Ufouria has a historical past I’ve solely brushed up on not too long ago, largely as a result of I wasn’t conscious of the unique Ufouria. When it got here out on the NES, it was given the outdated redesign for English audiences, with totally different character designs and names. Over 30 years later, Sunsoft has given Ufouria a sequel within the type of Ufouria: The Saga 2.
In Ufouria 2, an alien known as Utsujin crashes onto the planet, spreading gloopy creatures known as Bumyons throughout the land (and masking a number of the locals within the course of). It’s as much as the Penguin known as Hebe to get their mates collectively and cease the alien and their harmful globs.
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On this side-scrolling platformer, the principle character is the aforementioned Hebe the Penguin. Making up the remainder of the workforce is O-Chan, a cat particular person/somebody in a catsuit, Sukezaemon the ghost (with a hat), and Jennifer, a water creature/angler fish. Exterior of Hebe, every character brings a singular capability – O-Chan can swim throughout the water, Sukezaemon can hover/float throughout larger distances, and Jennifer can discover underwater. Their talents are how the totally different surrounding areas are unlocked, with the areas being gated till you unlock the proper character.
To take care of enemies, you might have a ‘butt bounce’ to squash them. You too can throw creatures known as Popoons to stun enemies or take away the alien goop. Ufouria 2 is fairly easygoing for many of the sport; positive you’ll die in case you’re not cautious, however for essentially the most half, you need to be capable of get by means of comparatively unscathed.
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Whereas Ufouria 2 has a ‘Metroidvania’ construction to it, it’s extra of a Metroidvania-lite (don’t fear, I felt as unhealthy writing it). Whereas progress to new areas are gated by which characters you might have with you, it’s uncommon that there’s different talents wanted inside that space, until it’s possibly to succeed in a much-needed Utsu-can.
Utsu-cans are an vital merchandise to gather on this sport, however first, I would like to elucidate the sport’s merchandising machines. Okay, so there’s a merchandising machine close to Hebe’s tree home. From this merchandising machine, you should purchase upgrades and unlock talents. You’ll use cash (or buttons) you acquire on the earth to unlock further well being, new gadgets to look on the earth, or particular strikes. This merchandising machine is restocked with new gadgets to buy when you acquire sufficient of the Utsu-cans, most significantly one off particular gadgets. These particular gadgets are wanted to really unlock every of Hebe’s mates. Whilst you battle them/free them of the globs, they’ll return to Hebe’s home, ready on the merchandising machine and request that particular merchandise.
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Till you’ve received sufficient cans to restock the machine, you’re not progressing anyplace. Secondly, you’ll additionally want the cash to buy them, which provides one other wrinkle to progressing. Luckily the associated fee to buy isn’t too excessive, however the sport slows down fairly early on, having to scour for the cans as you might have restricted areas to backtrack by means of.
What I didn’t anticipate from Ufouria was that the areas exterior of Hebe’s home had been randomly altering layouts. It retains every space contemporary for any time it’s worthwhile to return, and you will have to return. It does make it a little bit more durable to gather the considerably needed Utsu-cans peppered all through every space/stage as a result of you may’t simply memorise all the things.
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Ufouria 2 is an enthralling platformer, and its most instantly noticeable function is the pleasant artwork and craft visuals. The characters are designed primarily to be comprised of felt. A pleasant contact is when characters have stray bits of felt standing on finish to make it look extra genuine. One other good contact is that the textual content is conveyed by means of bead artwork, leaning proper into the artwork and craft aesthetic.
It’s not simply the visuals that add a good quantity of appeal to this sport; it’s a genuinely humorous and deliberately foolish sport. It’s primarily by means of the dialogue all through the sport, little feedback from the characters that pop up as you’re working by means of an space, or the quick cutscenes when progress is being made. Not being accustomed to the unique sport, there’s a shocking quantity of cheeky bathroom humour right here, which is in no way a grievance. The visible fashion and humour assist carry the sport when Ufouria 2’s few frustrations pop up.
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If you wish to rush by means of, you possibly can end Ufouria 2 in 2-3 hours. Nevertheless, I discovered myself backtracking a little bit greater than I’d’ve preferred because of the sport not all the time conveying data effectively. It remained pleasurable to play, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it didn’t really feel prefer it dragged the tempo within the final third of the sport. It’s nonetheless not an excessively lengthy sport, however it additionally doesn’t overstay its welcome as soon as you realize what the sport is asking of you.
It’s been a protracted whereas between Ufouria video games. Even For those who haven’t performed the unique, The Saga 2 is a enjoyable time. The lovable artwork fashion mixed with some old style platforming and charming and humorous interactions between the solid of Mr Hebe and his mates makes for a very good playthrough. Whereas the tempo may be off at occasions, and the previous few areas of the sport result in a little bit an excessive amount of backtracking, general, it doesn’t hold it from being an pleasurable platformer that may go away you with a smile.
Score: 3.5/5