ClockWork Knight 2

Only a few months following the first episode, the sequel to ClockWork Knight is already available for the Sega Saturn. Once more, the princess has been kidnapped by the villains and you are the only knight who can stop them. The story didn't change very much from the original game, but this is not the case for the graphics. Personally, I like them a lot better now than in the first game.

The introduction looks really great and has the same quality for the animations as the previous title. It is a bit like watching cartoons on a Saturday morning when you see the intro for the first time. You will see what happened to the princess during what seems to be a big party to celebrate the end of the first game.

After this visual feast, you start the game to notice immediately something quite unusual. Instead of beginning your first level, you will fight what people usually call a boss. Fortunately for you, even at the hardest level, the challenge will be similar to the resistance given by a lamb confronting a wolf. This does not at all mean the game is easy, but this first fight does not find its place right there. It is rather some kind of interruption to the introduction as you watch the princess be taken away a second time by giant bats at the end of this fight.

One could say it is only from this point that the game really begins. The first room, which is the kid's room, contains two levels plus the boss round, and the other rooms are generally built the same way. The levels in ClockWork Knight 2 are somehow more entertaining than the ones from the original game. Although the game looks basically the same, special care was given to graphical details and the levels conception, or else I'm just getting blind or am completely out of my mind. I played for several hours with ClockWork Knight, but I didn't have the same kind of fun I had with the sequel.

The power-ups and extra-bonuses are quite similar. You will find them in eggs located throughout the different levels. If you hold one and throw it against another toy or any obstacle, the shell will blow up and will free its contents. It can be a bonus to restore your health, give you an extra life or to be invulerable for a limited amount of time, etc.

You will also collect watches and coins. Some of them are hidden in the eggs, but for the most, they are placed everywhere. Sometimes, it might be not easy to find them as they might be in locations where it is not possible to go with only one jump, but you will easily find that out for yourself. It will be like a treasure hunt! The watches reward you with small amounts of extra-time, and if you find enough of them, you might be surprised to see how much you will gain. Bonus points are awarded for the amount of time you have left when a level is completed. The coins are useful when you have completed a room. You will be able to gamble your coins, like at a casino, to gain more coins or to win additional lives.

ClockWork Knight 2 has three levels of difficulty, but I assure you that even at the easiest level the game remains a tough challenge, especially with the three bosses at the end of the second room.

Conclusion:

ClockWork Knight was very innovative with its 3D graphics, but the game play was not exactly what I expected. In ClockWork Knight 2, everything looks brilliant. The soundtrack, the graphics, the challenge and the excitement are at the rendez-vous and I strongly recommend this game to any player who is looking for a challenging arcade game.

Ratings:

Overall:

Publishers:

In North America:

Sega of America Inc.,
255 Shoreline Drive,
2nd floor,
Redwood City, CA 94065

In Europe:

In UK:

Sega Europe Ltd.,
247 Cromwell Road,
London SW5 9GA

In Netherlands:

Sega Video Games Netherlands B.V.,
47, Huizermaatweg,
1273 Na Huizen.