14 DAY TRIAL // 
Two Tribes' Toki Tori became an instant classic when it first appeared many years ago for the Nintendo Game Boy Color, putting players in control of a lovable little bird, Toki Tori, who needed to transport eggs through different levels.
In Toki Tori 2+, the bird is back. Only, this time, the mechanics have been simplified to a pretty big degree, while the puzzles have gotten a bit more devious, even if they're much simpler in terms of actual mechanics.
Does Toki Tori 2+ manage to improve on the experience or should the yellow bird find another home? Let's find out.
While in the first Toki Tori the bird could use all sorts of items and even weapons during gameplay, in the new title it can only chirp or stomp, besides move around the actual level, provided there aren't any high obstacles.
While this simplification might turn some people off in theory, in practice it's actually quite fun, and the team at Two Tribes managed to deliver all sorts of smart puzzles and levels that require different combinations between chirping and stomping, not to mention interaction with frogs, bigger birds, fireflies, or other creatures.
Toki Tori explores a brand new world in this sequel and, while it may seem really peaceful and serene at first, there's a mysterious black substance that's slowly taking over the land. As such, the unlikely hero must go on a big journey into all sorts of environments, from luscious forests and plains, to creepy caverns and even underwater.
While that may sound a bit simplistic, the level design in Toki Tori 2+ is fiendish, as the developers at Two Tribes managed to construct all sorts of challenges that can be solved just by executing two actions and by interacting with other creatures or mechanisms.
While there may be a few difficulty spikes here and there, and the amount of work required to collect all the golden feathers is quite large, Toki Tori 2+ will keep a smile on your face.
Besides solving plenty of puzzles by singing, stomping, or interacting with the other creatures of the world, the game also makes use of the bird's singing, as you can activate certain mechanics by singing a sequence of high and low notes.
These sequences can either take you back to your last checkpoint, or do other things like activate an in-game camera, which can be used to take pictures of different elements or creatures, which are then added to the special Tokidex.
Besides going on a fairly linear path through the world, players can also explore secondary locations, as well as trigger different events that will lead to secret areas. There's also a teleport system in the game world so that you can revisit past places and gather all the different collectibles. While at first the game seems like a traditional puzzle platformer that takes players from level to level and from location to location, it gradually opens up and the whole world can be explored.
In case you don't plan on getting tired with the game's regular puzzles, Toki Tori 2+ also has a special level editor that has support for the Steam Workshop. This means that you can easily create new maps and challenges for the game and share them with other Steam users worldwide. If creativity isn't your strong suit, then you can just browse the Workshop and try to solve puzzles made by the community.
In terms of graphics, Toki Tori 2+ looks crisp and vibrant, starting with the delightful little chubby bird and reaching the different creatures it meets along the way. There are also plenty of small visual effects, such as drops falling from the bird after it gets out from the water, drops which then cause the grass on the ground to grow.
In terms of sound, the game performs admirably, as the soundtrack complements Toki Tori's adventures and makes the serene world of the game come alive. Throw in the chirping of the birds and the other sounds made by the various animals and your ears are in for a treat.
Conclusion
Toki Tori 2+ is a delightful puzzle platformer that's surprisingly complex despite its relatively simple mechanics. Throw in the great level design and the fact that the game encourages player curiosity and exploration, not to mention the polished visuals and soundtrack, and you have a great experience.
