Back when de Blob was released on the Nintendo Wii in 2008, I was a bit skeptical about it and decided to skip the game because it seemed intended for children, despite its well-received feedback from the press. Several years after its initial release, the second game is finally here, but it’s no longer a Nintendo Wii exclusive, having spread to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. This time around, I decided to take a chance and play the sequel.
I had mixed emotions after beating de Blob 2—it feels weird playing it due to the unique mechanics it offers, but it does promise a satisfying experience. Before reviewing the game, I went out and bought the first one on the Wii to fully grasp the sequel and compare both games. Is de Blob 2 a big improvement on the first game? Should owners of the HD consoles succumb to the hype of de Blob 2 and pick it up? Let’s check out the HOTs and NOTs of the game.
HOT
Cute and Colorful World
In the world of de Blob, everything the player comes across is monochromatic and lifeless. This is where the character named Blob comes in. With his abilities to absorb colors, Blob can paint the dull world and bring life back to it. Think of de Blob 2 as a coloring book where the player can pick up a variety of crayons and fill in the picture. The main objective of de Blob 2 from beginning to end is coloring every area the player passes through. Once everything is colored, the player can then advance to the next level. While coloring sounds like a boring mechanic for a game, there’s more to it than players might expect.
For those gamers who are looking for a fresh new take on platforming, de Blob 2 is a game that breaks the mold. In addition to coloring the towns and other areas, players are able to jump and explore in a traditional platforming style. As the player guides Blob through the twelve levels of the game, there will be puzzles and complicated areas that Blob will have to solve in order to get to the next level. New power-ups and enemies start popping up near the middle of the game and that’s where the player will truly enjoy de Blob 2 and see it shine. For players who lack platforming experience, de Blob 2 serves as a great introduction to the genre. A new feature that fans of the first de Blob will look forward to in the sequel is the plethora of 2D side-scrolling sub-levels in the game. Anyone familiar with Super Mario or Metroid will feel right at home in these sections of the game.
The design and world of de Blob 2 are truly phenomenal, and another aspect that deserves special praise is the soundtrack. The way the developer managed to synchronize the music with the actions of the game makes it a real pleasure to listen to. The more areas and items the player paints, the more exciting beats can be heard. If the player wants to fully enjoy the soundtrack, take time to color the cities and let those exciting beats take over.
Fun and Humorous Story
The story of de Blob 2 picks up where the first game left off. The Evil Comrade Black is back and he’s up to no good once again. He’s been sucking all the colors in different parts of the world and it’s up to Blob to restore the color and bring Black into justice. Players should expect some quirky and funny moments, particularly in the cutscenes. Although the characters are not voiced in English, players will hear them mumble as they read through the subtitles.
Play with Friends
de Blob 2 is a game not only for casual or hardcore gamers, but it’s also a great family game. Anyone can jump into the game and not worry about getting used to the controls. To take de Blob to the next level, playing co-operatively is the best way to experience what the game has to offer. Up to two players can play the game. When playing co-op, the first player will control Blob while the other will act as a guide known as Pinky. The second player who controls Pinky can help Blob by spraying color anywhere on the screen. In addition to the story mode, players can take advantage of the Blob Party, which contains a decent amount of party games that everyone in the family can play.
PS3? Play Using the Move! 3D Capable!
I received a PlayStation 3 version of de Blob 2 from THQ, thus allowing me to play the game using both the Dualshock 3 controller and the PlayStation Move. When playing with the Move controller, it feels exactly like I’m using the Wii Remote on the Wii. The Move controls are very close to the ones on the Wii version of the first game. Want to play the game in HD but with motion controls? Playing it on the PS3 with the PlayStation Move controller will answer that desire. In addition to Move control exclusive, the PS3 version of de Blob 2 offers full support of 3DTVs.
NOT
Bad Camera
My only complaint when playing de Blob 2 is the bad camera angles it occasionally has. While the camera is fully controllable, there will be times when the camera will move on its own and focus at wrong directions. This is most common when Blob is on a small area, as players will have a hard time following Blob around. This flaw can affect the experience of the game, which is a shame because de Blob 2 is so much fun.
VERDICT
If you skipped the first de Blob because it was a Wii exclusive or looked too childish, I highly recommend picking it up now. In addition to being one of the best platforming games out there, it also makes the perfect party game and can be viewed on your swanky 3D television. If you’re looking for a quirky platformer that will put a smile on your face, de Blob 2 will not fail to put color in your life. Just be wary of the camera angles!
[Editor’s Note: de Blob 2 was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 platform using both the PlayStation Move and Dualshock 3 controller. The game was given to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
