Pocky & Rocky 2 (SNES, 1994)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-8 Control-8/5* Challenge-8.5
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8/9* Fun- (7.5) Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
*2nd shoot 'em up level
+
Mixes run ‘n gun with vertical shooter levels
You can go backwards
Respawn on the spot
Good bosses overall (end boss is surprisingly easy though)
You have to touch boxes to open them (good)
Cutscenes look worse
More advanced controls (magic and partner systems)
New power ups (3 kinds of armour, keys, coins)
No more health bar (you can take 4 shots when fully equipped)
2 new characters with different abilities (and more join you on the way)
Switch between partner characters in-game or between missions (called magic, confusingly)
Collect coins to buy items and keys to unlock chests (for power ups) or huts (talk to NPCs – sometimes give money or items)
Shops sell armor/weapons
Surprises (random) - ?
Game hints and keys
Difficulty options
Optional tutorial
Nice boss introductions
+/-
Password save
Easier levels but harder bosses
-
No dodge move
Bosses no longer flicker before death
Your partner sometimes shoots and sometimes doesn’t (weird!)
Only one partner can lift rocks that block your path
Pocky is always the main character in 1-player mode
No more bombs (replaced by throwing your partner – long cooldown instead of ammo and it only works on bosses or obstacles) or fire shots
Less intense (enemies don’t keep coming if you stand still)
Some trial & error (bosses, back attacks)
The control scheme for the second shooter level sucks (you move very slowly and Pocky turns around when you move backwards) and the boss is the same as in the first one,
Somewhat unsmooth scrolling
Stronger colors (sometimes nice) and less consistent sprite work (usually worse than the prequel)
Extremely pixelated bomb explosions
Lame intro (cutscenes generally look much worse)
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8/9* Fun- (7.5) Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7
*2nd shoot 'em up level
+
Mixes run ‘n gun with vertical shooter levels
You can go backwards
Respawn on the spot
Good bosses overall (end boss is surprisingly easy though)
You have to touch boxes to open them (good)
Cutscenes look worse
More advanced controls (magic and partner systems)
New power ups (3 kinds of armour, keys, coins)
No more health bar (you can take 4 shots when fully equipped)
2 new characters with different abilities (and more join you on the way)
Switch between partner characters in-game or between missions (called magic, confusingly)
Collect coins to buy items and keys to unlock chests (for power ups) or huts (talk to NPCs – sometimes give money or items)
Shops sell armor/weapons
Surprises (random) - ?
Game hints and keys
Difficulty options
Optional tutorial
Nice boss introductions
+/-
Password save
Easier levels but harder bosses
-
No dodge move
Bosses no longer flicker before death
Your partner sometimes shoots and sometimes doesn’t (weird!)
Only one partner can lift rocks that block your path
Pocky is always the main character in 1-player mode
No more bombs (replaced by throwing your partner – long cooldown instead of ammo and it only works on bosses or obstacles) or fire shots
Less intense (enemies don’t keep coming if you stand still)
Some trial & error (bosses, back attacks)
The control scheme for the second shooter level sucks (you move very slowly and Pocky turns around when you move backwards) and the boss is the same as in the first one,
Somewhat unsmooth scrolling
Stronger colors (sometimes nice) and less consistent sprite work (usually worse than the prequel)
Extremely pixelated bomb explosions
Lame intro (cutscenes generally look much worse)