Overview of the game
Peggle 2 is a game of skill in which you have to aim your ball and knock out other “pegs”. The goal is to hit all of the orange “pegs” to clear a board, however there are different pegs that are involved as well. The game is a direct sequel to Peggle that was released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
General Gameplay
Peggle is a game of skill and fortune, by saying that it is a very similar to the games that you would play at the shore or at a carnival. The game premise is that you have a peg and you have to hit the orange pegs that are around the board. In the path are other “pegs” that also need to be taken out but the challenge to this title lies in getting your ball to hit and bounce correctly to hit others. Each character that you play as has a special ability to help clear out the board and makes it a challenge on how to use these abilities to help clear out the orange peggles. Also in between levels there are challenge levels that test your skills with unique scenarios. The game is a fun title for all and highly recommended by us here at Family Gamer Review.
Audio
As you would expect from a title like this, charming and catchy tunes. The game does a great job immersing you into the world of Peggle. From funny ditties to very character specific tunes that match the design of the character. When the pegs hit each other to the sound of the “Extra Ball” notification it all sounds very entertaining. For families that have a 5.1 surround sound you will also hear some of the dings and bangs from the game on your rear speakers, but be aware that the game sound is design to engage you into a cheerful mood, not to immerse you into a world like a movie or TV show does.
Visuals
This game is very colorful so in fact that it makes you feel that you are in this universe. The game colors are easy to see and they have a very pastel color palette to them. Also the characters in the game are also very distinct in their design and also their look. From a child ghost to a unicorn that farts, yes farts and other colorful characters, you have a diverse selection to choose from. Also the backgrounds in the game are done in great detail with movement and other action going on that it is easy to see how this level of design goes so well to make a beautiful looking game. Families with gamers that have a harder time seeing colors, that you will be happy to know that this game (via testing with our family members) is very easy to see the colors and that no one will have a hard time playing this titles.
Controls
The controls are very easy for this game. With the left stick used to aim and a single command prompt to shoot out the ball, the game control design is to make it simple as possible for someone to pick up and play. There are other types of controls such as speeding up the bottom bucket or also to fine tune your shots but for all family gaming members this is very simple control setup. With our testing for our special family needs gamers, they did not have any trouble playing or controlling within the game.
Delivery
This in our opinion is a great family title. It is fun, entertaining and challenging for all family members and a great title to have for all gamers in your library. The fun comes out in Peggle 2 when you and other gamers challenge yourself to see who can clear out the board, or get that trick shot to land and also get it to land in the “extra ball” bucket. Also this title is very easy to pick up and play so even if you stopped playing this for a while you can always come back to it at a later time without skipping a beat. The title also supports up to 4 players, and turn based multiplayer gaming. The game at its core is a puzzle/skill based game, however it is done right where the game in entertaining and fun for all. Family Gamer Review recommends this game to all families that are looking for a title that is family fun and easy to pick up and play.
Family Friendly
This is one of those games that comes out that is fun for all. Even if you are not a carnival game or games of skill and chance fan, this title will have you hooked, but in a good way. The game with its vivid colors, creative cast of characters, great sound, design and the right amount of difficulty that makes this a great game for all ages. When tested with all family members playing this title, there was no issues with the game itself or any of its components. Our family gaming members with special needs love the colors, presentation and level of gaming that they got from Peggle 2. There was no level of frustration, confusion or any type in the game and they enjoyed the game very much. Reviewing games for years I have seen puzzle games or games of skill and chance come and go, Peggle 2 is one of those titles that stays with your gaming library. Even the original Peggle when it was released had a special charm to it and this game does the same. I would highly recommend to all parents and gamers to have this game in your library. There is a scene from the victory screen where one of the characters does do a dance and they have to pixel out his backside, this was done as a comic angle and does not show anything that would not be appropriate for all ages. The only concern that with younger gamers is that to have they supervised when they are online. Parents please be cautious with who your young ones are playing with online. Also as the challenges go up in the game, it may be a little frustrating for some gamers, remember if you see a family member getting frustrated with the game, encourage them to walk away and play something else. Also keep in mind as this game does come with DLC that for parents to lock down the console so you can make informed purchases for the whole family.
Closing
Peggle 2 is a fun family title to have and also with the charm of this game is perfect for all gamers in your family. With the DLC and wonderful cast of characters in the game, this title is a great family game to have for the whole family. The game itself is not a violent game, or a game that has a high level of difficulty to play, but more of a casual game for all to play for fun. For families with gamers that have special needs, this game is a gem for them as we tested this and there were no concerns of gameplay, visuals, audio or even difficulty what so ever. A highly recommended title for all families to have this is a gem of a game to play.
