Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Pandemonium 2 retains the classic side-scrolling platform mechanics of its predecessor while wrapping them in fully 3D environments. Each level feels like a handcrafted diorama, but the core gameplay remains a 2D experience: run, jump, avoid pitfalls and hazards, and take out enemies. Players can choose between Nikki, the aspiring sorceress with impressive aerial agility, and Fargus, the court jester who relies on his puppet Sid for a variety of ranged and melee attacks. This dual-character system adds replay value as you learn to exploit each hero’s strengths.

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Controls are tight and precise, which is essential when you’re navigating winding platforms, moving obstacles, and timed jumps. Nikki’s high jump and magic projectiles make her especially fun in levels that require vertical traversal, while Fargus’s puppet-based attacks and unique power-ups cater to a more methodical, ranged‐combat style. The game also features a handful of quirky vehicles and special items—rocs, rocket boots, and even a submarine at one point—that shake up the pacing and keep the platforming fresh.

Beyond the main path, Pandemonium 2 hides collectible “cheese pieces” and secret areas, encouraging thorough exploration. Some levels present light environmental puzzles—moving blocks, switches, and hidden passageways—that can slow down the momentum, but also reward patient players. Boss battles punctuate the action, demanding pattern recognition more than button‐mashing, and they strike a good balance between challenge and fun.

Graphics

Pandemonium 2’s visuals were top-tier for its time, leveraging pre-rendered 3D models against detailed backgrounds to create a vivid, storybook aesthetic. Each world—the Cheese Caverns, Clockwork Factory, Balloon Arena, and more—boasts its own color palette and visual motifs, ensuring no two areas look alike. While the game runs in a sprite-based plane, the depth of field and occasional camera swoops give the impression of true 3D immersion.

Character models are lively and expressive, with smooth animations that bring Nikki’s twirls and Fargus’s jester jiggles to life. Enemy designs range from giant rolling cheese wheels to mechanical knights, each animated with just enough personality to make encounters memorable. Special effects—explosions, magic bursts, and sparkly power-up pickups—pop off the screen without overwhelming the action.

On the technical side, Pandemonium 2 generally maintains a solid frame rate, though very busy screens can introduce occasional slowdowns on original hardware. Those quirks add to the retro charm, and modern ports often run at a rock-steady pace. Texture resolution and background detail remain impressive even by today’s standards, making it a great showcase of late-’90s console and PC rendering capabilities.

Story

Set in the whimsical “Year of Cheese,” the narrative revolves around the foretold Comet of Infinite Possibilities, as prophesied by the eccentric Sage Nosewasinit. When word spreads that this comet might grant limitless power, the malevolent Goon Queen Zorrscha schemes to use its magic for tyrannical ends. Our unlikely duo, Nikki and Fargus, embark on a globe-trotting quest to stop her and claim the comet’s power first.

The banter between Nikki and Fargus infuses the story with a lighthearted, cartoonish charm. Nikki’s earnest determination contrasts with Fargus’s wisecracking antics, and Sid the puppet often steals the show with his snarky remarks. While the plot isn’t trying to be a Shakespearean drama, it hits all the right notes for a platformer: clear motivations, escalating stakes, and just enough twists to keep you invested.

Cutscenes are rendered in full motion video on original disc versions, complete with voiceovers that are cheesy in the best possible way. These interludes provide context and motivation for each new stage, though they’re brief enough not to interrupt the flow of gameplay. If you appreciate a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Pandemonium 2 delivers an engaging narrative backdrop for your jumping and battling.

Overall Experience

Pandemonium 2 nails that sweet spot between nostalgic platforming and imaginative 3D presentation. The level design feels inspired, striking a nice balance between pure jump-and-run sections and moments of creative gadget-driven gameplay. Whether you’re scaling cheese-covered cliffs, dodging gears in a clockwork realm, or piloting a bizarre vehicle, the game rarely grows repetitive.

Certain challenge spikes in boss fights and puzzle segments may frustrate casual players, but the forgiving checkpoint system and abundant power-ups cushion the learning curve. If you decide to hunt down all the hidden cheese pieces and master both characters, you’ll find plenty of content to keep you coming back. Multiplayer modes—race and battle arenas—offer a fun diversion with a friend.

All told, Pandemonium 2 remains a standout example of late-’90s platform design, marrying tight controls with imaginative visuals and a playful sense of humor. For anyone seeking a colorful, fast-paced adventure with two memorable heroes, it’s well worth revisiting—or discovering—for the first time.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10