Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics Review

September 10, 2019 , , ,

After playing through the abysmal Final Fight SNES port, I thought it was time for me to try something available on the Nintendo Switch Online service. I gravitated immediately toward Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics upon opening the newly available Super Nintendo application. Why? Well, probably because I remember playing the first Joe & Mac game when I was a kid. This sequel was something that escaped me during that era and I can’t think of a better time to play the game. With that being said, let’s take a look at Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics.

Solid Gameplay with a Fair Challenge

Joe & Mac 2 is a sidescrolling action platformer that sees you travelling throughout the tropics in a prehistoric age. The gameplay here is incredibly easy to jump into and consists of running, jumping, and bashing cavemen with your club. For the most part, the platforming found in the game is quite tame and the enemies are easily defeated. There are some tricky parts, but there are plenty of food items to be found to replenish your health, and plenty of well-placed checkpoints to make those trickier moments bearable. You can also find club power-ups that let you shoot projectiles, so taking out enemies, and bosses, becomes a breeze.

What makes playing through Joe & Mac 2 interesting is that you can choose your own path after completing the first level. You’ll travel to a variety of areas, all found on the game’s overworld map, with each showcasing a unique mechanic. Like the snowy rockies where you must grab onto a rope to avoid being wiped out by an avalanche, or through the scarlet carpet where water can be used to put out fiery platforms. Some of these levels include animal mounts, giving the game even more variety.

The toughest part of the game is found at the very end in the form of a boss rush. You have to take out all of the game’s bosses, including two forms of the final boss, in quick succession. There are zero food items during these parts, so you’ll have to bring your A game. Luckily, if you do fall in battle, you won’t have to start the boss rush over, so it is at least doable.

Oh, you can also grab a friend to join you on your journey, making Joe & Mac 2 a great option for couch multiplayer nights.

A Gorgeous Trip Throughout the Tropics

Joe & Mac 2 is a visually stunning game. Not only is the sprite work here great, but the environments are beautifully crafted. My personal favourite area being the snowy rockies because of the atmosphere created with its visuals. The falling snow and mirror-like icy cavern floors make warms my heart with its wintry chill. Another stunning area is the Scarlet Carpet, a volcanic area that really brings the heat with its foreboding volcanoes and fiery platforms.

A Whimsical Soundtrack

Joe and Mac 2 features a pretty good soundtrack full of whimsical tunes. You’ll experience upbeat music with a prehistoric flare, accentuated with tribal like drumming. Other times you’ll hear foreboding music that keeps you on your toes. Of course, what good action game isn’t complete without a great boss fight theme.

Conclusion

Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics is an excellent Super Nintendo game. The action is great and the game has a fair challenge making it a must play title. There are some extra things to do like marrying a cavewoman, or upgrading your house, but these elements don’t have any effect on the overall gameplay. The game also features 2-player co-op, so you just need to find the Mac to your Joe and get ready to trounce the enemy waiting for you in the tropics.

Final Score: +3

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