Rolando could quite easily become a signature iPhone franchise - indeed, publisher ngmoco has their sights set on a third installment in the series, and that's going to come alongside a substantial amount of new content - indeed, our original copies of Rolando have seen quite a few bonus levels added for no extra cost. And we thought £5.99 was great value when it was first released! For now though, this release brings with it many improvements, characters, items and added charm. It's safe to say that it completely blows the original out of the water.

The new, slick looking pseudo-3D environments certainly help bring the adventure to life - the game feels more lush, decorative and polished than the original, and it shows in the refinements that have been made to the menu system and the environments themselves. New to the game is the inclusion of water covered levels, even if it's a small lake or a completely filled basin where platforms can be submerged. Small Rolandos (like Turgut the pirate) can only float above water, whereas larger, heavier Rolandos such as William Loutfish can sink underneath towards the bottom. You get a much greater sense of assigning each different Rolando different jobs, something that wasn't there in the first game.

Commandos return, as do the uncontrollable Royals - however, the Royal presence is a lot lighter in this sequel, and although the bonus levels where you control gravity make an appearance, they are few. Commando Rolandos have a new weakness to that of oil which detaches them upon contact. It's been used to great effect in showing you where you can reach in the level, or to restrict access so that new characters can get there instead. The final new character is that of a spikey Rolando who has an allergic reaction to chiles - eat one and he puffs up, allowing him to float to new areas. Furthermore, there's a couple of vehicles that can be used in game - one a mine cart for speedy Rolando transit, the second a large wheel that can be used to crush the natives who will attempt to dispatch Rolandos by any means.

Happily, level selection is now much less linear than it was previously.

Level completion requirements remain from the first game - to complete a level you must save the required amount of Rolandos. You can try and do that as fast as possible within the challenge time, or collect all the gems (these are both secondary, non essential completion goals) - because you won't always have enough time to do it all in one run. With challenge scores now introduced as part of the online component though, you may have to find a way to do it all in one go, getting the best score in the process. We're sure that this will encourage fans of speed runs to come out of the woodwork and post the best scores. Happily, level selection is now much less linear than it was previously, so you can pick and choose which level you would like to do - and if you're stuck, using a golden idol will skip the level and let you return if you like later on. Cleverly, these are introduced as collectables, and there are only half a dozen or so in the whole game. You may reclaim an idol if you so wish, just by completing the level that it was used on.

Perhaps the best new addition is not the fancier graphics and more varied environments - it's the plot, writing and humour that must deserve top marks. Now the Rolandos have been given names and personalities to go with them, the game has been elevated to become something much more than it's predecessor. The humourous banter carries on from level to level, which means you really get a sense of teamwork and adventure.

As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Mr. Scruff returns with a selection of choice cuts, that are available to preview in the music shack extra - a small level that includes a handful of yellow speakers, inviting you to go out and download them from iTunes. Seriously, if you can get your hands on the full length tracks from the Store, they will almost certainly put a smile on your face. Let's hope his music is included in the next game as it is superb.

We're going to go out on a limb and say that if you're reading this, you've probably already bought the game. More power to you. Of course, if you don't like platformers then you shouldn't be carried away by the hype - but if you do, this is the best one that you can buy right now. Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid could easily sit on a shelf next to PSP and DS titles and hold its own.

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Review by Ben Briggs, December 22, 2008

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