Tomba!
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PSP
| Tomba!

Tomba! is a bit of a mystery. It's an oft-discussed platformer from the PS One era that, despite a passionate following, never achieved widespread success. Because of this, and the comparative rarity of physical copies of the game, it's achieved somewhat mythical status.

But it's also a real head-scratcher to play. Old skool to the bone and unrelentingly hardcore, the influence of Tokuro Fujiwara (who produced Mega Man and Ghosts'n Goblins) in its design is obvious. With a bizarre plot, acid trip visuals, and minimal guidance through the game, you've really got to work hard to 'get' it.

The truffle shuffle

Tomba! is a platform-adventure, but instead of being split into distinct levels to pass through once it's made up of areas you need to return to time and again. You'll need to find key objects to progress the story and unlock new abilities, as well as assisting citizens with their own requests for aid.

The titular hero is a spry little chap. He leaps on enemies and smashes them into the ground, sprints on all fours, climbs sheer cliffs, and swings on poles. So it's no surprise that his movements are initially a little unruly as you get used to the floatier-than-most controls.

While you're doing so, you'll be treated to some peculiar visual motifs. Pig enemies look demonic, other foes simply evil. There are snout-shaped plants reminiscent of pumpkins hanging from branches, and there are butterflies made of leaves that scatter as you rush past them.

The animation accompanying all this isn't fantastic, though that's to be expected from an original PlayStation release with 2D art.

The 3D backgrounds look great, though, and they're full of detail, helping to create an authentic world. You can even jump into these backgrounds at certain points and play on a different plane for a while.

Never a boar

Where the game will divide audiences is its difficulty. The platforming is straightforward enough, and taking out enemies is a doddle, but the lack of direction makes Tomba! more difficult than it should be.

Missions have so little information attached to them when they're doled out that they're almost cryptic. Finding and solving them is down to dumb luck and persistence. You need to explore every last corner of an area just in case something of note is hidden there.

It doesn't help that the game uses a mistake-punishing lives system, as this curbs your desire to explore. It also deters you from romping through at high speed, which is a problem as there's so much ground to cover.

If you've ever uttered the phrase "they don't make games like they used to", then Tomba! should satisfy you with its hands-off approach. However, despite the eye-catching visuals and jovial atmosphere, Tomba!'s unwillingness to assist you on your journey makes for a tough experience that verges on unenjoyable.

Tomba!

If you crave a no-guidance adventure-platformer with plenty of visual flair, then Tomba! is for you. A confusing structure and lack of guidance from the game will quickly sour the experience for most, though
Score
Peter Willington
Peter Willington
Die hard Suda 51 fan and professed Cherry Coke addict, freelancer Peter Willington was initially set for a career in showbiz, training for half a decade to walk the boards. Realising that there's no money in acting, he decided instead to make his fortune in writing about video games. Peter never learns from his mistakes.