Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams

Game Chronicles (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Tak, that loveable little native from last year’s hit game, Tak and the Power of Juju took the gaming community by storm and single-handedly redefined platform games. Now, another year has passed and the inevitable sequel is upon us. Tak is back in an all-new adventure, Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams, only this time the competition is a bit stiffer.

IGN (8.4 out of 10) (84%)

The platformer genre has in many ways grown old and stale over the years. The formula all too often recognizable and even predictable. Drop a cute, cuddly teddy bear of a hero into a colorful landscape filled with gameplay-extending collectibles and then have that character set on a quest to save -- what else? -- a princess. To make matters worse, platformers specifically designed for younger players have sometimes been dumbed down, providing fewer clever puzzles and challenge in favor of more collectibles, a disappointing truth.

Gaming Age (B+) (83%)

Going into Tak 2, I didn't expect much. Not having played the first, I assumed this was yet another lackluster sequel to a mediocre platformer. Needless to say, the colorful visuals, well-paced gameplay and smart dialog came as a bit of a shock. Even more surprising was the part where I kept playing, not because I had to review it, but because I wanted to. Recommended for those platforming fans looking for something a little different.

GameZone (7.9 out of 10) (79%)

The kiddie game that isn't really a kiddie game is back. Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams is the next journey into the strange land of mystical landscapes and fuzzy images. New features are abound. Why don't you come along as we explore the meaning behind Tak's rapid eye movement?

Gaming Target (7.7 out of 10) (77%)

Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams is a follow up to Tak and the Power of JuJu, which was released back in the fall of 2003. Both games share a certain “standard” action/platformer style that has you traversing vibrant landscapes while collecting items, solving basic puzzles and dealing with hazards. The initial game was a solid title that played reasonably well for fans of the genre.

Worth Playing (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Take a landscape, punch a half dozen or so bottomless or near enough bottomless holes in it. Add some various creatures of evil intent and maybe a couple friendly helpers. Sprinkle with a dash of strange surreal flavoring and mix in a princess in distress. Make sure it’s half baked and TADA! you have your very own platformer.

Game Informer Magazine (7.25 out of 10) (72%)

I do think that the franchise has a lot of room for improvement, but that doesn't mean that Tak is without its charms. The art direction, character design, and storytelling are all top notch. For those who don't have a lot of platforming experience or just want to hear a funny tale, this certainly isn't a bad choice, but I'll be looking forward to the upcoming TV show more than playing this game again.

4Players.de (71 out of 100) (71%)

Auf den ersten Blick haben die Entwickler alles richtig gemacht: Es gibt viel zum Einsammeln, knuffige Charaktere und eine witzige Story, die zahlreiche Klischees durch den Kakao zieht. Die Idee zweier unterschiedlicher Welten ist prinzipiell ebenfalls eine prima Sache, aber der Funke will nicht überspringen: Die Traumlevel sind an gähnender Langeweile kaum zu überbieten, passen aber zur einschläfernden Panflöten-Musik, die sich schmerzhaft durch meine Gehörgänge bohrte, bis ich den Ton ganz einfach abstellte. Irgendwie ging es mir beim Testen von Tak 2 genau wie dem Hauptdarsteller selbst: Eigentlich will man die Mission gar nicht annehmen, aber man muss da durch! So sehr sich der knuffige Schamanen-Lehrling auch bemüht hat, konnte ich einfach nicht warm mit ihm werden. Dazu mag auch die technische Präsentation beigetragen haben, die mit einigen derben Ruckeleinlagen, leichten Kameraproblemen und der manchmal etwas schwammigen Steuerung nicht gerade vorbildlich ist.

Game Informer Magazine (7 out of 10) (70%)

The characters are endearing, the writing is genuinely funny and the CG is beautiful. Sadly, I just don't want to play this game. I've played too many superior platformers to want to spend time with Tak 2, but I honestly hope this series lives up to its promise.

Jeuxvideo.com (14 out of 20) (70%)

Sans trahir l'esprit du premier volet, Tak 2 s'enrichit de nouvelles idées qui le rendent plus intéressant à jouer, avec notamment des interactions plus poussées et une progression moins confuse. Certains passages peuvent parfois s'avérer délicats mais le jeu reste accessible aux plus jeunes et leur offrira un bon divertissement.

GameSpy ( ) (70%)

This gaming season, there are a number of mascot platform games available: Jak III, Rachet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue, and countless others. Where does Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams fit into the mix? It's certainly not as good as some of Sony's high-profile offering and it's a step above what Electronic Arts has to offer, but the Ty sequel has the advantage of a budget-level price. If you're looking for a platformer a sibling or child will want to play with you, Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams combines great gameplay with entertaining characters and extremely pretty visuals for a surprisingly fun gaming experience.

GameSpot (6.7 out of 10) (67%)

The Staff of Dreams is definitely a more well-conceived game than The Power of Juju, but the whole experience is muddled by an inconsistent difficulty and slapdash level designs.