Croc 2

by Playstation

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001ZWXH
• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: July 12, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,379 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

The original Croc was graphically impressive for its time because it showed that seamless 3D platform worlds were possible on the PlayStation (something Spyro did to a much greater degree a year later). It seemed to have all the elements in place to be a great title: a cute mascot with a bevy of different moves, and elements from all the major platform games. But two fatal flaws knocked it down: The gameplay was repetitive, and lack of camera control led to numerous frustrating, cheap deaths.

The sequel, however, no longer requires you to muddle through level after level with the same exact goals to accomplish ("Free the Gobbos"). In fact, there are no longer levels, at least not in the linear sense. You now enter hub areas where you accept missions from your weepy Gobbo friends (miniature tribble-like creatures that are always in need of help). Some of the quests are similar to minigames in other games, such as a short race against several opponents in speedboats. Other missions have you collecting lost items within large environments. Granted, "Get the Sandwich" isn't essentially much different from original's "Free the Gobbos," but there's enough perceived variety so that the gameplay doesn't feel repetitive. And the hub setup lets you try out other missions without having to beat stages to progress. Another improvement is the basic inventory system, which lets you use items you find or buy, such as binoculars or high-jump Gummi Savers (hello, product placement) that let you access special areas.

Unfortunately, Croc 2 still uses the camera system that the first game did. Instead of being able to shift your perspective to the left and right using the L2 and R2 buttons (as in Spyro, Gex, and Kain), the camera eventually catches up to whichever way the character is facing. Since Croc usually takes a few steps when he turns, you'll often find yourself off a cliff or platform when you're trying to line up for a jump. It's hardly an ideal system for leaping across a series of collapsing platforms - unless they're all conveniently lined up in order.

It's also far too easy to get killed in Croc 2, perhaps even more so than in the original. Cheap deaths are everywhere due to the perspective problems, as well as the fact that health power-ups (or hearts) are far too few and far between. Falling into lava or similar hazards causes you to start up at the last checkpoint, which is all well and good except that you begin without any life energy. That thing that gave you trouble when you had a full life? Well, now you can try again with none at all.

Instead of subscribing to the Super Mario 64 way of teaching players how to overcome obstacles (where the player learns new moves gradually along the way), the Croc series expects you to learn by dying, and since you frequently lose lives because of the camera, you get mixed messages, which leads to frustration and consequently to turning the game off. One bit of redemption comes in the form of those aforementioned side games in which you'll find yourself zipping through tunnels on a mine cart or flying through loops Prop Cycle-style without the cycle. While these new tricks hardly save the game, they do break up the morbid monotony of falling off platforms. All in all, if Croc 2 had learned its perspective lessons and it wasn't so easy to get killed in the game, it'd end up at par with or perhaps even above games in the Crystal Dynamics' Gex league. It held promise, but once again two fatal flaws hold it down. --Joe Fielder
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc.

Product Description

This is the game Croc 2 . We stand by our products and offer a 60 day guarantee. If a game does not work within 60 days from the time you receive it we will gladly exchange it for you

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Croc is back! YAY!, November 23, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Croc 2 (Video Game)

Croc, the Crusading Crocodile, is back --- and he's off to find his long lost parents! "Croc" was my all time favorite video game, so I thought it would be really hard to match it --- but the great people at Argonaut have done a truly wonderful job and have actually improved upon this classic video game. Needless to say, Croc is the cutest video hero of all time (followed closely by Rayman), and it is this aspect of the game that makes it so charming --- you quickly get wrapped up in "really wanting" him to find his parents and defeat the Evil Baron Dante (who has been resurrected by his ever devoted Dantinis). You can't really say that about most video game "heros". The addition of four different central Gobbo village "hub levels" is also an improvement --- if you should get frustrated on any one level (e.g. "Roger Red Ant" had me really stopped for a couple of nights), you can go to another level and revisit the tougher level later (this significantly reduces the frustration level that was sometimes irritating in the original game). Also, they have reduced the number of seemingly impossible jumps significantly, and added other more fun elements in their place (e.g. hang gliding, roller coasting through mines, speed boat racing!). Yep, Croc is now quite a talented little guy compared to his early days on Gobbo Island!

Another fun addition is the new character "Swap Meet Pete" --- Croc now actually has to buy materials from Pete to complete the various levels. This makes it more fun, since now you have to plan ahead of time to get through some levels. Finally, the bosses still have that great sense of goofy humor about them --- my personal favorite is Soveena the Squid! Kids'll love her!

Overall, a truly great game with a genuinely lovable hero character and amusing adversaries. Minor quibbles: 1) While Croc does swim, he no longer swims underwater --- this was one of the most fun aspects of "Croc I". I hope you guys at Argonaut allow Croc to go back to 3-D swimming in "Croc III". II) Croc no longer can walk backwards nor does he have the cool 180 degree rapid turnaround move --- being an avid Crocophile, this took alot of getting used to. III) Beware: On the "Golden Gobbo" levels you only have ONE chance to get the statue --- goof up, and you have to work your way through the level all over again (I feel this was a mistake, and does take away from the fun factor --- you should be allowed to keep attempting this level as long as you have remaining lives). Nonetheless, despite these minor quibbles, a truly great game which I would recommend for anyone of any age! CAN'T WAIT FOR CROC III (listening, Argonaut! ). Keep up the good work! Long live Croc!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best games, March 31, 2003

By 

Natnat02 (Wakefield, RI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Croc 2 (Video Game)

I love this game! Croc 2 is about a crocidile who lost his parents a long time ago. His friends are fuzzy little guys named Gobbos. They speak a gibberish language. Croc travels all over the different worlds to find his parents. All i can say?

Grapics are smooth and well done
it is hard to control croc at first, but then it smooths out.
Croc has bad camera angles
Very hard and challenging, but hey, i beat it!!!
Gobbos are really funny!
The worlds are elaborate, and the players need good thinking skills.

A lot of the people who wrote reviews hated it. They said it was too hard! Well, they must not be very good players, because there are harder games than Croc 2! You need patience, and skill. Well, i guess thats how the world works.

I hope you enjoy this game as much as i do!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Game, February 21, 2006

A Kid's Review

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Croc 2 (Video Game)

I love this game!! It's so much fun! I used to spend hours and hours playing it until *sniff* the Croc 2 disc broke. I love it so much that I'm willing to spend 10 dollars just to buy a new disc. This is a great game to buy!