Following the trend of recent years, Japanese developer Sunsoft has just released a modern adaptation of an existing classic, Ufouria: The Saga 2. The original title was released in 1991 and was considered by critics to be a great game for platforms. In addition, Sunsoft is the author of titles such as Batman and Aero the Acro-bat, among others. This new adaptation is also a platform video game, but in this case similar to Metroidvania and with roguelike undertones.
Ufouria: The Saga 2 is a pure exploration and adventure game, so it’s basically just about running all over the map while trying not to run into characters/obstacles that could harm you. However, it is important to note that there are also combat parts, but these are rare and occur at certain moments in the story.
The narrative begins with the main character, a blue-capped Alvin penguin named Hebe, waking up on a platform with a bed and a bathroom. First you have to find your friends and together they can explore the entire world of Ufouria.
At first you only have access to a small part of the map, but as the story progresses and you unlock the other lost friends, it becomes a considerably larger part. You have three lives or try to end it in one, which turns out to be a plus point of this adaptation as losing progress would make it even more boring.
Advertising:
Another positive point that should be highlighted about Ufouria is that the paths you take are random. This means that as you travel the map, the important points are always the same, but the platforms are procedurally generated. This makes it feel less heavy and boring.
To find Hebe’s friends, you first have to fight them. Once you defeat them, they will accompany you on the journey. Everybody has another skill, and these can be swapped to achieve what the remaining characters cannot. Hebe, for example, can’t do that Swimming or skating on icebut another of his friends did.
The fact that every friend you come across for the first time turns against you without any justification, means you have to fight them and once you defeat them they magically become your friend, is not a technical error itself. That is, if the justification is not supported, the credibility pact made between the user and the fiction begins to break from the beginning. This is just an example, but in general the plot and its consequences are not well founded, but most events are either taken for granted or happen unnecessarily and without any explanation. This leaves one in disbelief because even though it is supposed to be a work of fiction, it collapses under its own weight by disregarding the user story pacts.
Advertising:
Although the platforms are random, the dynamics end up becoming very repetitive. Jumping from platform to platform to explore a location that doesn’t actually have any substantial base ends up losing the fun. Of course, the randomness gives it the “challenge point” that you would lose if you knew it by heart. Nevertheless, it becomes tedious and you often feel stuck. In addition, you are not very well informed about what to do next.
However, not everything is bad. The middle part of the story ends up being entertaining because most of the map and all the characters are unlocked. Here both the difficulties and the skills increase, which stimulates thought and effort and creates additional excitement. However, it all becomes opaque again in the end, because once you’ve unlocked everything, boredom sets in and there’s no real reason to continue playing other than the urge to finish the story. This requires more incentives to keep the user interested in continuing to play.
The presentation is another weak point of this adaptation. As expected, the current appearance of the work is much more pleasant than the previous one, but if you compare it with the time of publication, the current work leaves a lot to be desired. Still, it’s important to give a little praise to Ufouria: The Saga 2 for being freehand. This increases the difficulty, although given the result obtained it would have been better to opt for something more visually appealing. It wouldn’t have been a bad idea to go for a more arcade aesthetic, as it currently sits between two points that don’t have much synergy with each other.
Another big negative is the soundtrack. Without going into music theory, the melody becomes overly repetitive and involves virtually no changes. This is true, with the exception of certain specific moments of the game that change based on the characters’ voices, silence, or other melodies. The music feels completely heavy and repetitive, with very noticeable and shrill highs that remind you of it all day long. It is a serious mistake not to give importance to the soundtrack of a title, as it keeps the user playing for hours and if it doesn’t change, it is either very good or very annoying.
On the other hand, it exudes a certainly commendable sense of humor. Everything and since it is a title aimed at a smaller audience, the tenderness of the characters makes it funny. It’s not funny per se, it doesn’t joke, and it’s not intentionally hilarious, but the characters are very empathetic and manage to show their own charm. On many occasions they make you smile. Breaking a spear in favor of Ufouria: The Saga 2, the personalities of the dolls are very well thought out, and although they do not have a speaking voice (only speech bubbles and sounds), the differences between them are noticeable and they even reveal a “way of being” .
The ending itself is nothing special and not what one expected. The real fun of these titles isn’t in the story itself, but in enjoying the journey. In this case, the narrative doesn’t have much going for it, but the dynamics aren’t bad at all, and while it’s a little rough in places, it’s largely accurate.
Another negative aspect worth mentioning is the fights, which are not only rare but also offer dubious entertainment. This is where the rough mechanics come into play, in addition to a precision that can be significantly improved. Getting into a fight to fight it feels monotonous. It is better that there is no struggle than an undeveloped one.
Finally and in conclusion, Ufouria: The Saga 2 is an adaptation that nothing would have happened if it hadn’t been made. Even the good legacy of his original title would have remained. This is a much simplified adaptation that leaves you feeling stuck and wanting to leave the part you’re currently in to get to the next one. Visually it’s nothing special and the soundtrack feels tiring. Likewise, Ufouria: The Saga 2 feels like a forced labor, like it was missing a few twists and was rushed through. It should offer more novelty, improve its presentation and be more consistent.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this new version of the classic as it doesn’t add anything new to the previous version and removes some villains. Furthermore, it adds nothing to the genre compared to other existing Metroidvania games. Likewise, it spoils the good taste that Ufouria: The Saga left in the past and leaves a stain on its record. Perhaps it is only suitable for curious collectors of the originals, for the little ones in the house who are not easily frustrated, or for those who are attracted by the visuals and expect nothing, neither in the plot nor in the mechanics, that is nothing more than simple.
