The addiction to puzzle games is something that has been around since way before the invention of videogames. But its our beloved medium that has given way to some fantastic and some not so fantastic puzzle titles. The first Peggle thankfully played around in the fantastic category, playing on the strings of that 'just one more go' syndrome that usually ends up in oversleeping for work the next day. So with the original being critically acclaimed across many platforms, how does this Xbox One Exclusive hold up to its predecessor?
Out of the gate Peggle 2 is still Peggle, its still the same concept that the first brought to the table. For those unaware, Peggle is a fairly simple concept based on physics, angles and sometimes hair pulling level design. The game is a grid of pegs laid out into various designs and positions, often representing a picture of some type in the background not to unlike one of those dot to dot stencils you used to do at school. The Pegs come in 4 colours. Blue, Orange, Purple and Green. The object of the game is to clear all the Orange pegs. Simple, or so you thought.
The game has 2 modes. Single Player and Multiplayer. But unlike the previous game the single player experience is set out quite differently. The original contained 10 Master characters that you could use, ( These characters have special abilities that can help you in clearing the pegs ) but Peggle 2 only contains 5. However, the Masters on offer here do feel more robust and provide an equally hard challenge across the campaign. Finishing up with the at times frustratingly difficult Celestial Realm levels that will have you near enough in tears.
Also changed is the side objectives to the singleplayer. This time instead of having levels and sections outside the campaing levels, Peggle 2 chooses to incorporate those side objectives ( represented by a rainbow badge ) into the Campaign levels you playthrough. For example a level of said Master will not only ask you to clear all orange pegs, but have Rainbow objectives for scoring more than 400,000 points or clearing every peg in the level not just the orange ones. To help with all these objectives your chosen Master has an ability to help you achieve the impossible. Bjorn for example ( Peggles beloved Unicorn character ) can help you aim your shot more accurately by showing where the ball will bounce to next. Or the character Gnorman can electricfy and light up 2 pegs either side of the peg the ball touches. These abilities are powered up by hitting 2 green pegs positioned somwhere within the level. Without these it would be nigh oin impossible to achieve 100% completion of this game. Purple pegs also make a return still shifting position after each ball is played and will boost your score multiplyer for those high scoring rainbow objetives.
The singleplayer game also contains 10 trials for each group of levels. These trials are not the same levels as the campaign, but consist of varying requirements to complete. Ranging from clearing more orange pegs than normal through to having to use a certain type of special shot. This adds length and breadth further to the singleplayer for those all important achievements.
Multiplayer makes a welcome return to Peggle 2, and is as satisfying as it ever was. The smugness of pulling off a shot worth 300,000 is enough to make our Peggle ego grow, especially when you win the match by even more than that. You can play directly against the player in the same level ( meaning you have alot less pegs to hit as they are removing pegs also )or you can play where both of you have all the pegs each in a 1 on 1 face off. Whatever takes your fancy, Multiplayer Peggle 2 is every bit as good as the original.
With much prettier visuals and amazing sound track, Peggle 2 evolves Peggle mostly for the better. The game is a little shorter, with less levels than Peggle and less Masters to Master. But this is the only downside to an otherwise better flowing game overall than its predecessor. From the charms of the menu music chiming to your selection movement or the sound of the William Tell Overture blasting out of your speakers on completion of your level, Peggle 2 will have you laughing, crying and jumping up and down all in 1 sit down play. And its the pure one more time syndrome that this game masters so well. Dont just sit there now, go and buy it.
Overall Rating 9.0/10
Review by Selnor1983
