The original Pocky & Rocky is one of my favorite SNES surprises. I remember the extremely high reviews but thought it looked too silly to be taken seriously. Then I rented it and was rewarded with a great little top down action game that was pretty unique for its time. Had I known it was steeped in Japanese folklore like Legend of the Mystical Ninja with the same goofy humor I would have been all over it immediately. Pocky & Rocky 2 did not escape my notice; I had learned my lesson. But it eluded my grasp for many years. It’s a shame that such a truly great game is so obscure thanks to a low print run and late release. This is easily one of the best action games for the system and will entertain for many hours.
Pocky returns with a few major changes in mechanics. You no longer have a life bar; instead the game works on an armor system. At the base level Pocky can sustain two hits before death. However you can buy armor that raises that up to four hits. You’ll have to rely on the wand to deflect projectiles more often as a result. You’ll also have to stay on the move at all times since you can no longer slide. The Hanafuda cards no longer diverge down two paths. Instead they follow one, first gaining rapid fire than size and strength.
Although Pocky has lost a few mechanics she has gained some new ones. The first is a partner system. At the beginning of every stage you can choose from three partners; Rocky, Bomber bob, and Little Ninja. There are additional partners that join your quest although these characters are only selectable with an item. Your partner follows you at all times and supplements your attacks with their own. You can also chuck your partner at enemies for a super attack, although they become unavailable for about ten seconds after. This move is particularly devastating against bosses and indispensable. This also applies to their taking damage. Technically they are invincible but if they take a few hits they disappear for a little while. You can sort of abuse it to let them take hits for you but it isn’t a viable strategy long term.
The partner system is used for more than just attacks. By pressing A you can use magic to combine and access their special abilities. These abilities cover a wide range of effects, from lifting boulders to finding hidden items. Some allow you to fly, evading ground based hazards. The best is opening locked chests without keys. Aside from their combat capabilities the magic system incentivizes switching out partners for the best experience.
The action in Pocky & Rocky 2 has been significantly increased thanks to your increased firepower with a partner. The weird lulls from the first game are gone and while the action isn’t nonstop its close. There is rarely a moment when there aren’t groups of enemies approaching and bullets flying. It isn’t all action as there are plenty of reasons to wander off the main path. Hidden items are everywhere, highlighting how great the partner system is considering you’ll need to use all of them to find everything. The level design is also better as there are often multiple paths through a stage. At eight levels you get your money’s worth although you’ll still wish it wouldn’t end.
The original was a moderately challenging game. Pocky & Rocky raises the difficulty in a few ways. For one Pocky no longer has a life bar. As you take hits your “armor” is reduced, with a barefoot Pocky being one shot away from death. Without a large life bar and items to replenish it every stray bullet is more dangerous. And they fly freely in this game as the action is more intense this time around. Even with a partner the game puts up a fight. It is harder to power up your cards so at no point does it ever feel like you can steamroll the game.
Possibly the most difficult parts of the game are the boss battles. It is not because they are particularly challenging, but more because they are enormous damage sponges. Whaling away at the same boss for minutes at a time before their life bar budges even slightly is not my idea of fun. These encounters can take upwards of ten minutes as they cycle through the same repetitive pattern. It stands out since the rest of the game is so polished and a surprising oversight in my eyes. This is probably the only flaw with the game but one that can be overlooked.
In Closing
Pocky & Rocky 2 is everything you expect from a sequel and a great game. While it may be a bit similar to its predecessor there are enough new mechanics to still make it a new experience. Unfortunately it still remains expensive to this day but if you find it at a decent price it is more than worth it.
