Vectorman 2

Barely a year after his debut, the green robot returns, this time on his own planet and in a considerably darker, more organic world full of insects. Vectorman 2 from 1996 was one of the last major titles SEGA released for the Mega Drive before shifting its attention elsewhere for good.

Story-wise, after a crash Vectorman finds himself back on Earth, where he must face mutated insects. The core of the gameplay stays true to its predecessor: platform action with shooting in all directions, collecting upgrades, and transforming into special forms. The second installment adds new transformations, among them the ability to turn into various kinds of insects with different abilities, and places greater emphasis on exploring the environment.

Visually the game again rests on the pre-rendered graphics of BlueSky Software, yet the settings have shifted from an industrial dump to caves, the underground, and nature, which lends the series a new palette. Some stretches feel claustrophobic and the overall mood is more oppressive than in the first installment.

The development context is essential here. The game came out at a time when players and the press alike were already turning their eyes to 32-bit consoles and the SEGA Saturn was on the market. Vectorman 2 thus could not gain the attention it deserved and remained in the shadow of the first installment. Reviews were mostly favorable, but it was no sensation.

Even so, the second Vectorman keeps its devotees. For Mega Drive fans it represents the platform's literal swan song, a game that once more showed what sixteen-bit hardware could do in capable hands. It is a title that appears today in retro collections and still delights anyone who enjoys more demanding platform action.

Why play: A darker and more varied sequel that closes the Mega Drive era with a technically advanced and inventive platformer.