de Blob 2 (Nintendo DS) - Review by Chris

Introduction

Although having been announced for the handheld at the same time as the Wii version, the DS version of the first De Blob title failed to materialise, with gamers left out of the loop on whether or not it would ever turn up. Fast forward 2 years, and THQ have gotten it together and have brought a version of the sequel, De Blob 2: The Underground, to the DS for those looking for some music infused platforming on the go, courtesy of developers Halfbrick Studios. Has the wait for Blob and co on the DS been worth it?

Gameplay

Acting as more of an interlude between the first and the second game, De Blob 2 on the DS weaves its own narrative of Blob and Co's adventures. After a confrontation with Dr. Von Blot, the evil scientist responsible for all of the black ink that the Inkt Corporation have been using to drain the colour out of the world, which sees him becoming a victim of his own invention and turning into a giant monster, you're tasked with tracking down Blot and stopping him before he can launch his rocket filled to the brim with black ink and save not only Chroma City but also the world. Like the first game, it's a light hearted affair, working in comedic moments to keep everything humorous and never serious and will no doubt get a few chuckles from those who played the first game and even those coming to the series for the first time.

Unlike the home console versions, allowances have had to be made to bring the game to the DS, the biggest of these being that the game is no longer an open world platforming title but rather a 2D side scrolling one. It's an understandable decision given the limitations of the hardware but removing the freedom that the other versions host will no doubt disappoint gamers you are used to the 'go at your own pace' feel that the first game provided, allowing you to get lost in a level and its quests for an hour or more in search of completion.

Still, the change to a side scroller hasn't changed some of the game's aspects, mainly the platforming and the painting mechanic. As you'd expect, you're tasked with making your way through a series of levels to reach the game's final confrontation, with each new area adding in new mechanics to add just enough variety to keep you going, such as fans and wall jump panels. It's a pretty standard platforming affair, or at least it would be but thankfully the painting mechanic takes it to another level and adds a slight puzzle element to some of the proceedings.

While more played down here due to the changed nature of the gameplay, you'll still roll through levels, destroying paint bots and collecting their colour to splatter around the level and breathe some much needed colour into the dull, grey dystopian world that the Inkt Corporation are trying to achieve. It's worked into secondary objectives in levels as well, tasking you with painting specific sections of an area in a certain colour or even taking down enemies or hitting switches of the same colour. It's a nice touch that, as mentioned, adds a slight puzzle element but due to how accessible the paint bots are around the areas with the puzzles, it's always very straight forward to complete them and the levels in general. Even tracking down the Raydians and the musical note collectables hidden in the levels is easy thanks to a much more streamlined approach. It's still enjoyable but it definitely feels more casual friendly.

Clocking in at around the 4 hour mark, De Blob 2 on the DS is by no means a hefty game and while it provides you with enough enjoyment throughout that short run time, you'll be left wanting more when the ending comes purely because of how much the other versions possess in terms of their content. Some DSi enhanced features have been included for those owning those consoles, taking the form of an augmented reality style game where you're looking for specific paint colours, but it adds very little to the end game and the severe lack of post game or alternate content means that the fun is over in an afternoon of play which is very disappointing.

Controls

Some developers shoehorn in touch screen controls to platformers and they don't always work so thankfully here, the face buttons and the D-pad carry out all the necessary actions you'll need to progress through the game. They work extremely well, although jumping remains a little on the floaty side and the collision detection is ever so slightly off for some of the platforms.

Graphics

With a change to a 2D side scrolling view, more effort has been put on creating some flowing level design rather than gifting the player the freedom for exploration and while some will undoubtedly lament the lack of the latter, although there are nooks and crannies throughout all of the levels hiding secrets, the game feels much better for it with levels that work extremely well and feel connected.

Visually, things do occasionally look grainy and rather basic in the geometry department, with little in the way of the excessive architectural flare of the other versions being brought to this title. Similarly, blocky textures become extremely apparent at times but in general, this pint sized version conveys the same visual style as its brethren titles nicely and although the colours may not be as vibrant and sometimes appear more dull, the ever changing palette of the areas, thanks to the painting mechanic, ensures that they never become dull to look at. Character models carry a slightly more cartoon-y look and while the detailing may not be to the highest standard, they still look great and are animated extremely well.

The one main issue as a result of the visuals is that the game is prone to frame rate issues every so often, especially when you're being tasked with taking out the Inkt forces. It doesn't slow to a crawl but it is noticeable and slightly jarring, although it shouldn't have an effect on your playing.

Sound

Almost all of the soundtrack experienced in the home console versions has been compressed for listening here and while the quality has obviously taken a slight step backwards due to the limitations of the handheld, it still sounds great, providing that relaxing atmosphere that the first game provided so well. The little flourishes that come from painting elements of the environment continue to add to the music as you go along, again sounding great, and you'll quickly get into a rhythm of finding that one colour to paint the locales to the sounds you prefer the most as well as experimenting to hear all that the game provides. The sound effects are perhaps the worst of the audio package, being rather tinny in presentation and not quite having the same impact.

Dual screen

No use is made of the touch screen during play, as all action takes place on the top screen with the touch screen being relegated to housing statistics. It's not the best use of the screens for the game but having less clutter on the top screen is a definite plus point.

Final comments

While it was never going to match the scale of the home console version, with longevity issues cutting the game to a measly 3 to 4 hours play time and the side scrolling limiting the gameplay which can be brought over from the other version, De Blob 2 on the DS is still a nice little aside that'll appease those looking for something a little different in their platforming titles on the handheld, if only for that short period of time. Some added post game content or reason to replay levels would have been nice, as would some alternate difficulty settings for those versed in the genre, but as it is, it'll keep you entertained for the afternoon at least.

Pro: Captures the style of the De Blob games almost perfectly, platforming is enjoyable with just enough variety
Con: Very easy, rather short with little to no replayability, some frame rate issues, gameplay feels slightly lacking
Final score: 6.5

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