Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return is such a huge disappointment that it basically killed the franchise. The original Tomba! was a cult classic 2D action platformer that had adventure game and open-world elements. The excellent playability, charming sprites, and the nonlinear experience cemented it as one of the better 2D games on the PlayStation.
How did the sequel completely bungle what made the first so great? Tomba! 2‘s flaws are not immediately apparent. It’s a blur of bad that gradually compounds itself, and upon reflection, you realize you aren’t having fun. What is so frustrating is that the first game wasn’t perfect. There was room for improvement, yet the sequel is worse in almost every way.
The first game’s Special Edition didn’t do a lot to improve on what was already there. It would have been nice if it had some improvements, and maybe the sequel might get some this time around. Could a special edition of the sequel be the chance it can finally be all it can be? Read our Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition review to find out how it’s been enhanced!
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition
Developer: Whoopee Camp, Limited Run Games
Publisher: Limited Run Games, Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation (as Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return), PlayStation 3 (via PSN as Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
Release Date: December 15, 2025
Price: $19.99
Of course, a Special Edition of Tomba! 2 doesn’t fix its issues. Much like the first game and Fear Effect, this is a straightforward emulation, almost identical to the game released back in 2000. The graphics are presented in their rawest and chunkiest glory, complete with a disappointing CRT filter, which makes the image look faded.
If you’re a fan of the first Tomba!, the first thing you’ll notice is that the graphics are full 3D, which has its own charm, but there is no mistake that they feel less expressive and are less appealing than the drawn sprites. Another downgrade in the sequel is going from 60 frames per second to 30. Even worse, the character animation is stiff and choppy. Combined with the very raw image quality of PS1 resolution, the art is given a very rough presentation.
It’s a shame that the graphics are presented in such a gnarly state, because the art direction is still quite good. The best case for the 3D graphics is how the 2.5D gameplay is presented. In most angles, Tomba! 2 looks like a 3D platformer, but it plays very much like its predecessor. The camera angles add a ton of depth, with routes moving in and around themselves, fostering inventive level design not possible with 2D graphics.
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return‘s story is exactly that. The evil swine have, in fact, returned and are wreaking havoc as they did in the first game. There are some minor details like a different macguffin and some nasty business going down in a coal mining town, but apart from that, Tomba! 2‘s story is almost the same as the first game’s story.
I don’t expect a complex or deep story about a wild kid who wrestles pigs and eats everything, but it feels lazy to have the same ideas from the first game recycled. It would have been cool if new villains were introduced or if Tomba got to explore new places.
The biggest innovation apart from the 3D graphics is the implementation of voice actors… or rather, “voice actor”. For some reason, the voice cast recycles the same few amateurish performers across all the characters. There are some very embarrassing line deliveries and a few flubbed ones, too. It’s surprising to encounter such careless work in a game that was originally released by Sony.
The crappy acting would be ironically enjoyable if it weren’t for the absolutely soul-destroying music that plays whenever talking to any NPC. Yes, it’s true. For some reason, Tomba! 2 has one of the worst pieces of music ever composed, and you’re forced to hear it during all conversations. It’s a terribly monotonous, droning ditty that almost sounds depressing, like a broken toy.
This song is utterly destructive to the game’s experience. Most of the quests involve talking to characters, and Tomba! 2 is more story-focused than the first game. The piece of music is played so often, it will sear itself into your eardrums, activating a sickening Pavlovian visceral response, where you’ll reel back and wince like you’re sitting on an upside-down barstool.
Tomba! 2‘s gameplay is largely the same idea as the first, but with the lite RPG elements dialed back further. AP won’t learn Tomba any new moves since abilities, animal suits, and keys are tied to progression. You can’t explore freely as much since levels are more compact and aren’t as interconnected. You don’t even get a map since you won’t need it, as levels mostly connect consecutively, with only a few instances of areas looping back to old ones.
For all its faults, the core of Tomba! 2 is still a solid foundation, and figuring out the puzzlebox levels and quests is the meat of the enjoyment. Expect a lot of key item hunting, puzzle solving, and putting a thing in a thing, which opens a passage somewhere else. It’s a tried-and-true adventure gaming experience that holds up.
Nothing was done to improve the gameplay or the controls. This Special Edition presents Tomba! 2 exactly as it was, flaws and all. The gameplay feels stiff, and getting Tomba to grab ledges, climb, and swing on poles is overly rigid and tricky to control.
Regretfully, the smooth and fluent platforming didn’t translate when redesigning the game with 3D graphics. Tomba controls heavier now, and the hit box with enemies is off. You’ll find yourself getting unfairly hit when pouncing on a pig. Tomba’s physics and heaviness make some of the platforming feel nearly impossible to control, leaving you rewinding over and over as you struggle to figure out the awkward and painfully stiff air control.
The inferior controls show their failure during a trolley cart sequence. This was an infamous set piece back on the old PlayStation, but thanks to the rewind and save state feature, most of the troublesome modules become less of a hassle, but no less annoying.
Similar to the Special Edition of the first game, Tomba! 2 features a gallery packed with rare artwork, photos of merchandise, and scans of both the Japanese and English manuals. Sadly, Tomba!‘s creator, Tokuro Fujiwara, bailed on doing any interviews for this one, probably because he knows it’s weaker than the first.
The best thing about Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is that it’s finally available again and at a reasonable price. It’s not a bad game, but it is a noticeable downgrade compared to the first game in all the ways that count. For a 2.5D action platformer, it runs a decent length at about ten hours long, and is over 15 hours long if you try to complete all the side quests for the extended ending.
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return was overlooked for a reason. It’s a disappointing follow-up that plays it safe and feels worse to play. If you are already a fan, this Special Edition is a no-brainer. It may not be as good as the first game, but it’s good to have it preserved and widely available at a low cost, with QOL features to soften the questionable design choices.
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a code provided by Limited Run Games. Additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy is here. Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition is now available for Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
