playing CN2 is fascinating because it feels like a version of Kale before he learned that lesson. CN2 is a game that was designed to be fun in a straightforward way and as a result, the floors kind of blend together. While the game gets harder, it doesn't ever really ask anything different from the player. The visuals and spike placements change, but the core design and style between them always feel similar. I'm never tested in new ways when playing CN2. The later floors are simply asking if I can beat the needle style from the earlier ones but with a higher difficulty. That's not a *bad* thing, but I noticed it for sure.
The boss oddly feels like it belongs though? I can't quite articulate why but I feel the final boss makes perfect sense for a game like CN2. Some people don't like the boss but I enjoyed it. It feels less like a boss and more like an extended needle save. No I will not elaborate, because I don't fully understand what I'm cooking myself.
CN2 is fun and that's it.
Rating: 8.0 80
Difficulty: 82 82
Nov 25, 2023
LastTISisLife
Great needle. This game basically follows the formula of original Crimson Needle, but which some specifics. First of all, this game has a boss at the end. And let me tell you, this boss is one of the best i've ever played. As fan of Crimson-like concept, i fully enjoyed. Final boss of this game is perfect example of fair, clever and unique designed fight. Various tactics, analysis of what's happening, reading skills - you need to bring all of this to conquer this beast. Absolutely good to play, incredibly rewarding to beat
Before bosses there's a classic 100 floors of various needle. Another huge difference from first game - Floor 100. In this game, this floor has 3 screens and it's basically hardest needle save (and thing in the game, but this is imo) in the game by a shot. But even despite being extremely hard, i have a lot of fun playing this. First - good music, chill and vibe. Second - jumps, that are fun to do speedy on first screen, accurate on second and with high amount of nerves and precision on third one. Perfect example how you make final floor of the game, just classic at this point. Loved this floor
What makes this game is even more great - it's absolutely good for other 99 floors as well! I kiiiinda think it has weak beginning tho, some floors were kinda wacky and feels out of place, but the more you deep into game, the more it starts gaining momentum. After floor 50 this game oustands first game by a solid distance, and after floor 75 by a fucking light year. If original game floors 75-100 was a disaster, in this game this floors are bright highlight. Floor 99 is one the best i've ever played, floor 92 is far better than respective from first game (i also like secrets in secret floor, good stuff). And overall all later floors was incredibly good, hard as well, but it didn't corrupt them at all. My only issue is maybe floor 96, probably weakest floor in the game and kinds stands outside of everything, didn't like it
If i wanna describe negative issues, i mostly will didn't remember anything. In general, this game is just perfection of how make simple in design, but cool and clever needle with good balance. I think Kale just understand all of the problems with first game and fixed it for the most part. And this is actually huge, because Crimson Needle 1 was not the worst, it has extremely big potential, and the Crimson Needle 2 while having it exploring it fully, which makes it prevailing and perfect. If you wanna play some hard needle or get into hard needle, this is my easiest recommendation
[1] Like
Before bosses there's a classic 100 floors of various needle. Another huge difference from first game - Floor 100. In this game, this floor has 3 screens and it's basically hardest needle save (and thing in the game, but this is imo) in the game by a shot. But even despite being extremely hard, i have a lot of fun playing this. First - good music, chill and vibe. Second - jumps, that are fun to do speedy on first screen, accurate on second and with high amount of nerves and precision on third one. Perfect example how you make final floor of the game, just classic at this point. Loved this floor
What makes this game is even more great - it's absolutely good for other 99 floors as well! I kiiiinda think it has weak beginning tho, some floors were kinda wacky and feels out of place, but the more you deep into game, the more it starts gaining momentum. After floor 50 this game oustands first game by a solid distance, and after floor 75 by a fucking light year. If original game floors 75-100 was a disaster, in this game this floors are bright highlight. Floor 99 is one the best i've ever played, floor 92 is far better than respective from first game (i also like secrets in secret floor, good stuff). And overall all later floors was incredibly good, hard as well, but it didn't corrupt them at all. My only issue is maybe floor 96, probably weakest floor in the game and kinds stands outside of everything, didn't like it
If i wanna describe negative issues, i mostly will didn't remember anything. In general, this game is just perfection of how make simple in design, but cool and clever needle with good balance. I think Kale just understand all of the problems with first game and fixed it for the most part. And this is actually huge, because Crimson Needle 1 was not the worst, it has extremely big potential, and the Crimson Needle 2 while having it exploring it fully, which makes it prevailing and perfect. If you wanna play some hard needle or get into hard needle, this is my easiest recommendation
Rating: 9.2 92
Difficulty: 84 84
Sep 6, 2022