Color Me Impressed- de Blob 2 Review

Faithful readers might recall my praise for 2008’s de Blob; a shining gem in the Wii’s otherwise prosaic,  third-party library. Challenging players to revitalize dreary, monochromic backdrops into vibrant cities, the title evoked the blissful, free-form jaunts through Katamari Damacy‘s urban landscapes. For months after the game’s release, I found myself evangelizing the disc to Nintendo owners seeking an absorbing, yet relaxing, play experience.

Mimicking the capability of Pixar’s films, de Blob 2‘s storyline contains elements to entertain both children and adults, without alienating either demographic. Comrade Black’s goal to drain Prisma City of its verve by removing the color creates a visual cue easily understood by even pre-readers. With both amusing animated sequences and comic panel synopses, the title’s anthropomorphic characters are imbedded with personality, despite speaking in guttural groans. More mature gamers will certainly enjoy the game’s subtle musings on cults, conformity, tyranny, and the corruption. While the game’s visual palette might recall the bright hues of the Mushroom Kingdom, Blob 2‘s subtexts deliver a much more pensive journey.

With the exception of mapping the jump and wall-run capabilities of de Blob to the same button (nearly every other title employs one of the triggers to initiate a gravity-defying scamper), the title’s controls are habitually instinctive. One satisfying skill is the ability to lock onto enemies, switches, or destructible areas, allowing players to reach extended distances. From allowing nimble scurries across estranged platforms to permitting players to stomp out a cluster of baddies in a single button-bashing sequence, de Blob is an undeniably capable character. Yet, despite his athletic prowess, Blob‘s sidekick often stifles the game’s capacity for discovery. Although Pinky might provide direction for novice players, more experienced games will tire of her ceaseless assistance. Ideally, the assistant works best in the game’s cooperative mode, where the pastel-colored assistant uses a cursor to shoot at enemies and stock up on paint. For players interested in additional collaborative gameplay, de Blob 2 offers a separate splitscreen mode, where teams must race against the clock to compete a joint goal.

With a lime green, smiling protagonist greeting potential purchasers, de Blob 2 might look like vapid kiddie-ware. In execution, the title is one of the exceptional games which is innocuous enough for younger players, while having enough charm and polish to beguile veterans. Like some of the best interactive diversions, de Blob can make half-hour long sessions appear like mere minutes, as gamers fixate on converting cities. Transforming both these urban centers and our leisure moments into dazzling spaces, players would be wise to add some color into their lives.