Time is crueler to video video games than it’s to TV exhibits and flicks. Positive, there are all-time classics which might be nonetheless as enjoyable at the moment as they have been again within the day, like House Invaders and Tetris, however that is due to easy gameplay loops which might be gratifying no matter their presentation.
The unique PlayStation is in an odd place in terms of retro video games, given how dangerous a lot of its video games look on fashionable shows. The truth that it was an early 3D system and couldn’t fairly match arcade visuals ensured that many video games of the time have visuals which have aged terribly.
50 Greatest Indie Video games of All Time
Neglect blockbuster AAA video games! We would like some plucky little indies!
Visuals aren’t every part, as there are nonetheless many basic PS1 video games that may be loved to today. Nevertheless, there’s a cause Sq. Enix retains remastering and remaking its video games from that period: it doesn’t take a lot work to make these outdated titles palatable to a contemporary viewers.
And now we come to the topic of at the moment’s assessment, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Particular Version, which is a remastered model of a PS1 sport from 1999, delivered to fashionable platforms by Restricted Run Video games.
Tomba 2 was well-regarded in its day, however that was a very long time in the past, and whereas the remaster might iron out a few of the sport’s most irritating points, it doesn’t stop the worst issues from standing out.
Making Sense Of Tomba 2
Tomba 2 stars the titular caveman-like man, who makes up for low intelligence and lack of speech along with his unbelievable agility and power. After studying that evil pigs have kidnapped his good friend Tabby, Tomba rushes to her dwelling within the Coal-Mining City to avoid wasting her.
Tomba 2 is gentle on story and even lighter on character. That is to be anticipated, being an action-platformer on the PS1, with many of the occasions simply being an excuse to steer Tomba by every stage.
The story in Tomba 2 is totally weird, with its colourful world being dwelling to all method of fantastical beasts, like mermaids, in addition to guys like Santa Claus hanging out. Tomba 2 is bursting with attraction on this regard, making it simpler to look previous the sport’s historical visuals.
The PS1 wasn’t as nice at dealing with 3D areas as its rival, the N64, which inhibited platformers on the system. Tomba 2 obtained round this by mixing 2D and 3D views. Nearly all of the sport takes place on a 2D side-scrolling airplane, however there are sections the place the participant can transfer forwards and backwards alongside the axis into the background, exploring new areas. There are just a few 3D areas and minigames, however the bulk of Tomba 2 makes use of the segmented type for its areas.
The story in Tomba 2 is totally weird, with its colourful world being dwelling to all method of fantastical beasts, like mermaids, in addition to guys like Santa Claus hanging out.
Exploration is a key a part of Tomba 2, as there are tons of small facet quests and unlockables. As an early Metroidvania, Tomba 2 rewards gamers who return and search outdated places utilizing later power-ups and keys, as there are tons of things to gather.
10 Open-World Video games That Are Exhausting to Put Down
These video games are addicting and it is robust to cease enjoying them.
What’s New In The Tomba 2 Particular Version?
Off the bat, I ought to make clear that the Tomba 2 Particular Version is much less of a remaster and extra of a rerelease. The visuals, controls, story, and soundtrack are the identical; there are simply extra choices thrown in.
Whereas there are a number of side ratios obtainable within the Tomba 2 Particular Version, all of them end in an unpleasant black banner and do little to enhance the visuals. It is a PS1 sport by and thru, and taking a more in-depth take a look at the outdated 3D fashions and 2D sprites does little to boost the expertise.
The Tomba 2 Particular Version has save states and a rewind operate, very like the retro video games on Nintendo Swap On-line. There’s additionally a Museum mode that encompasses a ton of paintings from the sport.
Whereas there are a number of side ratios obtainable within the Tomba 2 Particular Version, all of them end in an unpleasant black banner and do little to enhance the visuals.
The save states are, by far, the perfect addition to Tomba 2 Particular Version. The bottom model of the sport has solely save factors, with no autosave function. You’ll have to get used to saving manually usually, as Tomba 2 is usually a brutal sport, particularly on its first run-through.
The primary cause to personal Tomba 2 Particular Version (exterior the provision on fashionable platforms) is the save state and rewind making it much less agonizing to play, no less than for modern sensibilities, as the sport has just a few important points with its problem.
10 Greatest PS1 Video games At present On PS Plus
The perfect of the PSX is prepared and obtainable.
The Pains Of Taking part in Tomba
By far the greatest difficulty with Tomba 2 is the horrible controls. Tomba’s leaping and touchdown really feel overly twitchy and responsive when left or proper are pushed, but Tomba himself wants dead-on accuracy to seize onto ledges or enemies. There are means too many low cost deaths or the necessity to redo puzzles attributable to over- or undershooting jumps.
This difficulty is exacerbated by Tomba’s important methodology of coping with enemies – throws. It is advisable to stun an enemy with one of many melee/ranged weapons Tomba makes use of all through the sport, after which leap on high of them, earlier than throwing them to the facet.
Not solely does your accuracy have to be good, however going too far in both route means taking injury, as touching enemies hurts Tomba. You solely begin out with just a few hit factors earlier than dying, which means any encounter is lethal, due to the screwy controls. Fortunately, you’ll be able to increase your well being factors over the course of the sport, and there are therapeutic gadgets, however the difficulty lies extra with how fight is dealt with. There are gadgets later within the sport that make it simpler to kill enemies, however you need to get to them first.
After which there’s the second main reason behind dying: the digicam. There are far too many leaps of religion for a sport with this a lot leaping, which isn’t helped by the power-ups being poorly defined and needing some experimentation. Some enemies love to leap out from blind spots forward of the participant for some low cost hits.
Not solely does your accuracy have to be good, however going too far in both route means taking injury, as touching enemies hurts Tomba.
Tomba 2 additionally has just a few obligatory timed minigames that deserve a particular place in PS1 platformer hell. It’s simple to see why the rewind and save states are so useful within the Tomba 2 Particular Version, as they’re very important for getting by the sport with out punching a controller.
Tomba 2 Is A Product Of Its Time
After which, there’s the soundtrack. Whereas many of the tracks are good, they’re usually overwritten by the “Dialog” theme at any time when the participant is speaking to somebody. This farty trumpet music will hang-out you in your desires, a lot because it does mine, attributable to how usually you hear it all through the sport.
The save states additionally deal with one other drawback with Tomba 2 – no cutscene skips. There are many little cutscenes all through the sport, all with the terrible tune, and for those who die mid-quest with out saving, then you definitely’re going by them once more.
Tomba 2 additionally has a tough dub, however that’s to be anticipated. The sport got here out in an period when video games seldom had dubs, by no means thoughts good ones. Simply be ready for some droning and annoying voices.
One of the simplest ways to explain Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Particular Version is that it’s a product of a unique time. It’s not a nasty sport as a result of somebody threw out a chunk of unfinished trash. It’s dangerous as a result of it comes from a a lot much less refined period. Whereas the modifications within the Particular Version do alleviate the annoying elements, you’re nonetheless higher off enjoying one of many many different higher Metroidvanias available on the market.
Greatest Platformer From Each Console Era
From Pitfall to Donkey Kong Bananza, these are the perfect platformers from each console technology.
- Launched
-
December 15, 2025
- ESRB
-
Everybody 10+ / Crude Humor, Gentle Fantasy Violence, Gentle Suggestive Themes
- Prequel(s)
-
Tomba! Particular Version
- Save states & rewind options are a godsend
- Horrible controls diminsh the entire expertise
- Some songs are extremely annoying
- Manner too many low cost deaths
