Game: Tomba! 2 The Evil Swine Return
Genre: Action, Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows) and PlayStation)
Developer|Publisher: Whoopee Camp | Limited Run Games
Age Rating: EU 3 | US Everyone 10+
Price: US $19.99 | UK 15.99 | EU € 19,99
Release Date: December 15th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Overload PR
Tomba! 2 The Evil Swine Return – Back for Seconds
I’m a huge fan of retro re-releases on modern systems, especially when they give games I missed the first time around a second chance to shine. Over the years, some developers have really turned this into an art form. Digital Eclipse delivers museum-style presentations, while M2’s work with emulation is often held up as a gold standard. Then some releases do the basics, add save states and rewind, and call it a day. Tomba! 2 The Evil Swine Return sits in that latter camp.
Originally released late in the PlayStation’s life, Tomba! 2 never quite received the appreciation it deserved at the time. This modern release brings the game back with only minimal enhancements, and while it’s absolutely playable, it does feel like a missed opportunity to really celebrate a cult favourite. If you love retro games, there’s still plenty here to enjoy, but it’s hard not to feel that this re-release could have offered more.
In Search of Tabby
The story sees Tomba heading off to a new island in search of his missing girlfriend, Tabby. Unsurprisingly, the Evil Pigs are involved once again, causing trouble and generally making life difficult for everyone. Joined by his pal Zippo, Tomba sets out to rescue Tabby and put a stop to the pigs’ antics.
Along the way, you’ll meet a wide cast of NPCs, many of whom are voiced in a way that can only be described as very of its time. For players who grew up with late-90s and early-2000s games, this will likely raise a smile. For younger players, it may feel a bit odd or overly cheesy. The story itself isn’t doing anything bold or unexpected, but it provides enough motivation to keep you moving forward and ties neatly into the game’s mission-based structure.
Mission Start
At its core, Tomba! 2 is a 2D action-adventure platformer. While movement happens on a 2D plane, the game frequently gives you branching paths and crossroads that open up the world and make it feel larger than it really is. This structure gives the island a surprisingly layered feel and encourages exploration.
Progression is largely driven by missions. You’ll meet NPCs, accept tasks, and complete objectives in order to unlock new areas. This often means backtracking to previously visited locations, which helps the island feel cohesive rather than just a sequence of levels. I actually enjoyed this approach, as it gives you time to properly learn each area and notice details you might otherwise rush past.
Combat and platforming are steady rather than spectacular. You’ll face a range of enemies and the occasional boss, and as you progress, you unlock new weapons, items, and costumes. These costumes are especially important, as they grant new abilities that allow you to access previously unreachable areas, reinforcing that sense of gradual discovery.
A Bit of Clunk
There’s no avoiding it: the controls feel dated. Jumping, attacking, and general movement can feel stiff, and precision isn’t always where you want it to be. Tomba has a wide range of moves, including climbing, sprinting, leaping onto enemies and tossing them around, but pulling these off smoothly can be inconsistent.
This isn’t unplayable by any means, but it does require patience. Tomba moves like a caveman who hasn’t quite figured out momentum yet, and that can be frustrating during trickier platforming sections. It’s something you adjust to over time, but it’s a reminder that this is very much a product of its era.
What’s Included
In terms of features, this re-release feels bare bones. Save states and rewind are present, which is welcome, and the main menu includes a small selection of artwork, box art, and manuals. One odd omission is the lack of an in-game control reference. Given how many mechanics the game has, not being able to check or change the controls after the opening moments feels like a strange oversight.
The soundtrack option is also a bit puzzling. You can listen to both the Japanese and Western soundtracks in the menus, but in-game, you’re locked to the Japanese music paired with English voice acting, with no way to change it. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it adds to the feeling that this release wasn’t given much fine-tuning.
It’s also hard not to wonder why Tomba! 2 wasn’t bundled with the original game, especially when so many modern retro releases opt for collections rather than standalone titles.
Conclusion: Second Wind
It’s genuinely nice to see Tomba! 2 get another chance on modern platforms. For players who missed it the first time around, there’s a lot of retro joy to be found here, from its quirky world design to its mission-heavy structure. That said, this re-release does feel like it delivers the minimum required to bring the game forward.
If you’ve already played the original or picked it up on earlier digital platforms (PSN), there’s little reason to return. But if Tomba! 2 passed you by back in the PS1 era and you have a soft spot for retro platformers, this is still a worthwhile adventure, just one that deserved a bit more care the second time around.
Final Verdict: I Like It
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