Video games don’t age as well as TV shows and movies. While some, like Space Invaders and Tetris, remain fun classics, that’s usually because their core gameplay is simple and enjoyable no matter how the game looks. Most games, however, don’t hold up over time.
The original PlayStation presents a unique challenge for retro gamers. Because it was one of the first consoles to use 3D graphics, many of its games don’t look great on today’s TVs and monitors. The early 3D technology simply couldn’t compete with the graphics found in arcades at the time, meaning a lot of those classic games haven’t aged well visually.
While great graphics aren’t the only thing that matters – many beloved PlayStation 1 games are still fun to play – Square Enix frequently updates its older titles because it’s relatively easy to make them appealing to players today.
Okay, so I’m super excited to talk about Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition! It’s basically a really cool remake of a PlayStation 1 game from way back in 1999, and Limited Run Games brought it back for us to play on newer consoles. I’ve been waiting for this for ages!
Tomba 2 was popular when it first came out, but it’s been a while since then. While the updated version fixes some of the game’s annoyances, it doesn’t completely hide its biggest flaws.
Making Sense Of Tomba 2
Image Via Whoopee Camp
Tomba 2 follows Tomba, a strong and agile caveman who isn’t very bright and can’t talk. When his friend, Tabby, is kidnapped by evil pigs, Tomba races to the Coal-Mining Town to rescue her.
Tomba 2 doesn’t focus much on story or developing its characters. This is typical for action-platformer games on the original PlayStation, where the plot mainly serves as a way to move Tomba from one level to the next.
Tomba 2 has a wonderfully strange story, set in a vibrant world filled with mythical creatures like mermaids and even unexpected characters like Santa Claus. This quirky charm helps make up for the game’s older graphics.
The original PlayStation wasn’t as strong with 3D graphics as the Nintendo 64, which made it difficult to create good 3D platforming games. Tomba 2 cleverly solved this by combining 2D and 3D views. Most of the game plays like a classic 2D side-scroller, but it also lets you move into the background to discover new areas. While there are some fully 3D sections and minigames, the game mainly uses a unique style where areas are built as connected 2D segments.
Tomba 2’s story is wonderfully strange. Its bright and lively world is filled with all sorts of magical creatures – everything from mermaids to even Santa Claus makes an appearance!
A big part of what makes Tomba 2 fun is exploring the world and finding hidden things. It’s an early example of a ‘Metroidvania’ game, meaning you’ll often go back to places you’ve already been, using new abilities and keys to unlock secrets and collect lots of items.
What’s New In The Tomba 2 Special Edition?
Image Via Whoopee Camp
Just to be clear, the Tomba 2 Special Edition isn’t a complete remake. It’s more of a re-release with some added features, but the graphics, gameplay, story, and music are all exactly as you remember them.
The different screen size options in Tomba 2 Special Edition unfortunately create an unsightly black bar at the top or bottom of the screen and don’t really make the game look any better. It’s a classic PlayStation 1 game, and zooming in on the older graphics doesn’t improve how it plays or appears.
The Tomba 2 Special Edition includes features similar to classic games on Nintendo Switch Online, like save states and the ability to rewind gameplay. It also has a Museum mode filled with game artwork.
As a big fan of Tomba 2 Special Edition, I’ve checked out all the different screen size options, and honestly, they all end up with this annoying black bar at the top or bottom. They don’t really make the game look any better, unfortunately!
The ability to save anywhere is a huge improvement in Tomba 2 Special Edition. The original game only allowed saving at specific points, and didn’t automatically save your progress. Because Tomba 2 can be quite challenging, particularly when you’re playing it for the first time, you’ll need to make a habit of saving frequently.
Beyond simply being available on today’s consoles, the biggest reason to get Tomba 2 Special Edition is that features like save states and rewinding make it much more forgiving to play. The original game is quite challenging, and these features help bring it in line with modern gaming expectations.
The Pains Of Playing Tomba
Image Via Whoopee Camp
The biggest problem with Tomba 2 is definitely the frustrating controls. While Tomba reacts quickly when you move him left or right, it’s surprisingly difficult to make precise jumps and grab onto things. This leads to a lot of unfair deaths and forces you to repeat puzzles because even slightly mistimed jumps can ruin everything.
This problem is made worse by how Tomba fights enemies. You have to first stun an enemy using one of Tomba’s weapons, then jump on them, and finally throw them away.
Tomba is a challenging game where precision is key. Being even slightly off with your attacks or getting too close to enemies will damage you, and you start with very little health, making most encounters dangerous. While you can increase your health and find healing items, the real difficulty comes from the combat system itself. Stronger weapons become available later on, but you’ll need to survive long enough to get them.
Image Via Whoopee Camp
Another significant source of frustration – and often, failure – is the camera. The game requires a lot of jumping, but often asks you to make leaps of faith with little warning. This is made worse by unclear power-up explanations that require trial and error. To add to the difficulty, enemies frequently ambush you from unexpected angles.
You need to be perfectly accurate, and getting too close to enemies will hurt Tomba, so avoid unnecessary contact.
Tomba 2 includes some frustrating timed challenges that are notoriously difficult, earning them a spot among the worst in PlayStation 1 platforming games. The ability to rewind and save progress in the Special Edition is incredibly helpful, and likely prevents players from getting too frustrated with the game.
Tomba 2 Is A Product Of Its Time
The game’s music is generally good, but it’s frequently interrupted by the same ‘Conversation’ theme whenever you talk to a character. This repetitive, and frankly annoying, trumpet tune plays so often that it’s likely to get stuck in your head – it certainly has for me!
As a huge Tomba 2 fan, I was so relieved to see they finally tackled the cutscene issue! There are tons of little scenes throughout the game, and honestly, that music gets old fast. It was incredibly frustrating to have to rewatch them every time you messed up a quest and hadn’t saved – thankfully, the save states fix that!
Tomba 2’s voice acting isn’t great, but that’s typical for games from that time. Voice dubs were rare back then, and quality wasn’t a priority. Expect some voices that sound flat and a bit irritating.
Closing Comments:
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition feels like a game from a bygone era. It’s not that it’s broken or unfinished – it’s simply that game design has improved a lot since it was originally made. While the Special Edition fixes some frustrating parts, there are many other, better Metroidvania games available that are worth your time instead.
Read More
- Super Animal Royale: All Mole Transportation Network Locations Guide
- Shiba Inu’s Rollercoaster: Will It Rise or Waddle to the Bottom?
- The best Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Easter egg solves a decade old mystery
- Zerowake GATES : BL RPG Tier List (November 2025)
- xQc blames “AI controversy” for Arc Raiders snub at The Game Awards
- LINK PREDICTION. LINK cryptocurrency
- Wuthering Waves version 3.0 update ‘We Who See the Stars’ launches December 25
- Pokemon Theme Park Has Strict Health Restrictions for Guest Entry
- Daisy Ridley to Lead Pierre Morel’s Action-Thriller ‘The Good Samaritan’
- Crypto’s Curious Disappearance? 🤔
2025-12-15 16:11