This game, in essence, exudes charm; a revival of an intellectual property and a platforming essence that hasn’t been depicted in such an authentic manner for quite some time. Its simplicity is commendable, staying true to the source material and the extensive collection of action platform games that influenced much of the Nintendo Entertainment System’s dominance in the ‘80s.
The original iteration debuted on the Famicom in 1991 and later on the NES in Europe in 1992. It marked Sunsoft’s endeavor to establish a group of mascots, aiming to feature these characters in a series of games spanning various genres. Sunsoft made significant progress with this initiative. For those familiar with the ‘90s grey import scene, there might be recollections of a puzzle game akin to Tetris for the Super Nintendo, featuring adorable characters and vibrant gelatinous blobs.
Sunsoft developed a comprehensive series of Hebereke games across various ‘90s consoles, from Wonderswan to PlayStation, with the exception of the canceled Neo Geo installment. The company’s primary setback lay in the limited diversity of genres it had envisioned, with most entries revolving around puzzles.
Fast forward to 2024, and Hebe’s whimsical realm and eccentric companions make a return in Ufouria: The Saga 2, a title hinting at a direct sequel. In Japan, it is simply known as Hebereke 2 — ‘Hebereke’ being a clever play on words signifying intoxicated or dishonest behavior.
Ufouria: The Saga 2 boasts a visual design reminiscent of mixed textiles, evoking memories of Yoshi’s Story on the Nintendo 64. The environment features felt trees, paper grain skies, and perler bead text windows. With a palette of fresh pastel hues, the game exudes a lively, childlike visual charm that is appealing without being overwhelming. Players embark on their journey as Hebe from atop their treetop abode, entrusted with the mission of defeating an adversary named Bumyon, who is polluting the world with a noxious purple substance. Hebe’s initial foray leads leftwards to the Ufouria fields, where he encounters his friend O-Chan, transformed and driven to madness by Bumyon’s purple slime. Following a brief confrontation, O-Chan is liberated and joins the team, introducing the ability to swim.
This forms the foundation of Ufouria: The Saga 2’s gameplay. It adopts an exceedingly light, unabashedly simplistic structure reminiscent of Metroid-style games, where inaccessible areas necessitate the retrieval of friends possessing unique abilities like long jumping and diving. Upon recruiting a new ally, they can be swiftly swapped with a tap of the shoulder button, enabling seamless adaptation of your toolkit on the go. However, enlisting their aid is not as straightforward as winning a battle. Hebe’s residence serves as a central hub on the map, and upon freeing a friend, they await by the vending machine in search of a specific item — an item that only becomes accessible after accumulating a specific number of special items known as Utsu-cans scattered throughout the landscape.
Economic dynamics play a pivotal role in the gameplay of Ufouria: The Saga 2. Coins are plentiful, easily collected through jumping, butt slamming, and hurling popoons — Hebe’s stun projectiles — at roaming adversaries. Defeating a boss and returning home allows players to bank these coins. The vending machines near boss lairs typically offer health-boosting elixirs, while the one at Hebe’s abode dispenses permanent power-ups such as additional popoons, increased maximum life, and new abilities like crouching. Some machines dispense objects strategically placed in key locations, such as bouncy springs for accessing previously unreachable areas and mine carts for thrilling cave explorations.
These elements synergize seamlessly. Adding allies to your squad, enhancing your base attributes, and revisiting areas to unlock new zones unfold effortlessly. Describing Ufouria: The Saga 2 as relaxing and seldom demanding would be apt. One of its standout design features is the alteration of level layouts to increase difficulty upon revisiting areas with newfound abilities. However, the challenge remains moderate at best, at least until the latter stages of the game where strategic character swapping and reflexes become more crucial.
The leisurely pace of the game is intentional rather than a flaw. While it may be notably easier than the 1991 original version — particularly the challenging European release — it remains thoroughly enjoyable due to its clever and meticulous design. The game world is vibrant, whimsical, and distinctive, with character interactions injecting vitality into a cast of Sunsoft friends from a bygone era. The gradual expansion of Ufouria’s world maintains engagement, and the process of recruiting companions and acquiring upgrades and trinkets from vending machines taps into the timeless art of consistent rewards. There’s always a sense of anticipation for something new on the horizon, whether it’s a sight to behold or an item to obtain, keeping players immersed in the experience.
Nonetheless, the game’s simplistic nature may feel somewhat bare-bones for certain players. Despite modern enhancements like the vending machine system, it retains a distinct ‘90s essence. Players engage in activities like stunning enemies with blobs that yield coins, traversing platforms, and utilizing butt-bouncing maneuvers to progress. Boss encounters throughout the majority of the game are relatively easy and lack diversity, potentially warranting more innovation. Even one of the original Ufouria’s early bosses required a specific tactic involving head stomping to unleash a usable projectile, whereas here, the strategy simply involves dispelling the purple muck with a popoon and executing a head stomp. This repetitive format persists until a later stage where a bouncy spring introduces a slight variation in combat.
Conclusion
For enthusiasts of ‘90s action platformers, there’s an undeniable allure to Ufouria: The Saga 2. Its sunny realm crafted from paper and textiles exudes charm and amusement. Embracing a playful and whimsical tone reminiscent of the Super Nintendo era, the game offers a laid-back approach to linear Metroid-style exploration that is undeniably enjoyable. It demands little from players beyond savoring exploration, minimal backtracking through concise zones, and the straightforward task of collecting coins along the way. However, its rewarding progression system possesses an addictive quality that keeps players engaged. While it may not cater to every player’s preferences and its ease could be underwhelming for some, those seeking a new adventure in a distinctly 16-bit style will find Ufouria: The Saga 2 to be a delightful experience.