
	Platform Xbox 360 Genre Platformer / Puzzle Publisher THQ Developer Blue Tongue Entertainment ESRB E +10 (Everyone) Released February 22, 2011

- Simplistic, easy to pick up gameplay - Literally colorful art-style and design - Cacophony of collectibles

- Time limit in stages - Finicky checkpoint system - Easy difficulty

Review: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) Review: Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (360) Review: Mirror's Edge (360)
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de Blob 2

Score: 7.5 / 10

Once upon a time, there was a great mascot war taking place in the world of videogames. The massive success of Sonic The Hedgehog in the 90’s sparked a decade of imitators across all consoles, some met with modest success (Crash Bandicoot) while others fell into obscurity (Bubsy The Bobcat). For many gamers, it was a dark time, one that few wish to see resurface. With today’s mascots resembling gruff, angry (and often balding) space marines, there is little room in the current gaming market for cute and/or hip critters, Nintendo excluded.

That didn’t stop Blue Tongue Entertainment with their 2008 callback with de Blob, a Wii-exclusive title 3D title combined puzzling with platforming. Surprisingly, a

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simplistic but addictive gameplay mechanic along with a colorful (pardon the pun) art style that can be appreciated by gamers of all ages led to a strong cult following…strong enough to warrant a multiplatform sequel, at that.

Taking place a couple of years before the last game, de Blob 2 follows the titular tub of goo after his successful takedown of the color-stealing tyrant,

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Comrade Black. Prisma City, which is having its big election, is having its ballot manipulated by a mysterious Papa Blanc, who is kidnapping and brain-washing the jellybean-looking residents into mindless gray-robed slaves. With the help of some spunky sidekicks and his ability to soak up colors into his body, Blob embarks on a race to free the citizens of Prisma City by literally painting the town red, green, purple and every other color under the rainbow.

Rather than feature a hub world like in Super Mario Galaxy, Blob can navigate between each of the city’s locations via stages on a map (which, incidentally, is just like Super Mario Galaxy 2). Each stage starts out as a gray-colored area devoid of personality and color, almost like a less-disturbing version of Limbo. In order to breathe life back into the city and its inhabitants, Blob must coat himself in colored paint, which can be found through colored reservoirs or Ink Bots (walking containers), which will then allow him to color each section of the level in purple, green, red, or whatever you prefer. Each stage has several objectives that are required to advance, such as painting a row of houses a specific color, or taking out all of Papa Blanc’s propaganda posters. Occasionally, players will need to infiltrate an enemy hideout, which switches the game to a 2D perspective. In these underground areas, Blob must hit a series of colored switches in order to release more paint into the outside world, while fending off against enemies from the insidious INKT Corporation. These dull-toned minions will only attack Blob when he’s colored, however, essentially turning his default grayed-out state as a stealth cloak of sorts. Water serves a purpose as well in washing out the hero’s colors should he require a specific color to proceed in the game’s puzzles.

Unlike many games today that try to incorporate different play-styles and genres into one title, de Blob 2 has one clear gimmick and runs with it all the way. As simplistic as coloring environments sounds, it works…really well, in fact. A simple act of physical contact is enough to instantly paint buildings regardless of size, and Blob can lay a paint-down (pun thoroughly intended) on enemies in succession thanks to a handy auto-lock mechanic. It doesn’t take long to make multi-colored progress on a previously grayed-out city, and it’s always a treat to look back on a level after you’ve infused it with life.

This is thanks largely to the…well, colorful visuals; the move to HD consoles certainly benefits the game thanks to the richer detail that makes all the colors literally eye-popping, but the real draw is the art style, which looks like a cross between Pixar and Hot Topic. The story, as told through FMV and pseudo-alien voiceovers, is also simplistic yet charming, offering an adult commentary on religious cults, rigged elections and possibly even racial acceptance (depending how deep you interpret the game’s message about “embracing all colors”) without beating you over the head with its messages. It’s a game that’s obviously catered to children, but every bit as entertaining for grown-ups as well. The sound design is also a constant presence, as every color has its own beat to accompany it, putting a rhythmic beat to the painting process.

However, a couple of design choices keep de Blob 2 from being fun for the whole family. First is the time limit imposed on each stage, starting off at ten minutes to complete all of the story missions, but can be extended by collecting timer icons. While most players can easily finish all of the required missions with time to spare, it does invoke a sense of rushing, which potentially keeps folks from venturing off the beaten path.

Fortunately, players are free to explore the level without restraint once the mandatory missions are completed, opening up a whole set of challenges and collectibles (including “inspiration” icons that can further enhance Blob’s abilities, such as his total number of lives, color stock, etc). This brings up the next issue, though, which is the finicky checkpoint system; the game only saves automatically during story checkpoints, and doesn’t take into account any side-quests or items you obtain afterward, which only further encourages players to skip on either until you’ve finished a level proper and can freely exit it anytime.

If there’s one message everyone should gleam from de Blob 2, it’s that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or a game by its premise. What the game lacks in variety it more than makes up with its enjoyable simplicity (even if it also applies to the minimal difficulty) and collectible extras. A couple more refinements for future titles and this is one Blob that could end up a name in every household under the double rainbow.

- Jorge Fernandez

(March 21, 2011)