Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition
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Critic Reviews for Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition
Tomba! 2 returns in the latest re-release from Limited Run Games.
The best way to describe Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is that it’s a product of a different time. It’s not a bad game because someone threw out a piece of unfinished trash. It’s bad because it comes from a much less refined era. While the changes in the Special Edition do alleviate the annoying parts, you’re still better off playing one of the many other better Metroidvanias on the market.
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return was overlooked for a reason. It’s a disappointing follow-up that plays it safe and feels worse to play. If you are already a fan, this Special Edition is a no-brainer. It may not be as good as the first game, but it’s good to have it preserved and widely available at a low cost, with QOL features to soften the questionable design choices.
I had so much fun with Tomba! 2 Special Edition and it reminded me just how special of a game it is thanks to its unorthodox approach to platforming, general goofiness, and stage designs that often offer much more than initially meets the eye. Plus, there are piggies. 🐷
While Tomba’s floaty physics and obtuse objectives remain as stubborn as an evil swine, this Special Edition triumphs through generous QoL features and curated extras. It’s a nostalgic pig-pile of content that, despite its clunky combat, offers a definitive, legally sanctioned homecoming for our pink-haired hero.
Ultimately, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is a product of its time – it’s full of heart, weirdness, and ambition, but it also looks and feels a little dated in design. It doesn’t hold your hand and it controls a bit like a bar of soap, but the core loop of exploring this colourful, silly world remains satisfying. And whilst it is a little limited on extras, this port provides an accessible way to play a cult classic on modern hardware – and thanks to the recent patch, it’s in a state worth recommending to those with a soft spot for the PlayStation era.
Tombi! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is a nostalgic venture that, like the first instalment, brings a legend of the past to PS5. Although the porting work has been carried out with a certain degree of laziness, the small additions in terms of mechanics greatly enhance the modern-day experience. Needless to say, those who lived through the late 1990s will not be able to resist returning to attack evil pigs, but for everyone else, the approach may be a little more difficult, given the age of the title.
Review in Italian | Read full review
