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Death, Jr. II: Root of Evil psp Game Reviews
Death, Jr. II: Root of Evil
Critic Score
Metascore: 68 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.0 out of 10
based on 34 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 8 votes
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Rate this game

Death Jr. returns to the PSP in an all-new adventure in a spooky tree house of terror. Teaming up for even more firepower, DJ and Pandora will take on a variety of possessed enemies as they progress through an adventure that seamlessly blends smooth platforming, intense combat, complex enemy AI and a unique sense of humor. Destroy spirits and enemies with all new upgradable weapons like the C4 Hamster Mark II's, Pandora's Tommy Gun, Cherry Bomb Launcher and the Flaming TP Thrower. [Konami]

PUBLISHER: Konami
DEVELOPER: Backbone Entertainment
GENRE(S): Action, Platform
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: October 31, 2006

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

95
Play Magazine
Backbone could have just tightened things up and given us more of the same for the sequel but instead have completely reworked the formula and created one of the PSP's finest games in the process. [Nov. 2006, p.96]
83
Game Informer
The good easily outweighs the bad in this case, though, and plants Death Jr. 2 firmly in the upper echelon of PSP titles. [Nov. 2006, p.145]
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82
WHAM! Gaming
Sometimes frustrating, but relentlessly entertaining, Death Jr.2: RoE marks a successful return for the franchise.
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80
AceGamez
The top class game that the original should've been and ultimately an impressive sophomore effort for a series I'm increasingly psyched to hopefully watch grow and evolve in the years to come.
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80
PSM Magazine
It's still not perfect, but at least the developers have taken steps in the right direction. [Dec. 2006, p.80]
80
GamePro
The unique blend of wonderfully bizarre settings and enemies make Death Jr.'s return a fresh gaming experience. It's "Nightmare Before Christmas" meets "Alice in Wonderland." Prepare yourself for one crazy trip.
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75
Worth Playing
At the end of the day, though, the collision detection is enough of a problem to dock it a few points.
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74
Just RPG
If you enjoyed the first game, then you will more than likely enjoy its sequel.
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71
IGN
What makes Death Jr. a hard recommendation twice now is how the game is still sloppy in execution despite its best qualities -- it's time for DJ to grow up and scythe straight.
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70
Yahoo! Games
Root of Evil puts itself across as a lighthearted, if slightly demented, kid's game. But it can be much more challenging than such a presentation implies, and the disconnect is sometimes jarring.
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70
Digital Entertainment News
Root of Evil tries to get at the root of the original game’s flaws, but comes up short. Essentially more of the same, the game does offer a bit of enjoyment in its wacky combat; however, problems with the camera and controls make it no more than an average action platform game.
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70
DarkStation
A slightly updated platformer, with just a few touches here and there completes a decent sequel.
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70
TotalPlayStation
It's got a head above the PSP's run-of-the-mill platformers, but that still isn't saying terribly too much. But if your heart's in the genre and you've got a weekend to blow, it's certainly worth a shot.
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70
Pure Magazine UK
Still some minor glitches, but a much more playable title than the first outing. [May 2007, p.87]
69
Gamer 2.0
The pacing could use some work, but the short nature of the levels and the game itself works in its favor to not dawdle too long with the boring areas.
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67
GameTrailers
Almost all of the major control issues have been fixed, the graphics are much cleaner, and the wireless co-op feature is fantastic. But all of the good still doesn’t outweigh the bad--the horribly generic gameplay just doesn’t cut it.
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67
Gaming Age
Even being a major horror fan and enjoying the fact that someone has created a horror themed platformer, I have a hard time believing this is going to find a core audience that shares my views about the game and its content.
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65
1UP
The younger set might not mind backtracking through old levels, hunting high and low for weapon parts (and that last, pesky, unsmashed crate). But other aspects of Root of Evil definitely aim older, such as the characters -- which include a dead boy, conjoined brainiac twins, and a wiseacre baby with stumps for limbs in a jar of formaldehyde.
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65
DailyGame
Barely a sequel, it's more like a Death Jr. add-on pack, but still enjoyable for a short amount of time.
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64
GameSpot
Death Jr. II is almost a good game, but substandard controls and repetitive combat make it difficult to enjoy.
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63
Electronic Gaming Monthly
They've added no-frills co-op and a second character but stayed within the comfortable confines of mindless action. [Dec. 2006, p.160]
62
GamerNode
But the blatant flaws like inconsistent difficulty spotted with flat unfunny humor attempts, as well as huge gaps between storyline progression seem hell-bent on making you not really care as much as you should.
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60
G4 TV
Most weapons, like the enemy-seeking suicide hamsters, are worth the effort.
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60
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
A minor irritation. [June 2007, p.98]
60
Pocket Gamer UK
Death, Jr II inches its way closer to being a very good game but, too often, its action fails to match the creative promise of its scenario, character and art design.
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60
Ferrago
Despite a genuinely well designed central character and a delightfully surreal sense of humour it's now two failures out of two for the Death Jr series.
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60
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
It's a psychotic, disjointed, almost loveable mess. [Dec. 2006, p.130]
60
GameSpy
There's a good amount of fun to be had here -- just don't expect to be blown away by the experience.
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60
GameZone
You can't make a choppy action/adventure, darken the imagery, add a less childish lead character, and expect players to come running.
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60
Games Radar
When the level mechanics still depend on mashing the attack button mindlessly for minutes at a time, with no real cue as to when to stop, no amount of snappy dialogue or Tim Burton-esque scenery will make it fun to play.
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58
Games Master UK
Unfortunately, though, the game's controls turn out to be more effective at slowing you down than all of its eerie enemies and devilish puzzles. [June 2007, p.74]
50
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Buy the vastly superior "Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters" before going near this. [July 2007, p.114]
50
Detroit Free Press
The worst part of the game was combat. Slashing similar enemies over and over became boring, and I had to constantly adjust the camera and do several precise tasks with the PSP's annoying analog stick.
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50
GameShark
It's a shame that the gameplay hasn't evolved all that much since last year's release and that there is a real lack of contrast between Pandora and Death Jr.'s character, but there's still a solid and fun game experience to be had if you give this title a chance.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Yer M. gave it a10:
By far the best psp game I've played. Fun, engaging, adorable.

