Pixel Puzzles 2: Anime is a digital jigsaw game based on completing jigsaws made from manga-style artwork. In this game, I felt that most of the manga drawings are in a kawaii style. If you like kawaii manga, then you will be in for a treat. If you enter this game expecting anything else, then you will be disappointed. The trailer for this game on Steam doesn’t shy away from this either.
Gameplay-wise, this is a jigsaw game with 25 jigsaws in-game, plus an extra jigsaw of a manga character on the main menu screen. This game differs from many other games in the series. Other games let you do any jigsaw you like, whenever you like. This game will make you do jigsaws in an order. Once you complete a jigsaw, it links to other jigsaw(s) you have unlocked. This can deter those who want to do a specific jigsaw. This game does not allow you to choose larger/smaller jigsaws, so the size is fixed.
Visually, the jigsaws are colourful and cover a variety of subjects, such as fantasy and science fiction. This is good, as it isn’t all super colourful; some images, particularly the more fantasy-based jigsaws, aren’t as colourful as some jigsaws in the game.
The pixel fairy is included in the game and helps you in various ways, such as unlocking various hints. I found the location hint particularly useful because I couldn’t connect 2 pieces that fit together. As a result, when I had 2 or more pieces I could piece together, I could use the location hint to put one in the correct place on the board and then place them together.
However, she is annoying and will quickly get on your nerves. Firstly, her voice sounds annoying; it’s a female, childlike tone, and it is the type you would expect to hear on a preschool show. Second, she says the same things; sometimes it’s funny the first time, but after that it gets weird. In one instance, I unlocked a hint, and she said, “This is because I love you”. I’m guessing it is to cater to kids/weeaboos, but it is a bit weird to play a game, and then she randomly comes up with sayings like that.
You also cannot avoid her, since she is in the in-game menus. When you do something she doesn’t like, she makes comments. I was looking at the in-game images, and she was whining at me to do a jigsaw. You can turn off the pixel fairy by pressing the delete button. But doing so will remove the ability to unlock hints.
The game’s soundtrack is ok. The game has only 2 songs. The first song plays in the main menu and when selecting jigsaws, and it’s cheerful enough. However, it’s the type of song that isn’t too out of place for the game. But when I play the game, the music turns into a song that feels out of place. The song itself is ok; I don’t dislike or like it. However, the song is different to the first song, and it feels summery. In the end I turned the games sound and music off completely due to the fairy and limited music.
This game isn’t particularly accessible for many people in the games target audience. Firstly, you have to unlock hints, and once you have filled the tube, you cannot unlock any more hints. So if you have filled the tube and may need a hint, it is best to use one. This game isn’t completely accessible for the referenced audiences, as the in-game jigsaws are only available in one size, with no option for more/less pieces. It also means that those who want to play the game with every jigsaw being 350 will not be able to do so. You also have to rotate pieces to the correct position, which other games in the series let you bypass.
This game is what it says: nothing more, nothing less. So I would only recommend it if you like jigsaws and the game’s art style. Otherwise, I would avoid this game.
