The Lost Vikings 2

The Lost Vikings 2
Packaging for the Super NES version
Developer(s)	Blizzard Entertainment (SNES) Beam Software (Saturn, PS, PC)
Publisher(s)	Interplay Entertainment
Designer(s)	Ron Millar, Chris Metzen (additional design)
Composer(s)	Glenn Stafford (Super NES), Brian Luzietti and Johann Langlie (Saturn, PS and PC music)
Platform(s)	Super NES, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PC
Release	February 27, 1997 SNES EU: February 27, 1997 NA: May 1997[1] PC NA: April 30, 1997 EU: 1997[2] Saturn EU: May 26, 1997 NA: April 14, 1997[3] PlayStation EU: May 1997 NA: November 17, 1997[4]
Genre(s)	Side-scrolling puzzle, platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player, 2 player cooperative

The Lost Vikings 2 is a puzzle platform video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Interplay. The sequel to The Lost Vikings, it features the original three characters plus two new playable characters: Fang the werewolf and Scorch the dragon. The gameplay remains largely the same, though the three Viking characters all have new or modified abilities.

Plot

After escaping from Tomator in The Lost Vikings, Erik the Swift, Olaf the Stout, and Baleog the Fierce have lived joyous and fruitful Viking lives. Then one day, after returning home from a fishing trip, the Vikings get captured by Tomator again. Tomator then calls upon a robotic guard to send them into the Arena, which unfortunately falls short when a system failure happens. During the blackout, the three Vikings dismantle the robot piece by piece and wear its parts on their bodies, granting them new abilities. The three Vikings are then accidentally sent through time once again. Equipped with the new robotic gear, Erik, Olaf, and Baleog must journey through each level to find their way back home. Along the way, they befriend a werewolf named Fang and a dragon named Scorch, both of whom assist them in their quest.

Title

All versions of the second game, except the original SNES release, were titled Lost Vikings 2: Norse by Norsewest (Norse by Norse West: The Return Of Lost Vikings in the U.S.). The SNES version, being produced and released earlier, did not feature the secondary title and was called simply The Lost Vikings 2. The SNES version is highly rare in the PAL region while the PlayStation version is quite common. The Sega Saturn version is borderline on rare. Norse by Norsewest versions were done by a different company from the SNES release, commissioned by the original company who wanted The Lost Vikings 2 modernised and on modern platforms to evolve from the aging SNES.

Gameplay

The Lost Vikings 2 is a side-scrolling platform adventure in which the player alternates control of three of the five playable characters (the game predetermines which characters are available in any specific level), guiding each of them one at a time (though control may be swapped from character to character at any point) from a designated start point in each level to the exit, collecting three specific items along the way (The game offers a two-player cooperative mode in which each player simultaneously controls one character and is allowed to change control to the third, unused character at any point). Every level is designed such that each character must contribute his unique skills to help the other two through to the end. Similarly, to finish the level, all three characters must reach the exit point with the three items in possession. The characters each have three health points which they can lose by getting hurt by enemies or by falling from great heights. Should any character run out of health points, he dies; gameplay will then continue with any remaining characters, but the level becomes unwinnable, and the player will eventually have to restart the level and try again (the game offers unlimited continues).

Each character has the ability to carry and use items — mainly keys, bombs, and food (which restore health points) — as well as a unique set of skills:

• Erik now has turbo boots which allow him to jump much higher than before and can smash certain overhead walls with his turbo jump. The helmet also allows him to swim.

• Baleog has a bionic arm which can smash enemies from a distance. The range is somewhat limited compared to his arrows from the first game, but the bionic arm also allows Baleog to swing in the air using special hooks and to grab some items inaccessible to others.
• Olaf can release gas that propels him upward, giving him limited aerial range as well as the power to destroy certain floors. In addition to his hang-gliding abilities, he can also shrink and squeeze through tiny gaps.
• Fang can jump, climb walls by clinging to them with his claws, and slash enemies from close range.
• Scorch has a fireball attack which damages enemies and can trigger certain switches. He can also fly until he gets exhausted, at which point he can glide softly down, like Olaf.

Graphics and sound

The sequel was originally developed for the SNES in 1995, three years after the first game. The SNES version used technology very similar to the original installment, with similar, cartoonish graphics and 16-bit sound and music. Later releases (PC, PlayStation, Saturn) featured pre-rendered 3D graphics, CD music and extensive voice acting provided by Rob Paulsen (Erik), Jeff Bennett (Baleog & Fang), Jim Cummings (Olaf, Tomator), and Frank Welker (Scorch).

References

1. ↑ "Lost Vikings 2 Release Information for Super Nintendo - GameFAQs". 
2. ↑ "Norse by Norsewest: The Return of the Lost Vikings Release Information for PC - GameFAQs". 
3. ↑ "Norse by Norsewest: The Return of The Lost Vikings Release Information for Saturn - GameFAQs". 
4. ↑ "Norse by Norsewest: The Return of the Lost Vikings Release Information for PlayStation - GameFAQs".