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A new review on Gamersyde, Marsupilami 2 - Salsa Palombia is meant to appeal to both young players and their nostalgic parents, and the result is pretty convincing overall, especially considering the very reasonable price of €/$29.99.

Verdict


As we know, the industry’s situation hasn’t exactly been easy in recent years, with studio closures occurring at a steady pace while shareholders continue to rake in profits. Just like the biggest publishers, Microïds is obviously part of this trend, and the Paris-based studio behind the Syberia series (and the recent remake of L’Amerzone) has been among the victims. Ocellus, based in Lyon since 2019 and often involved in projects by another studio in the City of Lights (OSome), is fortunately still in business, and the team is back this year with Marsupilami 2 - Salsa Palombia, the sequel to the charming (but also far too short) Marsupilami - The Secret of the Sarcophagus. Although it took a while before we saw the return of the character originally created by André Franquin, the developers took care to listen closely to player feedback in order to deliver a higher-quality second installment. This sequel is therefore a bit longer (expect four to six hours), more varied, and better presented, this time with the option to play in two-player mode, with each level featuring a pair of Marsupilamis with different powers. The game is still presented as a classic 2D side-scrolling platformer, with collectibles (a certain number of fruits and ten musical notes) to gather, as well as one hidden bonus room (called the Dojo) per level to discover. Once you’ve achieved 100% completion, each level can be replayed in Salsa mode to collect three additional notes, encouraging players to revisit them. In Salsa mode, the goal is to maintain the flow of your movements and fruit collection as much as possible to increase your combo level and boost its value. At the end of the level, you can earn up to three additional musical notes based on your score. The fruits you collect serve as currency that lets you unlock new levels or challenges (several bonus rooms to play through in a row with a tougher challenge), as well as progress through the mini-maps of the four worlds. Meanwhile, musical notes unlock access to the region’s boss, provided you’ve collected enough of them; otherwise, you’ll have to revisit levels you’ve already completed.


Progressing through the different world maps, which have a very nostalgic feel, clearly harkens back to the platformers of the genre’s golden age (the 16-bit era), and it still works perfectly well. The game features pleasant, colorful 3D graphics and is backed by a solid, upbeat soundtrack, but don’t expect to see the same level of visual quality as in the upcoming Rayman Legends Retold. However, it’s clear that Ocellus Studio has made an effort to liven up certain sections, with fairly dynamic camera movements that in no way detract from the game’s 2D clarity and playability. As we mentioned earlier, three Marsupilamis join the cast in this sequel, and they all have special abilities. Twister, the yellow one, can, for example, launch himself horizontally into the air and then glide for a few moments using his tail—an ability that also allows him to pass right through opponents. Hope, the girl of the group, can perform a double jump and bounce off certain enemies where her teammates would take damage if they tried to do the same. Finally, Punch, the purple one, can transform into a ball that’s immune to the sharp spikes found in certain sections, allowing him to bounce around them with ease. All three characters can also use their tails to strike enemies (or certain objects), grab onto rings (to swing from them or propel themselves upward, depending on the type), form a wheel with their tails to move faster, and even do a bit of vertical wall-running. You can switch between them instantly using the Y/Triangle button, but there’s nothing stopping you from sharing the experience with a friend if you feel like it. Dying isn’t too punishing thanks to regular checkpoints, especially since everything you’ve collected before dying is immediately saved—even if you lose a life right after picking up a collectible. It is a bit of a shame, since it doesn’t really encourage you to use your skills to collect the “hardest” ones to reach (the difficulty level remains very moderate though), but don’t forget that this is a family game. The bonus levels take an even greater nod to the ’90s, with the game presented as silhouette animations in a very charming 2D style. As is traditional for this genre, these sections involve collecting fruit, breaking pots, or dodging streetcars (for example) before the allotted time runs out. All of this is obviously very classic in both content and form, but the execution is solid, the controls are good, and the game is a lot of fun. All in all, Marsupilami - Salsa Palombia is a successful family-friendly game that builds on the strengths of the previous installment while addressing the weaknesses that were pointed out at the time.

  • On the upside
  • Pretty and colorful
  • Three characters with different abilities
  • Precise and enjoyable controls
  • Playable in local co-op...
  • Visually distinct worlds this time around
  • A bit less short than the first game…
  • …and yet cheaper at launch
  • Suited for children
  • Catchy soundtrack
**LESMOINS**

On the downside



[quote]
- No effort on storytelling
- Still too short for seasoned players
- Not especially original
- ... no but no drop-in drop-out

PC gameplay video

About the game
Platform
PC SWITCH XBSX PS5
Published by
Microïds
Developed by
Ocellus Studio
Patreon

$135 of $400 per month

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