Speedy Blupi II

Speedy Blupi II is a side-scrolling platformer developed by Swiss company Epsitec SA and released in 2001 for Windows, where players control the versatile creature Blupi through challenging levels using tools like skateboards, small cars, and jetpacks to navigate obstacles and defeat enemies such as self-exploding robotic sharks. Suitable for ages 8 and up, it offers action-packed gameplay in a whimsical world full of inventive mechanics.

Speedy Blupi II: Review

Introduction

In the shadow of early 2000s platformer giants like Rayman 2 and Crash Bandicoot, Speedy Blupi II emerged as a quirky, unpretentious gem from Swiss developer Epsitec SA—a side-scrolling adventure that prioritizes inventive gadgetry, puzzle-platforming, and boundless creativity via its built-in level editor. As the 2001 sequel to the 1998’s Speedy Blupi (rebranded in North America as Speedy Eggbert), it refined its predecessor’s formula, introducing new worlds, vehicles, and mechanics while retaining the core charm of controlling the egg-shaped hero Blupi (or Eggbert in eGames releases). This review posits that Speedy Blupi II deserves reevaluation not as a forgotten budget title, but as a pioneering example of user-generated content in platformers, blending accessible action with deep design tools that foreshadowed modern sandbox experiences like Super Mario Maker.

Development History & Context

Epsitec SA, a modest Swiss software firm known for educational tools and the broader Blupi series (stemming from Planet Blupi in the mid-1990s), crafted Speedy Blupi II amid the post-PlayStation era’s PC gaming boom. Released in May 2001 for Windows—version 2.2 in Europe with CD checks, while eGames’ Speedy Eggbert 2 (2004) stripped them for budget compilations—the game built directly on its predecessor’s engine. Technical notes from decompilation projects reveal it as an “upgrade” overwriting Speedy Blupi‘s codebase, using DirectX 3 for rendering, with ongoing open-source ports migrating to SDL3 for multiplatform potential (Android, web).

The era’s constraints shaped its design: 256 or 65,000-color modes, MCI audio (later BASS in decomp), and side-view perspectives optimized for low-end PCs. Publishers like Epsitec, PC3 Programs, and eGames targeted valueware bundles (Arcade Classics), emphasizing family-friendly play for ages 8+. String table analyses from TCRF highlight iterative changes—”Missions” to “Levels,” “Blupi” to “Eggbert”—reflecting localization and rebranding. Bugfixes addressed overflows corrupting entity graphics after 32,768 frames, while hacks like a 100KB buffer prevented memory overwrites from high-level IDs. This evolution—from 1998 demo to 2001 full release, including a 2013 Windows Phone port—mirrors indie persistence, culminating in 2017 freeware at Blupi.org and GitHub decomp efforts, preserving it against obsolescence.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Speedy Blupi II eschews cinematic storytelling for emergent tales of exploration and ingenuity, a hallmark of Epsitec’s Blupi series. Protagonist Blupi—an innocuous, spherical creature (early “Toto,” later Eggbert)—embarks from a central hub into seven (expanded to 14-world capacity) themed worlds: Training, Rocks, Houses, Technical, Mechanical, Kid’s Stuff, and newcomers like Slime, Cave, Cheese, Palace, Bricks, and Pipes. No overt plot binds them; instead, Blupi retrieves treasure chests amid bomb-rigged lairs guarded by rival multi-colored Blupis, unlocking hubs progressively.

Themes revolve around resourcefulness versus peril: robotic sharks self-destruct on contact, symbolizing explosive hubris; vehicles like jeeps and jetpacks embody adaptation in hostile environments. Quick-saves log progress (“Start, level #%d\nOpen=%d, Lives=%d, Chests=%d/%d”), framing Blupi’s journey as a persistent log of triumphs and failures. Dialogue is sparse—tutorial prompts like “Hi, I’m Blupi. Press the Right arrow to make me move…”—but cutscenes introduce worlds with whimsical vignettes (e.g., malfunctioning AI in futuristic zones). Underlying motifs of creation and destruction shine in the level editor, where players mirror Blupi’s problem-solving by placing enemies, vehicles, and puzzles. Removed “Dream” tileset (replaced by Kid’s Stuff) subtly shifts from surreal whimsy to grounded peril, echoing maturation from the simpler Planet Blupi. Absent deep lore, the narrative thrives on player agency, turning each level into a personal epic of deduction and survival.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, Speedy Blupi II loops through collect, navigate, survive: gather all chests, reach the exit, across 60+ single-player missions (up from 40) and 10 multiplayer ones. Blupi’s fluid controls—run, jump, duck—expand via vehicles: skateboards for rail-grinding, jeeps/tanks for mine-crushing (widened hitboxes in II), helicopters for glue-ball shooting, jetpacks for fueled flight, and new hovercrafts for slime traversal. Progression ties to lives, chests collected, and opens, with quick-saves tracking per-world stats (e.g., “Mechanical, level #%d”).

