Genre: Platformer
Remember Death Jr.? It was a mediocre platformer, which received a lot of attention due to it being the first game in shown in video form and showed off PSP’s graphic capabilities before it was launched. Being the mediocre game it was, I was surprised to see it sold well enough to warrant a sequel. But here we are with Death Jr. 2: Root of Evil, an improved game but still containing annoying problems from the first outing.
The first game had a paper-thin plot, which unfortunately is also true for the sequel. This time, you can choose whether to play as Death Jr. or Pandora throughout the whole game. Although it makes no difference who you choose, as the game is exactly the same for both characters. There is a slightly less focus on the ranged attacks such as using guns and you’ll actually use your scythe more than the first time round. New moves are earned in the game by collecting energy orbs.
The camera has been improved but is still a problem in the game. Prepare for frustrating deaths as you try to see what’s going on. Again, combat is the main part of the game and you’ll be fighting a wealth of enemies repeatedly. It starts to get repetitive after a while as there just isn’t enough variety in the gameplay to keep it interesting. Visually the game looks much better this time with plenty of fancy effects and details. Audio complements the game well with some great voice acting by the various characters, but they aren’t featured very often ingame. The controls aren’t all that great and you’ll struggle with them for a while and be annoyed and frustrated with them when the game starts to get tough near the end.
Death Jr. 2: Root of Evil is a decent attempt, but ultimately has too many flaws to be truly enjoyable. The co-op mode is a nice addition but the game still needs more work before becoming an essential title for platforming fans.
PSP-Spot Score (out of ten)
Graphics: 8.1
Sound: 7.8
Controls: 6.9
Gameplay: 6.6
Overall: 6.7
