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Few PlayStation sequels manage to expand on a cult classic while preserving everything that made it charming in the first place, but Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return pulled it off with style. Released by Whoopee Camp in 1999-2000, this action-adventure platformer brought the pink-haired jungle hero back for a second quest packed with quirky characters, inventive costume-based abilities, and the series’ signature blend of 2D platforming within fully 3D environments. Here’s a complete look at this hidden PS1 gem.
What Is Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return?
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return, released in Europe as Tombi! 2, is an action-adventure platform game developed and published by Whoopee Camp for the original PlayStation. It launched in Japan and North America in 1999, with the North American release specifically arriving on January 18, 2000, followed by a European release later that same year. The game served as the direct sequel to 1997’s Tomba!, and notably turned out to be Whoopee Camp’s final release, as the studio disbanded shortly after launch, with much of its staff moving on to Access Games.
While the original Tomba! built its reputation on a distinctive 2.5D platforming style, Tomba! 2 expanded this foundation with fully 3D environments, giving the sequel a more visually ambitious world to explore while retaining the core gameplay mechanics and event-based structure that defined its predecessor.
The Story: Rescuing Tabby from the Evil Pigs
The story picks up with Tomba living a peaceful life alongside his friends when a mysterious letter falls from the sky. Upon opening it, a talking bug named Zippo emerges and delivers troubling news: a new race of Evil Pigs has invaded a neighboring continent, and worse still, they’ve kidnapped Tomba’s close friend, Tabby, after she refused to hand over a bracelet he had once given her.
Determined to save her, Tomba dives into the sea alongside his companion Charles and washes up on an unfamiliar shore, setting off on a new adventure across cursed lands. Together with Zippo, Tomba travels from region to region, lifting curses cast by the Evil Pigs, uncovering hidden Pig Bags needed to trap the invaders, and piecing together clues about Tabby’s whereabouts as the story builds toward a final confrontation with the mysterious Last Evil Pig.
Gameplay: Familiar Platforming in a New 3D World
Tomba! 2 retains the “event” system that defined the original game, a mechanic built around completing a wide variety of quests and objectives scattered throughout the world, many of which unlock further events or reward players with useful items. In total, the game features 137 events to complete, split between Primary events required to progress the main story and optional Secondary events that add depth and replay value for players willing to explore further.
Gameplay is split between two distinct modes: Action mode, where Tomba moves along fixed 2D paths while jumping, fighting, and completing action-oriented objectives, and Free-Roaming mode, which allows Tomba to move freely in 360 degrees through fully 3D spaces to talk with townspeople and gather information, though he’s unable to jump or use weapons while in this mode. This dual structure let the game preserve the tight platforming feel of the original while opening up a genuinely explorable 3D world around it.
New Suits Replace Old Pants
One of the most notable additions in Tomba! 2 is the introduction of collectible, ability-altering suits, a more elaborate evolution of the swappable pants mechanic from the original game. Rather than simply changing Tomba’s appearance, these suits grant genuinely new abilities essential to progression. The Flying Squirrel Suit, for example, allows Tomba to glide across long distances, while the Pig Suit lets him communicate directly with friendly pigs scattered throughout the world, opening up new dialogue options and quest paths.
Beyond his suits, Tomba retains many of his signature moves from the first game, including the ability to punch and wrestle enemies, climb surfaces, bite and throw foes, and interact with the game’s diverse cast of townspeople using an Adventure Journal that tracks his progress, current objectives, and collected items throughout the journey.
Critical Reception
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return was generally well received by critics upon release, earning particular praise for its gameplay variety, responsive controls, and impressive visuals, with several reviewers calling it one of the best-looking games available on the original PlayStation. Reception to the game’s audio was more mixed compared to its strong visual presentation, and some critics pointed to the sheer number of side quests as occasionally overwhelming, even with the Adventure Journal’s built-in tracking system to help players stay organized.
Criticism was also directed at the game’s boss encounters, which largely repeated the “find the mystical bag and trap the pig” formula from the original game’s less dynamic boss fights, a mechanic some reviewers felt grew repetitive by the back half of the adventure. Despite these criticisms, the game was considered a worthy sequel that expanded meaningfully on its predecessor’s strengths.
Commercial Performance and Whoopee Camp’s Legacy
Despite its positive critical reception, Tomba! 2 ultimately sold fewer copies than its predecessor, and this commercial underperformance played a role in Whoopee Camp’s subsequent dissolution. The studio’s staff largely transitioned to Access Games, a developer that had reportedly already begun work on the PlayStation 2 title Extermination prior to Whoopee Camp’s closure, effectively marking the end of the Tomba franchise’s original development team.
Legacy and Modern Availability
Tomba! 2 has seen a handful of digital re-releases in the years since its original launch. The Japanese version became available on the Japanese PlayStation Network in September 2011, followed by a European PlayStation Network release in November 2012. More recently, Limited Run Games released Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition, an emulated re-release built for modern platforms, though this version received a more mixed critical reception compared to the well-regarded Special Edition of the original Tomba!, with early complaints about missing regional soundtrack options and other presentation issues before a subsequent patch addressed several of these concerns.
Why Tomba! 2 Still Deserves a Second Look
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return represents a genuinely ambitious attempt to expand on a beloved cult classic without losing its identity. Its blend of quirky, quest-driven storytelling, inventive suit-based abilities, and a memorable cast of characters helped it carve out a lasting fanbase, even if it never reached the same commercial heights as the original. For anyone interested in offbeat, deeply creative PS1-era platformers, Tomba! 2 remains a fascinating and often overlooked entry in the console’s expansive library.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When was Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return released?
The game was released in Japan and North America in 1999, with the North American release specifically launching on January 18, 2000. The European release, titled Tombi! 2, followed on June 16, 2000.
2. How many events are in Tomba! 2?
Tomba! 2 features a total of 137 events, split between Primary events required to progress the story and optional Secondary events that add extra content and challenges for players who want to explore further.
3. What are the ability suits in Tomba! 2?
The suits are collectible outfits that grant Tomba new abilities essential for progression, replacing the swappable pants mechanic from the original game. Examples include the Flying Squirrel Suit, which lets Tomba glide long distances, and the Pig Suit, which allows him to communicate with friendly pigs.
4. Can I play Tomba! 2 on modern platforms?
Yes. The game has been re-released digitally through the Japanese and European PlayStation Network stores, and more recently through Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return Special Edition from Limited Run Games, an emulated re-release built for modern systems.
