The Smurfs 2 The Prisoner of the Green Stone Review (XSX)
Summary: The latest Smurfs game is another amusing title for younger gamers that delivers a sturdy 3D platformer!
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Smurfy!
THE SMURFS 2 – THE PRISONER OF THE GREEN STONE
Handy Smurf has created a revolutionary invention: SmurfoMix! However, it’s missing a key ingredient, the Green Stone, which lays in the greedy clutches of Gargamel. He sets off on a mission to retrieve the famous Green Stone, a key ingredient that would greatly help him improve his invention, from Gargamel’s laboratory. But a fatal misstep causes it to explode, its fragments scattering throughout the Cursed Land. In addition to unleashing into the wild its incredible powers to copy and decompose matter, the Green Stone has set free the evil Stolas, a new order bent on creating a reign of terror.
THE REVIEW
The tiny magical blue forest creatures are back in The Smurfs 2 the Prisoner of the Green Stone that is the sequel to The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf which promises another fun adventure from the modern fairy tale lore of the late and great Belgian artist and writer Peyo. The Smurfs 2 the Prisoner of the Green Stone is undeniably aimed at the younger gamers in this fun 3D platformer.
Unfortunately for a small group of Smurfs led by Handy Smurf who were trying to recover a magical green stone, they have accidentally shattered it and inadvertently released the spirit Stolas who was residing in it. The premise is simple (and get ready for the twist), work with Gargamel (for now) in order to find the shards and put the evil Stolas back into the stone before the very fabric of reality is irrevocably changed!
As you jump, explore, take on enemies, your Smurfs also have access to a “gun” that interacts with both the environment the enemies to add a unique twist to the premise. There are also plenty of environments to explore and some clever mechanics thrown into the mix that younger gamers will thoroughly enjoy, particularly as the sole focus is on The Smurfs. With that in mind, there is a fair bit of grinding as well and you can adjust the difficulty level.
There is also an element of RPG-lite thrown into the mix that adds some ownership over the character that the players play. The “open-world” levels are quite contained with set objects and once you have completed the overall task, it opens up another area in The Smurfs 2 the Prisoner of the Green Stone and the puzzles for the most part are easy to solve. The other interesting aspect of the game is that it can be played with other players that does make the gameplay more enjoyable.
Graphically, the game mirrors the animated TV series quite well with those Saturday Cartoon-like environments that are bursting with colours. Additionally the music and sound effects suits the graphics and while most is on the simple side, it all comes together rather well, although there are a few camera angle issues.
Final Thoughts?
Overall, The Smurfs 2 the Prisoner of the Green Stone is an enjoyable title on the Xbox Series X for younger gamers and while it can be repetitive at times, younger players will enjoy the exploration that goes hand in hand with accessible controls and gaming mechanics.
Time to get Smurfy!
Key Features
- Meet the team of 4 iconic Smurfs: Handy, Brainy, Dimwitty, and Storm.
- An accessible and intuitive gameplay that will delight both Smurf fans and action/platforming fans.
- Enjoy dynamic gameplay with exploration, platforming, and even more intense combat thanks to the SmurfoMix!
- For the first time in a video game, collaborate with Gargamel! Use his teleporters to travel through the Cursed Land and discover 3 brand new unexplored regions.
- Collect various resources to improve the Smurfomix throughout your adventure!
- Embark on the adventure with a friend or family partner in co-op mode.
- A new story which respects the license, set in a beautiful, well-crafted colorful universe!
Developed by OSome Studio, The Smurfs 2 – The Prisoner of the Green Stone is an all-new story releasing November 2nd, 2023, both in retail and digital versions for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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