Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown - Review
Added September 26th, 2008 by Lightk
PopCap Games, publisher of titles such as Bejeweled and Peggle, recently released Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown on XBLA. FF2 is the sequel to one of the very first XBLA games, Feeding Frenzy, wherein you play in a “fish eat fish” world. Like its predecessor, you are cast in the role of a small fish with the goal of surviving in an ocean aquarium.
Starting off you play as Boris, the Butterfly Fish, swimming around in the warm waters off the Sandy Shoal eating fish smaller than you. Make sure you avoid the larger fish or face the consequences of being lunch. Eating fish quickly one after another helps to fill your Frenzy Bar (a point multiplier up to 6x). Swallowing FF bubbles also helps to fill this bar.
The more you eat, the larger you grow. A progress bar in the upper left hand corner easily reminds you of what fish are currently on your ‘diet plan’ and how close you are to dining on larger portions. 60 fun filled levels with a Lunch Report at the end of each allowing you to view the variety and number of fish you’ve devoured. It’ll also show your rank such as Newbie Nibbler, Bottom Feeder and Greedy Gobbler. As you progress through the game, the levels become increasingly more difficult with bonus rounds thrown in every so often.
Though FF2 is very similar to Feeding Frenzy, this one is packed with enhancements to make it a more entertaining experience. This time around, not only are you devouring fish in the water, but also the bugs above the surface by jumping and flipping in the air. Be prepared for a much more hectic time in this packed playground. Included are new levels (night time missions), new underwater life, and power-ups (magical mushrooms to shrink predators). Visually, FF2 takes a flying leap over FF. I found myself more than once watching the colorful and detailed backdrops (wrecked ship) and active sea life (great white shark, oysters bearing pearls) instead of scurrying from predators.
Solo play includes Story, Story Lite (unlimited lives) and Time Attack. In multi-player (unfortunately only local) you choose from party games (10 mini-games) ranging from Tail Bite Tag to Midnight Munchies; Frenzy Fish and Co-op Story. Laughter exploded around my house as we competed to see who could scarf the most fish, played tag and more. It is baffling why they didn’t include online multi-player.
Controls are simple to master (left thumbstick to control; B to suck in your prey; A for a quick dash of speed). I did feel that the left thumbstick was a little oversensitive, but after a few levels, I quickly adjusted. The slurping noise of eating can be a little disturbing and load times seemed too long between stages.
If you enjoyed the original, have younger children or just like light-hearted same console competition, you’ll definitely want to grab FF2 for 800 Microsoft points. Time to warm up those chompers and have some fun!
