There are some games that you beat in a single evening, tick them off as “completed” and forget all about them. That’s exactly what the first game in the Marsupilami series, Hoobadventure, was like. I confess I completed 100% of it in 3.5 hours – that’s not even a proper lunch break! The game was cute, but also incredibly easy and short.
Some info for the uninitiated: who are the Marsupilami? They’re characters first from a cartoon series, then from games and movies created by André Francken. The series has three seasons, each loosely connected among themselves. The latest released in 2025 with comical episodes aimed at children, with their own messages and humor. The movies are also comedies, and are quite good – with the latest being released earlier this year (2026) and receiving positive reviews from critics. I recommend you give it a watch just for fun.
So, when the sequel was announced, I, like many others, just chuckled skeptically. “Another quick kid-friendly game?” I thought. But after seeing the trailers and gameplay for Salsa Palombia, I realized the developers had heard our cries. They didn’t just make “another game”—they went all out to correct all the mistakes of the past. Let’s see what they came up with.
The game released on September 3, 2026, and if you, like me, are tired of endless live service projects, this beast from the jungles of Palombia will heal your soul. And judging by the reviews, I’m not alone: ”Beat the first world. Snappy controls, faster paced than the first game, a bit more challenging than that too. Looks like it’s improved in every single way.”
This time, the developers decided not to go through the beaten path of saving the world, but instead took the most absurd and exciting theme of music as the centerpiece of the game. A strange melody began to resound throughout Palombia. Animals suddenly burst into dance, plunging everything into chaos. The instigator of this aural apocalypse is the Mummy Queen, who has returned from the Land of the Dead. She ordered her servants to play a cursed concert with a catastrophic crescendo.
If you really care about the plot, beware of spoilers! A skeleton has emerged from some Aztec slab, hypnotized all the animals, and wants something unknown, and the Marsupilami are set out to stop it! Funny? Yes. Deep? No. But in an age when every game tries to create a “deep story” with political intrigue, Salsa Palombia simply says, “Shut up and dance to the rhythm, it’s fun!”
Gameplay is where the fun begins. Instead of one Marsupilami, we get three: Punch, Twister, and Hope. And this isn’t just a skin change. In the first game, all the characters were exactly the same, but here each one is a unique combat unit. And the best part is, you switch between them on the fly, just like in the best examples of the genre.
- Twister (yellow) is your aerial acrobat. His horizontal dash and tail-gliding are handy when you need to fly across gaps without touching spikes, knock over pots and boxes, or simply squeeze through planks.
- Hope (dark red) is the queen of double jumps. With her, you’ll reach those secrets hanging right overhead. She can also bounce off enemies and glide. Handy when you’re cornered.
- Punch (dark purple-ish?) is your locomotive, can transform into a ball and destroy everything in line of sight. Simply activate sonic mode and fly through ranks of enemies, bouncing off spikes and saving your life.
The system reminds me of the good old Donkey Kong Country, where changing Kongs gave you different abilities. But here it works even more dynamically, because you don’t just stand and select a character, but click them in the air, collecting combinations.
And it’s not a walk in the park anymore but rather a vigorous sprint. While in the first game you could lazily move your paws, here you need to go full throttle. The game constantly demands you use dashes, jumps, and grabs in a single, continuous flow. This is especially noticeable in the time trials, where you have to constantly press the gas pedal. If you don’t master fast travel, there’s absolutely nothing you can do there.
The levels are a whole other story. Four vibrant areas, from a colorful jungle to a bustling metropolis, and each one is packed with secrets, portals, and musical notes to collect. At times, the level design makes you say “wow” due to the use of a 3D perspective in a 2D platformer. It’s just a shame there aren’t enough of these moments; I’d like to see more of them, because the developers know how to create them but they are EXTREMELY rare. Plus, there are now hidden levels that can be unlocked by collecting Collectible Points or purchased with fruit.
Each level consists of a regular version, where you need to collect notes, palm trees, and fruit, as well as find a Dojo with a challenge, and a second version, where you have to collect as many fruits as possible against the clock without breaking your combo and trying not to take damage, which would reset your combo counter.
