Step into Cordy 2‘s electric wonderland

The central problem of platform games on mobile devices, more than other genres, is that using a touchscreen interface is fundamentally different from using a controller. In the early days of mobile gaming, developers quickly became aware of these differences, and subsequently many of the most successful mobile titles (Angry Birds, for example) have been designed specifically around the nuances of touch and swipe controls.

Platform games have experimented with various ways of getting around this, some having virtual buttons on the screen, others attempting to adapt the controls for the new interface. Regardless, designing a platform game on a device that is ideally suited to other styles of game is a bold move. Thankfully, Cordy 2 pulls it off brilliantly, building on the first game with charm and style.

Presentation

Cordy 2 is undeniably beautiful, sporting an electro-fairground aesthetic and cute, cartoonish characters which complement the environments perfectly. The 3D style of the graphics disguises the 2D gameplay well, giving a sense of depth to the world, and the character designs are somewhat reminiscent of Ratchet and Clank, the classic PS2 platformer. The music is catchy and complements the game’s visual style, and will stick in your head for days after you put the game down. All these elements combine to create a charming world that will suck you in. It’s easily one of the best-looking games on mobile devices. In order to really appreciate the game’s graphics, though, the best tablet or smartphone to have would be one with a high-resolution screen.

Gameplay

Gameplay revolves mainly around collecting the various cogs and lightning bolts that litter every level. Cordy 2 addresses the problem of controls by keeping virtual buttons and instead slowing down the on-screen action slightly, requiring fewer lightning-fast reactions from the player.

Thankfully, the gameplay is smooth and the control scheme well-implemented, combining some of the best aspects of classic 90s 2D platformers. For example, enemies can be defeated usually by jumping on their heads, Mario-style, and there are sections where Cordy whizzes through the level at speeds usually only seen in Sonic the Hedgehog games. The basic controls may not be particularly original, but the inclusion of flying and magnetic sections keep things interesting.

One of the main criticisms that can be leveled at the game is that it holds the player’s hand somewhat, especially in the early levels. Some of the enemies have very obvious weak spots, and in the introductory levels the game flat-out tells you where to hit them (hint: it’s where you would have hit them anyway). Compare this to a classic like Megaman X, where the first level tells you everything you need to know about the game, introducing gameplay elements subtly so that the flow of the level is never interrupted. Instead, in Cordy 2 we have an NPC who pops up every so often to lecture the player on the intricacies of jumping and rope swinging. *Sigh*.

Cordy 2 is obviously aimed at a younger audience, however, so it’s difficult to nit-pick this sort of thing too much, and when the game itself is just such a joy to experience, minor complaints such as this can easily be overlooked.

Replay value

Cordy 2 comes with the now-familiar 3-star level system that is the standard for so many mobile games. It could have been an unnecessary addition, but it’s very well implemented here, offering the first star for finishing the level, and a further two for collecting all the cogs and completing it in a fast enough time. Again, it’s nothing new, but it adds longevity to the game and is a great excuse to dive back into the world one more time.

Conclusion

Cordy 2 is flat-out one of the best platformers on a mobile device. The beautiful visual style aside, there’s some solid, entertaining gameplay to be had here, as well as significant replay value. At its heart, though, Cordy 2 is an endearing homage to some of the great platformers of the past.