Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition

“While in some instances going back to the classics in almost their original condition doesn’t feel terrible, in this case, it could feel much better.”

“Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition brings back a beloved sequel with cleaner polygon visuals and some modern conveniences. However, it still carries outdated mechanics and lacks additional enhancements that prevent it from standing out as a top-notch port. It’s a nostalgic delight for fans but newcomers may have difficulty picking this one up.”

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“Almost as charming and whimsical as the first Tombi!, but that's not enough when controls are this frustrating. The 3D graphics haven't aged that well either, and the soundtrack is a bit of a let down compared to the first game. If your nostalgia is strong with this one, you might get some enjoyment from Tombi! 2, since it is rather faithful to the original release.”

“Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is simply fun to play and easy to come back to. With its classic visuals, exploration-heavy design, constant missions, and colourful world, it remains a charming and enjoyable experience. Despite a few annoyances with saving and pausing, the game’s variety, characters, and sense of discovery make it a strong return for a cult favourite.”

“While Tomba’s floaty physics and obtuse objectives remain as stubborn as an evil swine, this Special Edition triumphs through generous QoL features and curated extras. It’s a nostalgic pig-pile of content that, despite its clunky combat, offers a definitive, legally sanctioned homecoming for our pink-haired hero.”

“Immaculately restored, warts and all, Tomba! 2 is a wonderful throwback to a simpler era of platforming greatness.”

“Tombi! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is a nostalgic venture that, like the first instalment, brings a legend of the past to PS5. Although the porting work has been carried out with a certain degree of laziness, the small additions in terms of mechanics greatly enhance the modern-day experience. Needless to say, those who lived through the late 1990s will not be able to resist returning to attack evil pigs, but for everyone else, the approach may be a little more difficult, given the age of the title.”

“I had so much fun with Tomba! 2 Special Edition and it reminded me just how special of a game it is thanks to its unorthodox approach to platforming, general goofiness, and stage designs that often offer much more than initially meets the eye. Plus, there are piggies. 🐷”

“It’s genuinely nice to see Tomba! 2 get another chance on modern platforms. For players who missed it the first time around, there’s a lot of retro joy to be found here, from its quirky world design to its mission-heavy structure. That said, this re-release does feel like it delivers the minimum required to bring the game forward. If you’ve already played the original or picked it up on earlier digital platforms (PSN), there’s little reason to return. But if Tomba! 2 passed you by back in the PS1 era and you have a soft spot for retro platformers, this is still a worthwhile adventure, just one that deserved a bit more care the second time around.”

“The best way to describe Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is that it’s a product of a different time. It’s not a bad game because someone threw out a piece of unfinished trash. It’s bad because it comes from a much less refined era. While the changes in the Special Edition do alleviate the annoying parts, you’re still better off playing one of the many other better Metroidvanias on the market.”