Developer: Japan Supply System Publisher: Sunsoft Release: 04/14/99 Genre: Platformer
In the early days of the 3d platformer there were many interesting experiments. Titles like Gex: Enter the Gecko successfully translated the 2d gameplay to 3d. Others like Banjo Kazooie were content to follow in Super Mario 64’s footsteps. Chameleon Twist was an interesting spin on the genre that was only let down by its production values. In a roundabout way it is what I imagined a 3d platformer starring Yoshi would be like. While it flew under the radar it sold well enough for a sequel. Chameleon Twist 2 fixes some of its predecessor’s flaws but introduces ones of its own that prevent it from being the great game it could be.
The controls and mechanics are largely the same as the original. Your tongue can stretch far with the analog stick controlling its movement. Anything that touches it can be eaten, from items to enemies. Any enemies you swallow can be spit out as ammunition. It can also be used as a pole vault or a hand stand. The game gives more control over your tongue as it can stick to walls and move vertically to spring up to higher platforms. The two major additions to the game are the parasol and vertical swing. Unfurling the parasol allows you to flow fall and if you catch an air current glide. The vertical swing is simple in practice but harder to master. By latching on to a pole you can swing around to build momentum to cross large gaps. This mechanic is called on extensively throughout the game.
The worlds you visit in Chameleon Twist 2 are far more interesting than the first game. Let’s be honest they were playing it safe with the standard jungle, fire, and desert stages the first time. And I don’t blame them either; if you were trying something new better safe than sorry. Edo Land, Sky Land, Carnival Land, Toy Land, and Pyramid are more than just better thematically. They level specific traps and enemies that make each stage far more engaging. The level of variety in each stage is actually surprising. Carnival Land takes full advantage of its setting with Ferris wheels, trains, and even an air ship to explore. Surprisingly there are no clowns. Pyramid serves as a fitting finale as it tests skills of the game’s mechanics extensively. Ice Land is the only generic one of the bunch but compared to other games is platforming gold.
Chameleon Twist 2 is at its best when it finds creative ways to use your tongue. With the added mechanics there is usually more than one way to tackle a given situation. But the game’s camera does its novel best to ruin your fun at nearly every turn. Your only control of the camera is to zoom in and out. The game tries to provide the best angle in every situation but largely fails. There are plenty of instances where an over the shoulder view would be ideal or better, namely when trying to swing around a pole. But the default does not allow you to judge distance or height. Edo Land and the Desert in particular are nightmares because of this. It also makes navigation hard. Someone realized this as there are arrows guiding you everywhere. It works but the level design should have been clearer.
Even though the worlds are larger and longer Chameleon Twist 2 is still a short game. The pace Is faster which also lends to this. Even with my frustrations with the camera I still breezed through most of the game. That is because outside of its tedious boss battles the game is easy. Your life bar is incredibly long and most enemies pose little threat. Most of your health loss will come from missing jumps and such. The boss battles as I mentioned are tedious because their life bars were lengthened for the international release. What were short but sound fights are now an exercise in boredom as you go through the motions. It’s a damn shame as mechanically they are better than in the original.
The first Chameleon Twist was a first generation title that could skirt by due to lack of competition and releasing in the nascent period of 3d. But by 1999 Spyro the Dragon, Rayman 2, and Donkey Kong 64 were all available and make Chameleon Twist 2 look old in comparison. That is not to say the visuals have not improved. The worlds are larger as I mentioned before and more diverse in their settings. The detail is greater, the textures are more vibrant and complex and enemies, especially the bosses, are larger. But the excessively blurry textures and ugly polygonal models stand out. With a terrible soundtrack to accompany its lackluster visuals you have to excuse a lot to appreciate this one.
In Closing
This one is tough to judge. I like a lot of what Chameleon Twist 2 has to offer. The tongue mechanic is still unique to 3d platformers in this day and age. But the camera issues, confusing level design and mediocre visuals bring it down. The competition is too strong for me to recommend this one.
