The Smurfs 2 - The Prisoner of the Green Stone

Grab your Smurf hats and get ready for some old fashioned Smurf fun! The Smurfs 2 - The Prisoner of the Green Stone brings Papa Smurf's little blue crew to consoles and PC in an all-new video game adventure. Based on the CGI animated film of the same name, this game stays true to the spirit of the beloved classic cartoon while also providing accessible and engaging gameplay. Though it doesn't do much to push the genre forward, it's hard not to smile throughout this lighthearted Smurftastic journey.

A Quest to Save the Village

The story follows Handy Smurf and his friends as they embark on a quest to retrieve the powerful Green Stone before it falls into the clutches of the evil wizard Gargamel. After an accident causes the stone to shatter into pieces across the land, The Smurfs must use teleporters to travel to new environments and find the fragments to make it whole again.

Fans of the franchise will be delighted to see Brainy, Hefty, Clumsy and others make appearances as they help Handy and his crew. The game also breaks new ground by having players actually team up with Gargamel for the first time. It's an unlikely pairing, but makes for some very amusing dialogue exchanges.

Beautiful Environments to Explore

One of the standout elements of The Smurfs 2 is its visually stunning game world. Players will journey through the vibrant Smurf Village before traveling to 3 new expansive environments like the misty Moonlight Forest or the underground mines of the Crystal Caverns.

Each area features a dazzling array of colors and imaginative landscapes that truly bring the magical world of the Smurfs to life. Seeing the little blue heroes run, jump and climb across giant mushrooms, crystal formations, and more is a real joy. The graphics and level of detail really set a new bar for Smurfs games.

Accessible Gameplay for All Ages

The platforming and combat gameplay, while fairly straightforward, is accessible enough for younger gamers while still providing a moderate challenge for experienced players. Players can run, jump, climb, and use basic attacks like hammer swings or Smurf-Fu kicks to traverse the environments and defeat enemies like Bzzflies and GobGobs.

There are also fun power-ups like SmurfoMix recipes that grant stat boosts, and environmental tools like exploding barrels to spice things up. While combat could perhaps be more advanced, the simple mechanics ensure a smooth, family-friendly experience.

Up to 2 players can team up locally to take on the adventure together. By focusing on cooperation instead of competition, the multiplayer allows families or friends to easily work together, with one player taking control of Handy and the other as Brainy or Hefty. This creates some very wholesome gameplay moments that really encapsulate the caring community spirit of the Smurfs.

Review: 7/10

While seasoned gamers may find it a bit simplistic, The Smurfs 2 accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do - provide a fun, family-friendly adventure in the captivating world of the Smurfs. Young fans will be delighted, adults will feel nostalgic joy, and all can enjoy the charming cooperative experience.

Pros

• Nice graphics and environments
• Captures the spirit of the Smurfs
• Fun local co-op multiplayer
• Accessible gameplay for all skill levels

Cons

• Combat/platforming is a bit simple
• Story is fairly predictable
• Could use more Smurf character interactions
• Environments feel sparse at times