LITTLE BIG ADVENTURE 2
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‘Little Big Adventure 2’ (LBA2), well this must definitely be the sequel to the excellent first game, ‘Little Big Adventure’
(‘Relentless’, depending on what side of the Atlantic you live! ). The second game of the series finds you, again in the shoes of Twinsen. The savior, and hero of Twinsun in the first game. Again you’re given the mission to save the planet, the Esmers, a seemingly peace-like race have come to Twinsun, in a seemingly peace like manner! But, before long the Esmers are off cavorting around Twinsun with evil plans, and deeds afoot.
The game improves on the original , with many more locations ( 220 locations, on 3 planets ) ,more interactivity with 300 real-time characters, and a new excellent three-dimensional isometric view, which you the player are allowed to change at will. The gameplay is a lot different too, puzzle solving comes a lot more into LBA2, giving a more convincing, and pleasing fulfillment, however at times it seems that the following format is continually followed: You want something from someone, who in-turn wants something from you ( Which is usually the otherside of the planet ) which, for you to get, have to give something to someone else, at times this becomes most annoying, having to travel along way, doing a million different things, just to get all the way back for one little thing! The trips to, and from the Esmers homeplanet, can become particularly irritating ( As you tend to die a lot ). However, as if to counter-act this, the developers have produced a save game option which allows you to save, anywhere, anytime in the game. This was a original downfall in the first game, which has been expertly removed from this game. Good Oh.
The new game world develops a greater life like feel, and creates the feeling, that the world, is actually a proper world with proper people, etc. etc. People do things, without you triggering them off. Persons play games in the street, schools go out on day-trips, and some unruly children elude school ( To do much better things like, catapult pellets at your head. Listen kids, don’t do it! ) at times, alien races even invade your world. Hmmm, suspicious. The three-dimensional view allows greater access to areas, if your view is blocked, a new view is a simple press of a key away, again so are the four moods of your character, a moody little devil, our Twinsen. He swaps moods easily, and fast, between any of the four. Normal, allowing you to talk, walk, and be generally normal. Sporty, allowing you to travel up to speeds of 400 miles per hour ( Well maybe not that fast ) jump gaps, run and jump, which is another new feature to the game. Aggressive, this allows you to go around punching merry hell out of everyone, and generally grunting in a hard, and uncooperative manner. Last, but not least is Discreet, this particular mood allows you to skulk about in shadows, sneak about behind people, and throw your magic ball high up in the air! All of the moods are portrayed in a excellent ,and impressive manner, all rendered in 3d ( In Aggressive mood he grumbles, and sways back, and forth. Sporty, he jumps on the spot, huffs, puffs ,and so on ). So are his weapons, ranging from his faithful magic ball ( complete with its different levels of magic ) to a stolen powerful ‘alien’ sword.
On top of all this new stuff, there are a lot of new, impressive cut scenes, and general animation’s. The Cut Scenes plot out the story, and set the scene for you through-out the game, often you’re rewarded with a cut-scene when you do something good, or impressive ( Either that or a nice sound ). They’re rendered in the same way as the original games cut-scenes were, but have some how managed to look very impressive, and new. The new animations are put into the new characters (Esmers) and, vehicles ( Your very own car, spaceships, and others ). The space scenes are particularly impressive, where you see Twinsen convincingly flouncing about on a secret moon base in a rather good-looking space suit. Even with all this new stuff the game still retains its original playability ( There’s no point having flash graphics, without equally flash gameplay ). This in itself is a extremely good thing, and makes the game what it is.
All round the game retains it magical wonder, that was installed within us in the first part of this series. Now with the 3d dimensional world, with more character, more types of transport and, in general a lot more of everything the game comes back into its own once again. The game with its varied game play, ‘mission’ like play, and real-time world this game should last you for a awfully long time. It did me. Oh, and did I mention, Twinsen wears a dress!
Little Big Adventure 2
Ö Innovative, impressive interface.
Ö Attractive, cut scenes, and visuals
Ö Great gameplay
X Needs a fairly beefy machine to run well.
X The puzzles can become of great frustration.