Roxy Raccoon 2: Topsy-Turvy Review

In Roxy Raccoon 2: Topsy-Turvy, you'll once again take on the role of the charming and heroic raccoon named Roxy, and whilst your enemy will still be the evil witch Donna, that's about where the similarities end. Unlike the first entry where we explored the world in a 3D platformer, this time around, Roxy's story will unravel throughout a game of tilt maze mixed with pinball.

I hadn't actually played any tilt maze games outside of the 90s toys and mini-games within other titles, so I didn't know what to expect from Topsy-Turvy. That being said, I am quite surprised at how quickly I got lost in the gameplay, and that's considering I didn't realise I could customise Roxy's outfit until near the end!

The premise is quite straightforward — you beat different levels of the tilt maze, and as you progress through them, you unlock new obstacles and power-ups that keep the gameplay fresh. Additionally, you can go out of your way to 100% each level by snagging all the gems and getting the cosmetic. Thankfully, the game isn't punishing about death, and any gems you've collected will remain gone, making it quite delightful to complete.

I recommend trying to get all the gems and cosmetics. Not only did Sinomod Studios do an excellent job of keeping the game fun and not frustrating by offering plenty of checkpoints throughout the maze (and allowing us to keep the gems after death), but the customisation is quite varied, too. There are multiple fur options to choose from, and there's a large variety of hats, too, going from flower crowns to American Football helmets.

In the main mode, you'll unravel the plot through quick cutscenes between levels as well as fighting bosses. I was a bit nervous when I got to my first one, as I thought maybe it would ruin the fun by adding too much difficulty; thankfully, although they are quite challenging, it just took a bit of manoeuvring and patience to get through them.

Additionally, there's an array of game mode options to choose from if you need a break (or don't care for) the story, such as Arcade, which adds more stages; Time Trials, where you beat your time (you can also get some extra collectibles here); and Random Maze, which randomly generates a maze for you to play through without power-ups or obstacles. I quite enjoyed dabbling in all of them because they added more content, especially when I realised that just exploring the menu was giving me achievements. Not to mention the game will have workshop support for custom-made mazes, and the in-game creator has all the power-ups and obstacles as options!

And the last point I'd like to touch on is the graphics and audio design. I truly appreciated how different the mazes were from each other — they could go from really colourful and lively to creepy and Hallowen-esque. Additionally, the music was upbeat and pleasant, and the arcade sounds really added to the ambience of it all.

Although I haven't dabbled in the genre before, I cannot imagine what else Sinomod Studios could've added to the game. It's fun, it's challenging, and there's a ton of game modes and collectibles to keep you occupied for quite a while! If you like arcade games and cute animals, definitely check Roxy Raccoon 2: Topsy-Turvy.