Rescue of Princess Blobette

"Probably the Strangest Handheld Title Ever...."

''A Boy and his Blob: Rescue of Princess Blobette'', also known in Japan as ''Fushigi na Blobby: Princess Blob o Tsukue!'' is probably the strangest game I have ever played. I didn't think any game would ever match up to the weirdness that the first B&B game had, but I was wrong when I stumbeled upon two rare roms of it's sequel, the game I am currently reviewing. It is such a pity this game didn't make it as high a rank as many of the other original gameboy games, but still, it is one of those little treasures one might find, that appeals to them, and maybe a few others. I will review each category a game has to offer below:

Story
(8/10)
Could have been better. The basic story is that Boy, a boy (...,) and his old friend a space alien, the Blob, (or as some may call him, Blobert,) are trapped in a tower of a castle of some insane Alchemist, or so I have read. On the other side of the castle, the ''fair'' Princess Blobette sits in a cage above a pot of boiling water. It is the Boy and his Blob's duty to escape their imprissonmeant, and save Blobette, while, ocassionally, stopping off in various locations to take back some treasure.

Graphics
US - (10/10)
Jap - (6/10)
The graphics for this game was done real well for an original gameboy game. However, the Japaneese version's graphics were a little tinkered with, and Boy was modified from his simple form, to a more blunt, anime sort of form, which I didn't much like. Other than that, the US version was perfect, but the Japaneese version should have left boy as he was. It got really irritating watching such a poorly done version of Boy, MUCH bigger than the un-updated Blob, running around rooms that didn't match with himself. Other than that, if Boy was left the same, the graphics would have been perfect.

Sound
(7/10)
The music in this game was identical to that of the NES B&B prequel, so to those of you who have play that, you know what I mean. The music is done real well, in my opinion, but to others, and myself sometimes, it gets REAL irritating, especially because you can sometimes be playing for 3 hours straight trying to pass something. However, there were a few extra tracks on this sequel that ''Trouble in Blobolonia'' didn't have. The sound effects were good. Nothing more to really mention about that, except that the smashers in a factory chunk of the game get really annoying, so you have to find a way to shut them off quick before you are forced to shut the game off.

Gameplay
(8/10)
It's simple, you just walk around with Blob following behind, and you must feed your blob various jellybeans to convert him into different types of objects to aid in your successful progression through the game. Wow, that was a handful words I don't use too often... Well, it's not that simple. There are many different types of jellybeans, and many solutions as to how to get through obstacles. Not only that, but you may run out of a specific jellybean, and then there's only one conclusion when this is the case: Gameover. Gameovers occur often in this very frustrating game. You have 5 lives throughout the whole game, and if you lose them all, you must restart the game. Not only that, but saving the game is not an option. Hey, at least you will be able to get through everything, and resume your previous position earlier, after passing familiar obstacles a dozen times. For many, you might just give up, and leave it for the patient, and advanced gamers. The buttons tend to be too sensative as well. If you press the right button too hard, you might go sliding off a cliff, with Blob close behind, which sometimes is rewarding, as it is a funny experience. My point is, if you like tough games that make you think, try this out. Oh yeah, also, get used to cliffs.

Overall
(9/10)
Well, a person's preference can be the complete opposite to another, so if you match up with my opinions, you may like this game. It is very challenging, however, and should not be taken lightly. If you liked the first B&B adventure, you will probably like this challenging sequel, and ending to the series. If you don't have patience, you will probably want this game, simply to watch it burn. Oh, and one more thing, if you are afraid of hights, this one will cause you to wet your pants.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/02, Updated 11/08/02