Paperboy 2

"My god...this game is a travesty to the SNES."

My introduction to the Paperboy series was looooooooooong ago when I saw it in Putt-Putt's arcade. The bike handle as a controller was so cool to me. I didn't know the concept was to keep subscribers since I was young and breaking windows with gazettes was so fun to me.

Sadly enough, the cool beginnings of Paperboy have dragged on to become a shameful mess. Paperboy 2 is the series' last gasp on the 16 bit scene. Although it has new twists like being a Papergirl, playing different sides of the street, and jumping obstacles, Paperboy 2 falls short of barely being playable.

Graphics-5
It's ahead of the NES version but big deal. Thank the system for that. Some of the houses are nicely done but they get old (see gameplay rating). The newspaper front page graphics are annoying. With that kind of space, you'd think that something brilliant could go there.

Sounds-5
In all fairness, the sounds were on point. Dogs barked, sewer monsters growled, cannons fired (yes cannons), ghosts moaned and glass shatters. This maybe the game's best attribute. All the sounds are clear and fully understandable but not one human being or automobile on this game makes a sound. It's kind of strange seeing as how we get to hear a bird squawk but a woman who gets drenched with a hose as she sunbathes doesn't feel compelled to shout furious threats at us for ruining her tan.

Music-2
There are only 2 tunes on the entire game. Both of which are nothing spectacular but manage to get on your friggin nerves after the 9th time hearing them!

Gameplay-1
One word can sum up the gameplay...monotony. This game hinges on doing the same thing over and over and over and over and over again. Same route...same street...same houses. Some of the houses are even recycled onto other streets! The hazards you face are repetitive as well. Not to mention pretty stupid. There's a guy that just rolls tires out into the street...for no reason! There's a skateboarder that repetively goes up and down the sidewalk for a distance of 30 feet. He doesn't turn around and has no animation at all! He's just an that image slides back and forth on the sidewalk. Other hazards along your paper route include gargoyles that shoot lasers and a castle that has firing cannons. Why are these even on here?! Way too stupid. Ah, here we go; some movers carrying furniture. That'd be alright if they weren't so clueless. They just carry a sofa or sheets of glass back and forth (in an effort to get in your way) and don't know if they're coming or going. Babies in strollers flying down the sidewalk?! The humanity! There's also a guy who feels the need to mow the sidewalk. All these hazards are pretty stupid and only concieved to make the game challenging...forget logic. The only two hazards which are pretty cool are the sewer monster and the Lady Ghost. They represent the only real and logic obstacles as compared to the others. Let us not forget the frontpage. Everytime the paperboy (or girl) does the city a public service such as stopping a robbery, halting a runaway baby in a stroller or giving a graffiti bandit a concussion with a paper, they get a frontpage shot with the chief of police. It gets way old seeing as how the picture never changes but the headline can.

Overall-2
Don't get this game. Don't make the same mistake I did. I've seen the ending of this game and it made me want to jump from a cliff.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 12/29/00, Updated 12/29/00