And, oh my god, thank goodness the developers didn’t take the example of the last Crash Bandicoot, where you had to complete the first level four times, and even do so in reverse. That would have been tedious and stifling, but no, that’s not the case here.
Remember I mentioned 3.5 hours regarding the first game? Forget about it. Now, just to beat the main plot, you’ll have to spend 5-6 frenetic hours platforming around and about, and the 100% completion will take much longer than that.
Instead of simple time trials, Marsupilami 2 features a new game mode where you need to maintain a multiplier by collecting fruit. And if you are seeking to grab the gold medal, you better prepare for the challenge.
But the weirdest thing is the bosses. While the main levels are still manageable, battles with the mummies and their minions become interesting, if controversial. Each boss has its own arena, where their musical theme plays in their style, and the battle takes place. The only problem is… the bosses are too simple in terms of mechanics.
And no, the whole game is pretty simple, essentially, but the bosses… There are essentially three short phases in which you have to attack their “weak spot”, a tape recorder with music. Each phase is a small challenge with not-so-complex mechanics, and they can be defeated extremely… easily? Basically, the challenge of beating all the bosses without taking damage can be completed in about 20 minutes.
The boss battles are likely designed for children, who will calmly navigate them and rejoice in their victory. The developers are not monsters and they have created three difficulty levels. On the easiest difficulty, you get an infinite number of hearts, on medium it is 3 hearts, and on hardcore only 2. So, choose the medium one and don’t worry about it. For kids, go with easy—they’ll love it.
The graphics are wonderful, just what the game needs with the cartoonish, bright, and vibrant vibes. They’re just what the doctor ordered to lift your spirits. There are a couple of cinematics, but don’t expect anything brilliant. They simply open and close the game.
The Marsupilami animations are smooth and playful, constantly grimacing and dancing, and you can’t help but smile. The levels move and feel alive; everything moves, twitches, floats, and flutters, beautifully and captivating. Each island has its own theme, and each level is uniquely its own. You’ll see overgrown jungles with ruins, a city with a road system, snow-capped mountains that will be challenging to navigate, and even a sort of otherworldly amusement park, which serves as the game’s captivating epilogue.
The camera movements are quite dynamic, but they don’t interfere with the 2D gameplay. The graphics aren’t as good as top-tier titles like Rayman Legends Retold, but they’re decent for the price.
The music is pleasant, a bit nautical, summery, and festival-like. It perfectly complements the gameplay, although it can sometimes feel a bit intrusive in the menus. But the main problem here is the music; it’s… well, it suits the game. And that’s it. Even the boss battles sound… well, okay. Not exciting, not unsettling, not particularly enchanting, no. Just okay.
And for me, that’s the main problem… You have a game about musical spirits, each with their own styles: Rock Mummy, Jazz Mummy, Electro Mummy, and the Final Ancient Mummy! So why is the level music just plain old? Wouldn’t it be better to have a rock-jazz-electro version of the level soundtrack, and then, after defeating the island bosses, give the option to change the music when selecting a level?
Honestly, I miss the musical madness of No Straight Roads, where the music dynamically changed styles during boss battles depending on the bosses’ HP. The only thing that’s different is the boss battles, where the music matches the boss’s style, but because the fights are short and easy, you don’t really have time to enjoy them.
Judging by the trailers, the devs have added local co-op for two players to the game. It’s fantastic! Now you can not only struggle through the colorful levels on your own, but also drag a friend along (or have them drag you along). Plus, there’s a “Battle Dojo” mode—separate challenges for those who find the main story insufficient.
Marsupilami 2 is the kind of game worth taking your Steam Deck on vacation for. It’s perfect for a portable device: fast, simple, vibrant, and addictive. Kids will absolutely love it, and it’s perfect after watching movies.
Marsupilami 2 – Salsa Palombia isn’t just “another platformer.” This is a game that understands the joy of movement. It doesn’t try to be smarter than you, doesn’t bog you down with boring dialogue, and doesn’t ask for donations. It just wants you to jump, dance, and smile.
This is one of those cases where I rate a game not for its depth, but for pure enjoyment. If you miss the days when games were fun, not work, then pick up Marsupilami 2 – Salsa Palombia. And don’t forget to stock up on popcorn: your brain will be delighted.
