A more colorful, well paced Pocky and Rocky sequel, two player friendly. More accessible than the first, ideal for laid back coop nights.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Co-op
Description
Sequel to Pocky & Rocky with new levels and characters in Japanese temples. Published by Natsume, released in the USA in 1994. Pocky and Rocky with an expanded roster including new allies, more varied levels, enriched yokai bosses and two-player co-op. Second Pocky & Rocky on Super Nintendo.
Pocky & Rocky 2 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Japanese folklore reinvented as a colourful cartoon, adorable heroines and zany yokai: the game unfurls a top-down action of sparkling charm. The roundness of the design and the vividness of the hues overflow with good cheer. This art direction, polished and joyful, stands as a cult gem of the 16-bit run-and-gun.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The sequel enriches the formula with a companion system of varied abilities you carry, throw or combine: co-op gains depth and whimsy. The colourful Japanese folklore, the snappy shooting and the inventive levels grab you at once. More generous and more clever, a charming, demanding run'n'gun that comes into its own two-player, never wearing thin.
The American NTSC SNES edition of Pocky & Rocky 2, the 1994 Natsume/Taito sequel with co-op mode and new characters. Released late in the SNES cycle in modest quantities, the title is one of the most sought-after Natsume NTSC releases: its standing rests on genuine scarcity, distinct from any PAL argument. The US cardboard box warps readily, favoring clean copies, and demand draws on the studio's aura and coherence with the first entry.
An underrated gem
This sequel refines the formula by adding allies you carry on your back to combine their powers, across even more varied seasonal settings. Released without fanfare, it stayed in the shadow of the big franchises. More generous and accessible than the first, it'll delight duos after festive, prettily colorful action.
Is Pocky & Rocky 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Pocky & Rocky 2 extends the first by widening the playable cast and adding an AI partner system that balances solo difficulty. The handling stays precise, the bosses gain in spectacle and the staging multiplies Japanese folklore references. The cartridge is rarer and pricier than the first. Recommended to anyone who liked Pocky & Rocky and wants a more generous, more polished sequel, especially for fans of tense local co op.