Innovative systems include deductive puzzles—misplace a helicopter, and progression halts—forcing restarts or creative reroutes. Enemies demand strategy: heliported/motorized foes require glue or yellow mines; explosive sharks patrol predictably but demand precision. New additions like keys/locks, teleporters, chest-gated barriers elevate complexity. Multiplayer pits players in shared levels, though limited to 8-10 profiles.

The level editor is revolutionary: design up to 20 missions per player (160 total), saving .XCH files to C:/User. Place bombs, lava, birds, sharks, bulldozers, lollipops (invisibility), recharge devices—barring single-player keys/doors without cheats. UI toggles scrolling (horizontal/vertical), skill levels, and tests designs instantly. Flaws persist: demo limits, desyncing death animations in recordings, ejection failsafes occasionally glitching. Yet, responsiveness and variety—ejection from walls, material-specific footstep sounds—create addictive loops, blending Mario-like platforming with Lemmings-esque planning.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The game’s worlds immerse through thematic cohesion, evolving from Speedy Blupi‘s Rocks/Houses/Techno/Kids’ Stuff/Dream/Woods/Library to II’s expanded palette: Slime’s oozing hexagons, Cave’s volcanic mosaics, Cheese’s smooth barks, Palace’s striped pavings, Bricks’ soil. Side-view hubs gate progress, with levels like Training, Cheese 4, Mechanical 3 (up to Level 200) blending foreground puzzles and parallax backgrounds.

Visuals punch above era weight: cartoonish, colorful sprites (Blupi’s 3D model updated with hands/elbows in backdrops), 3D-rendered lava replacing squiggles, retouched skies/mosaics. UI rethemed to Slime tileset, with repositioned buttons and animated shields. Particles (sparks, dust) enhance motion, though low-res in-game sprites limit updates.

Sound design leverages MCI/BASS: unique footstep/bonk per tile material, creepy unaltered voices in editors (toned for all-ages). Explosions, vehicle hums, and death stutters (randomized animations) build tension, while minimal music underscores worlds without overpowering. Atmosphere evokes playful peril—whimsical sharks amid deadly lairs—fostering a cozy yet challenging vibe.

Reception & Legacy

Launch reception was muted: MobyGames lists no critic reviews, a 2.4/5 player average from two ratings, overshadowed by AAA titles. eGames bundles boosted visibility, but no sales figures endure. Discussions note rebranding confusion (Speedy Eggbert equivalence).

Legacy endures via preservation: 2017 freeware at Blupi.org, TCRF-documented updates (e.g., counter resets, buffer hacks), GitHub decomp (functional gameplay, DirectX-to-SDL migration). Influences are niche—inspiring level editors pre-Maker—but Blupi series ties (Planet Blupi’s GPLv3 source) highlight indie longevity. Fan wikis catalog levels/glitches (box-skateboard bugs), cheats unlock hidden modes. In platformer history, it exemplifies democratized design, influencing user-content trends amid early freeware waves.

Conclusion

Speedy Blupi II cements its place as an underappreciated 2D platformer milestone: refined mechanics, expansive editor, and thematic worlds deliver joy for ages 8+, with depth for veterans. Flaws—sparse narrative, demo limits, minor glitches—pale against innovations like hovercrafts and material sounds. Amid 2001’s flashier peers, it shines as a creative sandbox, its freeware revival ensuring eternity. Verdict: 8/10—essential for platformer historians, a retro treasure worth rediscovering.