- ro 2: Ripto's Rage Complete with Manual, game, and artwork has Scratches Tested Works.
Product Description
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ro 2 is the sequel to the charming, family-friendly ro the
Dragon adventure game. ro is the same lovable dragon, but his
challenges are now larger and more complex. Help him fly and
head-butt his way through incredible new 3D fantasy worlds with
more puzzle elements and bonus levels. Made in USA.
.com
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The feisty little adolescent dragon is back in a sequel that is
far superior to the original. Both ro fans and those who
didn't play the first game will revel in the exploratory
greatness that is ro: Ripto's Rage. Gone are the impossible
tasks, unbeatable enemies, and fragmented game flow. This game
sports superior controls, more colorful and faster graphics, a
tighter story, achievable goals, and plenty of gameplay variety.
Don't be fooled by ro's cuteness--this isn't a kid's-only
game. With multiple goals and side quests, a fantastic soundtrack
by ex- band member Stewart Copeland, and a veneer of
understated humor, ro: Ripto's Rage is highly addictive. The
playfulness of the main character comes through in the
exploration of the otherworldly levels using the new moves,
including super high jumps, rapid underwater swimming, and
extended flight and hovering maneuvers.
Determined explorers are always rewarded--sometimes with an ice
hockey match or other sub-game, sometimes with riches enough to
learn a new move or uncover a new area. Simply put, ro:
Ripto's Rageis one of the best action/adventure games for the
system. Despite the fact that this game is a sequel, it manages
to bring a fresh new look and feel to PlayStation gaming. --Jeff
Young
Pros:
* Massive, fun levels are completely navigable
* Cute and quirky sense of humor will appeal to all ages
* Responsive controls are an extension of ro's upbeat and
exacting personality
Cons:* Camera angles can be problematic, but are completely
adjustable
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Review
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The original ro was a technical feat for the PlayStation: It
gave us a fully 3D, pop-up-free world, the likes of which we'd
only seen in a few titles on the Nintendo 64. Its presentation
was exceedingly top-notch on a system that was starting to show
signs of age (even last year), and the level design and gameplay
also held to high standards. Its downside? The game was over a
little too quickly, and its stages felt a bit cookie-cutter
toward the end. ro 2, however, injects a dose of soul and
variety into a game that was already pretty fun to play.
After the events of ro the Dragon, ro and his dragonfly
friend decide to spend some time vacationing on scenic Dragon
Shores, only to be pressed into freeing a kingdom from the
clutches of the pocket-sized dictator Ripto (a name inspired by
the Japanese "spelling" for ro). To gain entry into the
domains of Ripto and his minions, ro must gather a number of
items (orbs and talismans, for those keeping track) across a host
of different worlds, righting wrongs and completing quests.
As in the first game, ro can glide across short distances,
breathe fire, run enemies down like a rampaging bull, and fly
(with the help of a power-up). In ro 2, the dragon has picked
up a few new skills, such as the ability to ice skate, spit
objects from his mouth, swim, and head butt - a move pretty
similar to Super Mario 64's butt-stomp, except you use the other
end. The interaction with other characters has also been
expanded, and little in-game engine cartoons flank both the
beginning and end of each level.
So far, it might sound as though ro 2 has only made a few
ancillary improvements over the original, but that's not the case
at all. Yes, it does look and play almost exactly like the first
game, but that's not a bad thing. The control is still elegantly
smooth, the camera is still all but perfect, and the graphics are
still very sharp. The big changes come from what appears to have
been the game's inspiration - Sony's MediEvil. What really made
MediEvil shine was that it presented extremely fun puzzles and
extra bonus quests within each level. And the greatest addition
to ro 2? Fun puzzles and extra bonus quests within each level.
That's not to say these features are similar to those in
MediEvil, because they're not - except perhaps theoretically.
These additions are much more what you'd expect from a full 3D
world, and they revolve around things like blasting a number of
objects with your flame breath while flying; hunting down
monsters; and gathering items for the weak, helpless, and small.
For instance, in one level, you play a game of hockey against a
yak, but unlike in your normal game of hockey, you pick up the
puck with your mouth and blast your nents with fire if he's
in the lead . In another level, you must stop a horde of
just-out-of-the-shell lizards from chowing down a group of
friendly cave men. In both levels, the timing is set up to be
challenging, though not impossible - it hits that perfect level
of fun that makes you keep playing long after you had expected to
leave the house and go out. Since there are from one to four
fairly dissimilar minigames per level, a lot of variety is added
to the "collect all the gems" mechanic found at the heart of
ro 2. And it makes the game almost twice as long to beat.
ro 2's addictive features show up early and keep on going
right through to its excellent final boss level, creating a game
that makes you actually want to acquire every single object and
coin to see the alternate ending. That's rare to see, and
something you really should attempt. While it won't absolutely
blow you out of your socks like Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie
did, it's the most charming platform game since Sony's infectious
little surprise MediEvil. --Joe Fielder
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