Jacob P. gave it a0:
DJ2 has a wealth of ready to be harvested, imaginative material, but it blows it all away in favour of run and gun. And shooting stuff, mindlessly. How could you make that concept not fun? DJ2 manages to find a way through mundane, boring gameplay and lazily designed levels. It's a shame to, because the game looks pretty good for a portable offering. Message to Backbone Studios: The point of a game is to be fun. Gameplay is what makes the game. You can have 8-bit sprites making bleeping sounds, and the game will do well IF it is fun. If there's going to be a Death Jr. 3, please make a better, more involving, at least cohesive story, please? Don't rely on the lame random humour. Use your imaginations!

Zem Z. gave it a7:
Let me make this clear the title of this game lies it is not in fact death jr. 2 root of evil it is in fact death jr do you like this better. the makers obviously red all the reviews saw what people thought was wrong with the first game & tryed to fix it. did they succed?v yes & no. if you played the first game you & loved it this game will be a bit of a let down (as it was for me) if you got the first game & thought it had issues then you should find great fun here, & if you've never played death jr then you should enjoy this gam, if you play it firs. the new wepon upgrading system is a little off, the save feature is off, the art style witch was part of what made DJ so cool has been revamped, & the levle to level sytem takes away from the fun that was getting to chose where you went, oh & the area 51 levell has the worst "lava" sytem ever, & you're pistole which previoously had infinent ammo don't any more howeverthe co-op is great the ability to play as pandora rocks as she is almost cooler than DJ, the awsome humores back, the plots just as wacky if not more so & grafical it's a nice looking game, & the strafing system is pretty cool. buy this game with descresion if you played the first one, by it with antisipation if you never played the first one, & don't worry about the story it's pretty much unconected to death jr one.

Robert T. gave it a9:
A great game. I never played the first but will now. No game sharing for 2 player though. If you liked Daxter but wanted more action and things to do, then get this game now.

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