Blinx: The Time Sweeper, hitting the Xbox a few years ago, was something of a letdown.  It was a decent game, but it had massive potential that it didn’t really make the most of.  The game gave you control of a little kitty named Blinx with a vacuum, but not just any vacuum; you could control time with it!  By sweeping up time crystals that enemies dropped you could acquire abilities like Rewind, Pause, Fast Forward, and Record.  This was definitely the biggest draw to the game – using the Xbox hard drive ingeniously, you could rewind the game to fix a mistake, record yourself doing something then reverting back to the original spot and watch a copy of you follow that path while you do something else, and so forth all made for pretty nifty little tricks that made the game unique and fun.

It wasn’t perfect, though, not by a long shot.  Players complained of tiny levels, a clunky control system, frustrating time crystal collection (you could only collect so many crystals at a time, and if you didn’t match up proper sets you wouldn’t be able to use your powers), and more.  Although the game could be easily enjoyed for its ingenuity, there’s no denying it was flawed in many ways.

With this sequel, developer Artoon made it a priority to address all of the complaints associated with the original.  No longer is collecting time crystals a troublesome affair – you don’t have to match up sets, you can just grab as many as you want (although you may only actually hold so many complete time “changers” at a time).  This makes for much less accidental running into objects you didn’t want or sweeping up things you didn’t mean to – a nice touch.  Plus, a lock-on targeting system has been implemented, taking away the troubles of blindly aiming and hoping to hit something instead of wasting your precious ammunition.

A big boost was also given to the level design.  No longer are you confined to tiny, restrictive paths with designated start and finish points.  Here we have much, much larger levels broken up into pieces, and you must complete certain objectives, not just get to the finish line (the mandatory ten-minute time limit of the original has also been scrapped).  The game flows a lot better than it previously did.

And, of course, the time controls are back here in fine form.  Unfortunately there has been little in the way of addition.  Most notably, Blinx gets an opportunity to pause or slow down certain events – say a canon firing a few dozen bullets at you; you can pause and run out of the way or suck up the bullets, or you can slow down time and do some bullet-time-esque dodging – cute stuff.  Unfortunately, as far as time controls go, there’s not much that hadn’t already been explored in the first game.  It’s still fun, just not as attractive as it was two years ago…even if it is more polished.

What is impressive though is the entirely new part of the game that focuses on not time-sweeping cats, but the dastardly pigs of the Tom-Tom Gang.  Unlike the cats’ game, when playing as the pigs the primary idea is to use stealth and stay in hiding.  These oinkers can’t control time but specialize in the usage of a number of different space-shifting tools and weaponry, adding some much needed variety and intrigue to the gameplay.  Some of the weapons include black holes that you can hop in and appear elsewhere, cloaks that make you invisible temporarily, even void traps you can set for enemies to walk into.  There’s quite a variety of things to use.

Although the pigs’ game progresses much like the cats’ game – in fact you alternate between the two as the story progresses – it offers a much different way of playing.  The cats always have a half-dozen abilities that can be restored and a vacuum.  The pigs have something more akin to a dozen weapons, but you likely won’t be carrying but a few.  The pigs also use weapons that require ammunition; you start with simple slingshots, but you can move onto rifles and other guns.  There’s nothing on the level of Ratchet and Clank innovation or variety here, but the guns do add a little bit of interest to the pigs’ repertoire.

The game sports a few nifty features, too.  You don’t actually play as Blinx the cat from the first game – you get to totally customize your own.  Everything from his jacket and personal emblem to the size of his ears is yours to decide, and the same goes for your pigs as well.  This adds some fun customization that makes the new, fun multiplayer mode a bit more personal (but unfortunately, isn’t available for play on Xbox Live).  Alongside the above-average splitscreen mode is actually a co-op mode that lets you play through the single player game with a buddy.

The graphics in the game have their high points and low points.  Animation is a mixed bag; some of it adequate, some of it goofy, but for the most part it works.  The environments look nice enough, with some really slick water effects, especially.  The time controls are by far the most interesting thing, though, as you can just pause the game and see how you can effect the environment in neat ways.  Water, for example, doesn’t flow back to its original spot when you trudge through it during a Pause; it stays parted in sort of an icy fashion.  Neat!

Sound is decent, but not great.  The voice acting is corny and less than stellar, but it’s hard to take the storyline seriously at all so it isn’t that bothersome.  Music can be quite catchy, but for the most part it’s forgettable – not bad, but not awesome.  The same goes for the sound effects.

What we have here in total is a sequel that not only addresses everything that was bad about it’s predecessor and fixes it, but adds a totally new way to play the game.  There’s a new fun multiplayer mode with both deathmatch and co-op, and some fun ways to customize your characters.  While the game may not be quite as impressive as it was initially two years ago (despite its many flaws), it is definitely an improved title with lots of new things to do.  If you’re interested, rent it; if you enjoyed the first, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about because this game is even better.  Give it a look.

Gameplay: 8.5

It may not be as impressive as it was two years ago, but the time controls make for a really neat addition to a platformer.  The new pig half of the game is interesting and fun, too.

Graphics: 8.5

Animation isn’t the best, but environments look good and some of the special effects really spruce things up.

Sound: 7.5

Not amazing but not bad, the voice acting is mediocre and sound effects and music are hit or miss but more than bearable.

Difficulty: Medium
The game isn't overly difficult, but it's no cake walk either. I recommend the normal difficulty for first time players as the easy mode is a bit too dull in comparison.

Concept: 8.0

It’s nice to see Artoon add the new way of playing with pigs, because the cat’s game is very similar to the first game, as the improvements don’t dramatically change it.  Fans should enjoy this and people who complained of the first should still check it out.

Multiplayer: 8.0

Solid, fun deathmatch and an enjoyable co-op mode.  It’s just too bad there’s no Xbox Live support.

Overall: 8.2

Blinx 2 is easily one of the Xbox’s best platformers, but is that really saying much?  It’s certainly a solid game, and no, the time controls aren’t impressive as they were a while back, but they’re still fun and make the game unique.  This is an improved sequel with lots of new stuff to do and will easily keep you busy if you’re feeling a little dry on the platformer front.