Cordy 2 will keep you plugged in

Available formats: Android, iOS

Reviewed on: Android

Rating: E for Everyone

MANILA, Philippines – There’s R2D2 from Star Wars and Clank from Ratchet & Clank.

Now add to that roster Cordy from Cordy 2.

Like the two other famous bots, Cordy is equally plucky and endearing. Instead of flashing lights or an anthropomorphic face, Cordy has a TV for a head by the way of Fisher-Price. Perpetually flashing onscreen is a smiling, cheerful face. Nothing can keep this little bot down.  

After spending a few hours with the game, Cordy’s expression might as well be a reflection of the player’s face. Even the game’s upbeat soundtrack is guaranteed to elicit a grin or two, unless you have a cold metallic heart of, well, an unfeeling robot.

As a side-scroller, Cordy 2 combines the best elements from traditional 2D side-scrollers such as the classic Sonic the Hedgehog to more contemporary 3D-rendered games such as Little Big Planet.

Cordy’s basic controls include running from left to right and a jump button. A 4th contextual action button activates Cordy’s special ability depending on the environment and availability of the upgrades.

In various parts of the map, Cordy can use a ‘copter and jetpack to fly; a sonic hammer to crush obstacles; a grappling line to swing for hoisting himself up; a magnet for scaling vertical surfaces; and a teleporter for jacking into access ports that lead to other parts of the map not unlike Mario’s warp pipes.

The objective in Cordy 2 is simple: you must guide the little feisty robot as he thwarts the nefarious plan of the evil Boogaloo and his Booggie Bots.

It sounds like the plot of a Saturday morning cartoon, but with additional servings of irresistible cuteness and mechanical hijinks.

In Cordy 2’s world, plan-thwarting involves a lot of item collection, light puzzle-solving, mini-boss battles, and figuring out how to reconnect power sockets.

The map is made up of 3 main themed areas. Each area has around a dozen levels with additional bonus levels that can be unlocked using cogs gathered from various levels.

Each area requires multiple playthroughs to achieve the maximum 3-star rating. While some of the levels have static components, there are some parts which seem to be taken from pinball machines.

Cordy can use kickers, switches, ramps, and spring-loaded launchers to reach his objective. Downloadable items such as new costumes for Cordy add a touch of customization. It’s fun seeing him dressed up as a kung-fu master in the oriental-themed Harmony Harbor levels.

Filled with whimsical detail and inventive level design, the areas are comparable to the ones you’d find in games such as Little Big Planet. The game’s high level of polish can been seen in small graphical touches such as the way Cordy’s glowing face illuminates his surroundings.

Although the maps are short and designed for mobile play, they have several layers with secret areas and provide adequate challenge as the game progresses. Each map comes with mid-level save points so it’s not entirely frustrating if you miss a jump or two.

Cordy 2 keeps things interesting by letting the player have fun with different styles of platforming: you can take your time to carefully navigate through the levels Mario-style for the bonuses or you can make a mad dash for it like Sonic.

Either way, this little platformer has earned a rightful place in our mobile device. – Rappler.com

Ed Geronia Jr. is the chief information officer of Sari Software Solutions. He is the former editor in chief of PC Gamer magazine and Games Master Philippines magazine, and former associate editor of T3 Philippines magazine.