Fun fact: Pocky & Rocky 2 was developed and published by Natsume, a company that made its name in the late ’80s and early ’90s with tightly tuned action games and very deliberate sprite work. By 1994 Natsume had a reputation for arcade-minded design on consoles, and this sequel shows that pedigree in its controls and level design.
Okay, we are live in stage one. The top-down view, the card-throwing, the tiny shrine gates—everything feels familiar, but I can already tell the pacing is sharper than the first game. The responsiveness when Pocky turns and fires is immediate; I like that.
I am watching Rocky’s AI right now and it is surprisingly competent. The sequel’s optional AI partners are more than placeholders—each one has distinct tools. That little fox can dig and reveal hidden routes, and the tengu partner opens locked routes. It changes how you approach each screen.
Gameplay highlight right away: the team-up special. We just performed a combined attack that clears a swarm and staggers a mini-boss. The game forces you to think about positioning so you can trigger those moves; that’s new and adds depth to what would otherwise be a straightforward shooter loop.
True. It also encourages cooperative play in a meaningful way. In single-player the AI will try to emulate that behavior, but there are places—certain bosses and locked doors—where a real human partner’s timing makes the difference. That adds replay value: try a level with different partners to see alternative routes and secrets.
Hot tip: conserve your limited bomb items for phase switches. The bosses like to spawn homing projectiles during their second wind. Use a team-up special or a bomb when their shield shatters—otherwise you waste lives on cheap damage.
Another hot tip: learn the charge timing for Pocky’s stronger cards. Tapping is fine for crowds, but charged throws pierce multiple enemies and are essential in narrow corridors. And if you’re using an AI partner, position them slightly behind you; they seem to avoid stealing your pickups that way.
- Hot Tips:
- Save bombs for boss phase changes.
- Exploit partner abilities—digging, lock-picking open new sections.
- Charge shots to pierce enemy formations.
- Learn enemy patterns; the game rewards patience more than frantic button-mashing.
Memorable moment we just had: a mid-level sequence where the screen scrolls vertically and the soundtrack switches to a minor key. The art direction here is delightful—tiny details like lanterns that sway and yokai with expressive faces. It feels like a moving picture book.
I love that the sequel adds underworld sections where you actually dig down with your partner. We just uncovered a hidden shrine and the enemies changed entirely. Those transitions break up the pacing and keep each stage from feeling repetitive.
The difficulty curve is honest. It will punish sloppy movement and overeager dashing into crowds. Lives are finite, continues exist, but the later stages demand learning enemy telegraphs. That said, the checkpoints are reasonably placed for most stages, which keeps frustration down.
Speaking of frustration—this is where the B grade comes in. There are moments when the camera feels a little cramped and enemy bullets cluster in ways that feel unfair. The AI partner, while strong, occasionally gets stuck on level geometry in narrow corridors. It is not crippling, but it is noticeable.
Also the boss encounters. Many are creative and multi-phased—one summons a parade of smaller yokai while transforming its attack pattern—but a couple of them rely on very tight, pixel-perfect avoidance that borders on trial-and-error. It makes victory sweeter, but it also raises the barrier for casual players.
Final boss anecdote: we just reached the end after a long climb through an underworld fortress. The final boss is an elaborate demon ritual sequence with multiple forms. First phase is a pattern-reading test with summoned minions; second phase is a speed assault where you must use the team-up special to break its shield; the final phase throws environmental hazards at you while the boss telegraphs erratically. We barely squeaked a win thanks to a well-timed cooperative move. It felt cinematic, but that closing gauntlet is unforgiving.
Soundtrack deserves praise too—chiptune motifs that lean into traditional Japanese scales give the game personality. You can almost imagine this as a Saturday morning animated short. The sound effects are crisp; each card throw has satisfying weight.
In short: strengths are tight controls, inventive partner mechanics, charming visuals, and varied stage design. Rough edges are occasional camera tightness, AI pathing quirks, and some spike-y boss fights. For fans of arcade shooters who want a cooperative twist, this is a very welcome sequel.
We are giving it a B. It is not flawless, but it is a confident, oft-delightful sequel that improves the formula in meaningful ways. Pass the second controller—there are still a couple of secrets left to find.
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