Little Big Adventure 2
A 3D action-adventure sequel with real-time gameplay and free-roaming exploration.
Little Big Adventure 2, released in 1997, is an adventure game from Adeline Software International, published by Electronic Arts. It came out in the UK in August 1997 and in North America in July of the same year under the title *Twinsen's Odyssey*, published by Activision. The game sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide. While versions for the Sega Saturn and PlayStation were planned, they never materialized. It is the sequel to *Little Big Adventure* (also known as *Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure*) and was the third title developed under the Adeline Software International label. The game uses three-dimensional environments, includes full-motion video, and all its music is CD-DA quality. In October 2011, it was re-released digitally on GOG.com, followed by a Steam release in October 2015. The source code for both *Little Big Adventure 1* and *2* was released under the GPL in October 2021.
The gameplay offers two viewing modes: indoor scenes use a 3D isometric perspective like the original, while outdoor scenes shift to a 3D perspective view. Characters and vehicles are built from 3D polygons, allowing full rotation and movement. The interior game world is divided into small active scenes. Completing certain tasks triggers a full-motion video sequence, and all text in the game is spoken by characters. Nearly every character is interactive and responds differently when protagonist Twinsen speaks to them. Enemies often continue their tasks while the game world is active. Like its predecessor, *LBA 2* is a real-time adventure that blends action and arcade sequences with some role-playing elements. The gameplay is partially free-roaming: players can travel across islands once they are unlocked by completing objectives, and many tasks are optional or non-linear. Some locations are blocked until the player reaches a certain stage.
The game’s world was considered extremely large and varied for its time. It spans three planets: Twinsun and Zeelich each contain their own islands with unique graphical styles, while Emerald Moon serves as a setting for a small portion of the game. Unlike the first game, which covered the entire planet of Twinsun, *LBA 2* revisits only Citadel Island and Desert Island from its predecessor. The latter part of the game takes place on Zeelich, a two-layered planet with many points of interest on each layer.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Little Big Adventure 2
- Developer
- Adeline Software
- Publisher
- EU · Electronic Arts · NA · Activision
- Director
- Frédérick Raynal
- Programmer
- Sébastien Viannay / Serge Plagnol
- Artist
- Didier Chanfray
- Writer
- Frédérick Raynal / Marc Albinet / Didier Chanfray / Yaél Barroz / Laurent Salmeron
- Composer
- Philippe Vachey
- Released
- NA · July 1, 1997 · UK · August 22, 1997
- Genre
- Adventure
- Modes
- Single player
- Platforms
- MS-DOS, Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Little Big Adventure 2 takes place several years after the defeat of Dr. FunFrock. The story begins when Twinsen's Dino-Fly is struck by lightning and crash-lands, leading Twinsen to seek help from a healing wizard. After calming a storm with the aid of a weather wizard, alien creatures called Esmers land on Twinsun under a false diplomatic guise. Twinsen discovers that the Esmers are secretly capturing the planet's children and luring the wizards to their home planet, Zeelich, as a trap. After graduating as a wizard, Twinsen investigates Zeelich, where he is arrested but escapes. Returning to Twinsun, he finds the Esmers have imposed martial law. He retrieves a prototype jetpack, builds a spacecraft, and eventually travels to Emerald Moon and Zeelich to confront the Esmers and their emperor, who has made a deal with the Dark Monk—revealed to be FunFrock, the villain from the first game. Twinsen ultimately stops FunFrock's plan to destroy Twinsun, and the Esmers reconcile with the residents of Twinsun.
Reader's Guide
Little Big Adventure 2 sold over 300,000 units by August 1999. According to GameSpot, poor sales of the preceding game in the USA meant that Twinsen remained obscure there, leading to the commercial failure of LBA2 in that market, in contrast to France where Twinsen was famous. Some English voice acting was criticized as corny compared to the original French dialogue. Robert Coffey of Computer Gaming World praised the game's sense of marvel and imagination, engaging story, and mix of action and adventure. GameSpot's Ron Dulin gave it 8.1 out of 10, stating that fans of adventure games would not miss it. Next Generation rated it four stars out of five, recommending it to anyone who loves action/adventure games. Little Big Adventure 2 was a runner-up for Computer Gaming World's 1997 'Adventure Game of the Year' award, which went to The Curse of Monkey Island; the editors called it a 'charming' 3D action/adventure hybrid. Versions for Sega Saturn and PlayStation were planned but never released. In October 2011 the game was re-released digitally on GOG.com, and in October 2015 on Steam. In October 2021, the source codes for both Little Big Adventure 1 and 2 were released under the GPL.
Did You Know?
- The game was released in North America under the name Twinsen's Odyssey.
- The world includes three planets to visit: Twinsun, Zeelich, and Emerald Moon.
- The music was composed by French composer Philippe Vachey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Big Adventure 2?
Little Big Adventure 2 is a 1997 PC adventure game developed by Adeline Software International and published by Electronic Arts in Europe. It is the direct sequel to the original Little Big Adventure (sold in North America as Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure) and represented the third title released under the Adeline label.
What is Little Big Adventure 2 called in North America?
In North America the game shipped in July 1997 under the name Twinsen's Odyssey, with Activision handling publication. The European release followed in August 1997 through Electronic Arts.
What kind of gameplay does Little Big Adventure 2 feature?
The sequel moves to a fully 3D action-adventure format with real-time combat and free-roaming exploration, a sharp shift from the fixed-screen, point-and-click structure of the first game. Players traverse an open world rather than advancing through a series of static scenes.
Did Little Big Adventure 2 ever appear on PlayStation or Sega Saturn?
Ports for both the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn were announced but never materialized, so the game remained a PC-only title. No console version was ever completed or released.
Who composed the music for Little Big Adventure 2?
The game's soundtrack was composed by Philippe Vachey. Despite being a PC-exclusive release, it went on to move more than 300,000 copies worldwide.
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