If you’re scratching your head wondering why you never experienced the original De Blob, you’re not the only one. When THQ and the development team released the first paint-worthy adventure, it was exclusively for the Wii, and the outcry from fans let the team know that they wanted it for their specific platform. Well, you’ve got your wish, as De Blob 2 is now ready to color your world. And what a bright world it is. Even if you haven’t played the first game, you’ll jump right in with no problem. You control the mischievous Blob, an unlikely hero who is able to suck up paint into his body like a sponge. He’s usually good at pulling pranks, but he becomes rather useful when an evil leader by the name of Comrade Black surfaces, leading his INKT Corporation to suck the life out of everything. He doesn’t kill anyone, though. Rather, he sucks the color out of these worlds, turning them into dismal dwelling spots. It’s up to Blob (and his sidekick, the self-labeled “sassbot” Pinky) to revitalize it and stop Black in his tracks.
Like the original, the game is all about recreating the world around you by painting buildings, walls, floors and other surroundings. You do this by sucking up paint in nearby pools and slamming Paint-Bots to gain access to colors. You gain certain advantages and spending points in your Inspiration shop by completing certain tasks or achieving challenges pre-set by Pinky. It leads to a lot of replay value, along with Achievements to add to your Gamerscore and unlockable Blob Party mini-games that will keep you entertained when you’re not playing in the story mode. Despite the fact that the controls don’t work in the same manner as they do on the Wii, De Blob 2 plays just fine. Think of it as a 3-D platformer with some pizzazz shot into its system, as you can glide along walls, slam enemies and structures and roam around in inspired 2-D style levels, reminiscent of the old Super Mario stages. There are mild issues with camera control (it moves too stiffly for its own good), but overall this is how you do a 3-D platformer…and do it right, for that matter. Along with solid single player support, De Blob 2 also invites a friend to join the fray in two-player co-op.
Granted, the second player doesn’t move around on-screen like de Blob, but he or she does control Pinky as they paint certain aspects of the environment. It’s somewhat gimmicky, and not supported by any kind of Xbox Live user capability, but it certainly beats nothing. What De Blob 2 lacks in online interactivity and (to some players) overall challenge, it makes up for with its charming presentation. The graphics are colorful and absolutely stunning, moving at a fresh 60 frames per second. It’s fun watching building structures come aglow with color and life, and the citizens jump around like happy dissidents waken from a way-too-long slumber. The side-scrolling levels are fantastic, too, with plenty of old-school elements thrown in for good measure. The music takes a life of its own as well. We’re fans of the changing styles that come your way whenever you get a new color absorbed, and the little sound effects (including the gibberish spoken by the citizens) are smile inducing. No, De Blob 2 won’t change the way you play platforming games, but if you’re a fan or you’re up for a fun family game that won’t bore you to tears like the others usually would, this is the way to go. De Blob 2 is simply De-lightful.
