de Blob 2

**HaiImNate** · 01-27-11

Published by: THQ
Developed by: Blue Tongue Entertainment ; Halfbrick on DS
Consoles: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 02/22/11 (NA) 02/25/11 (EU) 02/24/11 (AUS)
Genre: Platform, puzzle
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)

Overview
de Blob 2 is an appellation developed by Blue Tongue Entertainment. Blue Tongue Entertainment is a small developer company acquired by THQ. They have developed games such as Nicktoons Unite, Barnyard the videogame, Marvel Super Hero Squad and more! They also developed de Blob in 2008 which has gained prestigious and favorable acclaim from various gaming websites such as IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy and was even featured in the Official Nintendo Magazine. Based off of looks, de Blob 2 is looking good, it may even precede it’s older brother; only time will tell.

Storyline
The console versions of "de Blob 2" pick up the tale a couple of years after the end of "de Blob", when it is Prisma City's general election. A mysterious priest called Papa Blanc, who is actually the villain from the first game, Comrade Black, in disguise, is doing his utmost to rig the outcome of the vote, allowing his cult of Inkies to wreck all manner of color-related havoc on the metropolis. The INKT Corporation manages to drain all color from the city and turns its inhabitants, the Raydians, into generic drones. It looks like the color Underground will be doomed from happiness, and it’s city will be bland until a superstar in splash shows up.

De Blob, no one knows about him but when he shows up in Color Underground, the main setting of de Blob 2, things start to look up and this looks like the hero that the Color Underground was looking for. Music surrounds him and color energy flows through him; with his touch Blob can literally make the world a better place.

Blob stands for fortitude and individualism, Blob is good hearted but lazy and carefree. He is often late, but he always comes through. Once again, it is up to Blob and the members of the Color Underground to restore the city to its vibrant former glory.

The handheld version of "de Blob 2" follows a different story, which takes place after the events of de blob, but before the events of "de Blob 2". In this, the evil Dr. Von Blot, Comrade Black's chief scientist, has been experimenting with creatures in order to create a new kind of Mutated Ink. Blob stumbles across Dr. Von Blot's jungle-based underground laboratory and is then forced to stop the doctor's nefarious scheme.

Paint that Inky!

Gameplay
The controls and other gameplay are very similar to de Blob. The player still controls the Blob character, who can mix colors in order to paint objects and bring life to the cityscape, which in turn opens up previously locked areas. Blob is given missions by his friends in the Color Underground, such as completing timed races, defeating enemies, liberating captured Raydians and seizing important landmarks.

New additions include a wide array of abilities. Blob can now perform a powerful dash attack, which breaks through obstacles and kills some foes, at the expense of paint points. Furthermore, as the player progresses through the game, they obtain 'inspiration points', which are used at the Idea Emporium to purchase upgrades for Blob, such as increased paint capacity and defensive shields. Power-ups will feature within the levels as well. For example, the magnetic Wrecking Ball allows Blob to roll up metal surfaces and the Hazmat Suit protects Blob from spikes & flames, while the Graviton Bomb temporarily transforms Blob into a devastating black hole, the Re-Gen constantly replenishes Blob's paint points and the Rainbow lets Blob use any color at any time.

The game also has a heavier emphasis on platforming- going through puzzles and “obstacle sources”. Much like the first game, Blob has to take over landmark buildings in the city, but this time, rather than simply needing a certain amount of paint points to capture it, Blob enters the buildings. Inside, the gameplay switches from its usual 3D point of a view to a 2D perspective. Blob must complete a platforming challenge filled with many hazards, like the brand new Gravity Wall mechanics, before the building is taken. There are over 100 of these platforming stages throughout the course of the game.

Another new inclusion is a two-player mode akin to the co-op functionality of Super Mario Galaxy. The second player takes control of a member of the Colour Underground named Pinky, who is able to assist Blob and help him surmount more difficult challenges. Bosses will also play a larger role in this game; the player will have to use the painting mechanics in thoughtful ways to take them down.

DS Version in a Nutshell
de Blob 2 on the DS is being developed by Halfbrick, and unlike the console version, the game is played entirely as a 2D platformer. It is divided into individual levels that require Blob to make use of wall jumping and a slingshot technique to traverse the environments. Comparisons have been drawn with games in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

A cool fact:
De Blob two’s boxart has a different color of Blob on the cover. That may mean that Blob will be a different color depending what console he is on. Or maybe Blob can change colors throughout his adventures, or possibly maybe Blob will have different powers depending on which color he is. Or possibly there are more than one Blobs that appear in this game.

Spoiler

Videos:
de Blob 2 Trailer:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9lLKW2jbF8"]YouTube - De Blob 2 - Trailer[/nomedia]

de Blob 2- Air Traffic Control:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGoliJXHJQU"]YouTube - De Blob: 2 Air Traffic Control Trailer[/nomedia]

IGN de Blob Video Preview:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXAAP5459JE&feature=related"]YouTube - de Blob 2: The Underground - Video Preview[/nomedia]

Screenshots:

Spoiler